The document provides examples and explanations of how to use the past continuous tense in English. It demonstrates the past continuous with affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences. It also contrasts the past continuous with the past simple tense and discusses using the past continuous to describe background events and actions happening at a specific time in the past.

1. THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

3.  It was raining.
 The man was wearing a hat.
 He was holding a cat.
 The man and the cat were sitting under a
tree.
 The man was smiling.
 The cat wasn’t smiling.

4. +
 You wearing a hat.
 We were listening to
music.
 They watching TV.
 I helping Mum.
 He was doing
homework.
 She raining.

5. -
 You wearing a hat.
 We were not listening to music.
 They weren’t watching TV.
 I helping Mum.
 He was not doing homework.
 She wasn’t raining.
 It

6. ?
 You wearing a hat?
 Were We listening to music?
 They watching TV?
 I helping Mum?
 Was He doing homework?
 She raining?
 It

7.  What were you wearing yesterday?
 I was wearing my red dress.
 What were they doing at 8 o’clock last
night?
 They were watching TV.
 Was it raining yesterday morning?
 No,it wasn’t.

8. USE
 To describe actions in progress at a time in
the past:
 At six o’clock last night I was driving home.
 On April 1st I was staying with some
friends at the hotel.
 What were you doing at 7.30 last night?

9. USE
 To give the background information in a
story,to say what was in progress when
something happened:
 The sun was shining.People were sitting
under the trees or walking around the
park.Suddenly a car drove into the park.

10.  Use the past simple for a completed action:
 I took a photo.
 I heard the news.
 Use the past cont. for an action in progress:
 They were listening to music.
 I was sitting at home.

11. COMPLETE WıTH A VERB ıN THE PAST CONT.
 They ………………….for us when we
arrived. (wait)
 ………she……………..a coat when she went
out?(wear)
 I………………………….when you gave the
instructions. (not/listen)
 I………………..when you phoned me. (drive)
 It ……………………when I woke up this
morning. (not/rain)

12.  They were waiting for us when we arrived.
 Was she wearing a coat when she went
out?
 I wasn’t listening when you gave the
instructions.
 I was driving when you phoned me.
 It wasn’t raining when I woke up this
morning.

13. WHıLE/WHEN
 While I was watching TV,I fell asleep.
 I fell asleep while I was watching TV.
 We were sitting in the garden when it started
to rain.
 When it started to rain,we were sitting in the
garden.
 When I heard the crash,I ran to the village.
 I ran to the village when I heard the crash.

14. WHEN OR WHıLE?
 I was dreaming ………….the alarm clock rang.
 I was dreaming when the alarm clock rang.
 ………..Mary saw the question,she knew the
answer.
 When Mary saw the question,she knew the
answer.
 Were you driving fast ……..the police stopped
you?
 Were you driving fast when the police stopped
you?
 The police arrived …………I was having

15. THANK YOU 