It’s used to talk about an action in progress at

a certain time in the past.

We often use this tense to talk about two

simultaneous actions.

We also use it to tall about an action in

progress interrupted by another past

action.

At 7 pm theywere watchinga terror film on television.

She was coking dinner while the

children were doing their homework.

The light went out while I was watching my favourite cartoon.

It is very often used with this tense, but

“when” is also possible.

Verbs of thinking, liking, being and possession are

not used in continuous forms.

Look at the pictures and fill in the blanks with the past continuous or the past simple of one of the verbs in the notebook.1. Lisa …………………….. when her mum…………………….. home.2. While Ann…………………….. at the hairdresser’s, her boyfriend

…………………….. her a text message.3. At 6 pm Alice…………………….. lots of presents for her family.4. While Bob and Helen……………….. for the bus it………………..

to rain.5. While Stella…………………….. to her boyfriend the waitress

…………….. them an exotic drink.6. At 5 o’clock, Paul……………….. his office and Anna………………..

on her mobile phone.7. At 10 am Laura…………………….. a speech to her employees at

her office.8. While Sue…………………….. under a tree in the park her little

cat…………………………..….. her.9. When Linda…………………breakfast the doorbell ……………….. .

10. Rob and Liz…………….. in the park when I……………….. them.11. Frank and Sandra……………….. a cup of coffee while they

……………….. the sun go down.12. When I …………….. into the café Lana …………….. food and

drinks to the customers.13. While Tina………….. at a dress her husband…………….. a pile of

packets.14. At 11 am Tim and Bella ………………..…….. in the town centre.15. At 12:30 my sister……………..……….. on a bench in the park

reading the newspaper.16. Helen her…………………. hair when mum………………….. her

for dinner.17. Paul ………….…….. to Amanda while she………..……….. the piano.18. Lucy …………………….. on platform 2 when her train arrived at

the station.19. Anna …………….. asleep while she…………….. on her hammock.20. When Susan………………..………..back from the shops her

motorbike ……………………..….. down.21. The three girls………………….. an agreement after talking for

over two hours.

Past of to be+ the –ing form of the verb

It’s used to talk about an action in progress at

a certain time in the past.

We often use this tense to talk about two

simultaneous actions.

We also use it to tall about an action in

progress interrupted by another past

action.

At 7 pm theywere watchinga terror film on television.

She was coking dinner while the

children were doing their homework.

The light went out while I was watching my favourite cartoon.

It is very often used with this tense, but

“when” is also possible.

Verbs of thinking, liking, being and possession are

not used in continuous forms.

Look at the pictures and fill in the blanks with the past continuous or the past simple of one of the verbs in the notebook.1. Lisa …………………….. when her mum…………………….. home.2. While Ann…………………….. at the hairdresser’s, her boyfriend

…………………….. her a text message.3. At 6 pm Alice…………………….. lots of presents for her family.4. While Bob and Helen……………….. for the bus it………………..

to rain.5. While Stella…………………….. to her boyfriend the waitress

…………….. them an exotic drink.6. At 5 o’clock, Paul……………….. his office and Anna………………..

on her mobile phone.7. At 10 am Laura…………………….. a speech to her employees at

her office.8. While Sue…………………….. under a tree in the park her little

cat…………………………….. . her.9. When Linda…………………breakfast the doorbell ……………….. .

10. Rob and Liz…………….. in the park when I……………….. them.11. Frank and Sandra……………….. a cup of coffee while they

……………….. the sun go down.12. When I …………….. into the café Lana …………….. food and

drinks to the customers.13. While Tina………….. at a dress her husband…………….. a pile of

packets.14. At 11 am Tim and Bella ………………..…….. in the town centre.15. At 12:30 my sister……………..……….. on a bench in the park

reading the newspaper.16. Helen her…………………. hair when mum………………….. her

for dinner.17. Paul ………….…….. to Amanda while she………..……….. the piano.18. Lucy …………………….. on platform 2 when her train arrived at

the station.19. Anna …………….. asleep while she…………….. on her hammock.20. When Susan………………..………..back from the shops her

motorbike ……………………..….. down.21. The three girls………………….. an agreement after talking for

over two hours.

Past of to be+ the –ing form of the verb

Look at the pictures and fill in the blanks with the past continuous or the past simple of one of the verbs in the notebook.1. Lisa was studying when her mum arrived home.2. While Ann was at the hairdresser’s, her boyfriend sent her a text

message.3. At 6 pm Alice was buying lots of presents for her family.4. While Bob and Helen were waiting for the bus it started to rain.5. While Stella was talking to her boyfriend the waitress prepared them an

exotic drink.6. At 5 o’clock, Paul was leaving his office and Anna was speaking on her

mobile phone.7. At 10 am Laura was giving a speech to her employees at her office.8. While Sue was sitting under a tree in the park her little cat was observing

her.9. When Linda was having breakfast the doorbell rang.

10. Rob and Liz were jogging in the park when I saw them.11. Frank and Sandra had a cup of coffee while they were watching the sun

go down.12. When I went into the café Lana was serving food and drinks to the

customers.13. While Tina was looking at a dress her husband was holding a pile of

packets.14. At 11 am Tim and Bella were walking in the town centre.15. At 12:30 my sister was sitting on a bench in the park reading the

newspaper.16. Helen was combing her hair when mum called her for dinner.17. Paul listened to Amanda while she was playing the piano.18. Lucy was standing on platform 2 when her train arrived at the station.19. Anna fell asleep while she was lying on her hammock.20. When Susan was coming back from the shops her motorbike broke down.21. The three girls reached an agreement after talking for over two hours.