The document provides examples of using the past continuous tense (was/were + -ing) in different contexts: 1. To describe an activity that was interrupted by something else. 2. To describe two simultaneous but independent actions in the past. 3. To specify that an action was occurring at a particular past time. It then gives additional examples using the past continuous tense to talk about unfinished past activities, background actions, repeated annoying habits, polite phrases, emphasizing duration, and verbs that show change.

2. 1: ONE ACTIVITY IS INTERRUPTED BY SOMETHING ELSE
I was playing computer
games
when someone knocked on the
door.

3. I was
cleaning
when I broke my vase.

4. I _______________a shower when the telephone rang.was having
A ball landed on Jane when she
__________________
was sunbathing.

5. SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + -ING
I was cooking when the telephone rang.
There was a power cut when Joana and Ted were
watching TV.
Teresa was eating dessert when her husband
came home.

6. 2. TWO ACTIONS HAPPENING INDEPENDENTLY
ON EACH OTHER
I was playing computer games…
… and my wife was cooking.

7. The baby was crying…
… and his sister was playing hide and
seek.

8. While I __________________ and the girls at the next table __________________
.
was having lunch were gossiping
The sun ________________ and the birds ___________________.was shining were singing

9. 3. ACTIONS HAPPENING AT A PARTICULAR TIME IN THE PAST
8 pm 11 pm 3 am 7 am
At midnigt the baby was still sleeping.
Thebabyfellasleep

10. At three o´clock I was lying on the beach.
2 pm 4 pm
Icameonthebeach

11. At 5.39 yesterday I was sitting by the window.
At 5. 39 yesterday my wife was doing the hoovering.
At 5.39 yesterday my children were doing their homework.
5 pm
6 pm
5.39 – car crash

12. 4. UNFINISHED ACTIVITIES
I was writing my essay yesterday but I still have not finished.
I was repairing my car then it got dark and I couldn´t see any more
so I stopped.
- the car is still not fixed

13. 5. BACKGROUND OF SOME ACTION
when I woke up.
Basically the same as rule nb. 1
It was raining
When I arrived at the partyJack was telling a joke.

14. When I got to the disco almost everyone ____________
only my friend _______________bored at a corner table.
was dancing
was sitting

15. 6. REPEATED ANNOYING HABITS IN THE PAST
He was always making stupid faces.
Jenny was always chewing chewing gums with her
mouth open.

16. 7. IN POLITE PHRASES
I was wondering if I could borrow your newspaper.
I was wondering if you could help me with my essay.

17. 8. EMPHASIZING THE DURATION OF THE ACTIVITY
I was waiting for two hours! Can you imagine that?
He was knocking on the door for 15 minutes! When I didn´t answer
he gave up and walked away.
The duration of these acivities is much longer
than usual or than expected.

18. 9. VERBS THAT SHOW SOME CHANGE
My hair was going grey.
It was getting dark in the room and I was getting more and more
scared.

19. EXERCISE:
1. When I arrived/was arriving to the party, my friends drank/were drinking
beer.
2. I waited/was waiting in the rain for an hour but the train didn´t arrive/
wasn´t
arriving at all! I was so angry.
3. Susan stopped/was stopping by while you shopped/were shopping.
4. Her English improved/was improving during her private English lessons.
5. Just as I fell/was falling asleep, I heard/was hearing a strange noise.
6. We went to dinner last night and, as we ate/were
eating,somebody stole/was