Past Continuous

 

What	was	I	doing	at that time?
	were	he	drawing	at seven o'clock?
		she	learning	from 7 till 9?
		we	looking for	when he entered the room?
		you	listening to	when she rang you up?
		they	speaking about	the whole evening?

 

Exercise 2. Put the verbs in Past Continuous.

1. I (to read) a book at two o'clock.2. They (to write) the test at this time yesterday.3. He (to work) in the garden from two till five o'clock.4. We (to watch) television the whole evening.5. You (to play) football at six o'clock?6. You (to drink) tea at seven o'clock?7. He (to draw) from three till four o'clock?8. Who (to listen) to the radio at this time?9. It (to rain) the whole day yesterday?10.

10. They (to skate) at three o'clock?11. You (not to sleep) at nine o'clock last night.12. I (not to write) a letter to my granny at eight o'clock13. She (not to help) mother about the house from two till six.14. George (to do) his lessons the whole evening?15. He (to speak) in a low voice.

Exercise 3. Make the following interrogative and negative.

1. She was standing alone before the fire. 2. They were crossing the street at the wrong place. 3. I was listening to their conversation. 4. They were talking about our party.5. George was preparing for his examination the whole day.6. She was playing the piano when you came in. 7. The children were doing their homework at six. 8. Their son was going to be a painter.

Exercise 4. Change the following into the Past Continuous.

1. The man is standing near the door. 2. Tom told a story. 3. The children swam in the river. 4. Is Mary wearing a white dress? 5. She went to the cinema. 6. They did not work in the garden. 7. We are not sitting by the window. 8. The workers built a bridge. 9. The girl tried on a dress. 10. The old man spoke in a low voice.

 

Exercise 5. Put the verbs in Present or Past Continuous.

1. What you (to do) from seven till nine yesterday?2. What she (to drink) now? - She (to drink) juice3. Nick (to draw) a picture when I saw him.4. Who (to stand) near door now?5. When I looked trough the window, the sun (to shine)but the wind (to blow).6. What they (to discuss) at the moment?7. It (to snow) when I left my house yesterday.8. Robert (to have) dinner now? - No, he (to read) a book.9. Our children (to make) noise the whole evening yesterday.10. What they (to speak) about when I to entered the room.11. He (to look) for his keys at moment.12. Look! Somebody (to swim) across the river.13. He (to go) to the office when I meet him in the street.14. She (to read) a book while I was watching television.15. My friend (to wait) for a bus when I saw him at the bus stop.

Exercise 6. Ask questions as you are told.

Ask me:

1. if I was having supper when you rang me up; 2. if Ann was cooking when I came to her place; 3. if it was raining the whole day yesterday; 4. if it was snowing when I got off the trolley­bus; 5. what I was doing at three o'clock yesterday; 6. what I was writing when you entered the room; 7. what I was thinking about when you asked me this question; 8. what my pupils were doing when I came into the classroom; 9. what I was doing the whole day yesterday; 10. what my son was doing when I came home last night.

 

Exercise 7. Put the verbs in Past Simple or Past Continuous. (Розкрийте дужки, вживаючи д1еслова у Past Simple або Past Continuous).

1. We (to be) on a school trip when the bus (to break)down.2. He (not to look) at his listened as he (to speak).3. Beth and Ann (to wave) their hands in the direction of the ship which (to disappear) a minute ago.4. When I (to see) my granny, she (to sit) in the arm-chair ant (to catch) the sun's early morning rays.5. She (to sing) a song while she (to go) to school.6. He (to try) to open the door when we (to see) him in the corridor.7. It (to be) yesterday when her (to have) most brilliant idea8. What you (to think) about when I (to ask) you a question?9. He (to stare) up at the ceiling, when I (to enter) his room.10. You (to feel) ill yesterday? - Yes, I (to be) ill.11. She (to take) her drawing class at seven o'clock12. Margaret (to write) a poem the whole evening.13. His son (to take) his first steps when he (to see) him.14. They (to speak) about the latest events when she (to interrupt) them.15. Why she (to sit) the whole day at home?16. They (to enjoy) a romantic evening at a restaurant yesterday.17. He (to sit) in the arm-chair and then (to begin) reading a book.18. You (to see) her the day before yesterday? — Yes, she (to stand) in the corridor speaking with her friends.19. My brother (not to like) to play while others (to work).20. She (to eat) while she (to read).

Exercise 8 Put the verbs in Past Simple or Past Continuous. (Розкрийте дужки, вживаючи д1еслова у Past Simple або Past Continuous).

Once, while I (to walk) in a park of London, I (to see) an old man. He (to sit) on a bench holding a book in his hands. I (to see) that the book (to be) of great interest. It (to be) a very old copy of early Byron's works. I (to look) at the old man and (to understand) that he (to know) that I (to sit) because of him and the book. I (to smile). "It is the last I (to have)", he (to say) and (to stretch) it out to me. I (to take) it with the words: "I love the old books." I (to open) the book and (to look) at the date: it (to be) a remarkable book. "I (to have) a hard life and this book (to be) a comfort to me. But I have to sell it," (to say) the old man.

Exercise 9. Put questions to the italicized words.

1. The man was reading a magazine when somebody knocked at the door. 2. He was waiting for a bus. 3. The boy was skating. 4. The students were dancing when I open­ed the door. 5, The girl was eating ice-cream when we cam^ in. 6. She was looking after her little brother. 7. The pupil? were discussing a story. 8. The man was passing the theatre when the clock struck ten. 9. It was snowing when w# went out. 10. The boy was running very fast.

Exercise 10. Answer the following questions.

1. Were you watching television at ten o'clock last night? Did you like the programme? 2. Did you do your homework yesterday? Were you doing it the whole evening? 3. What were the pupils doing when the teacher came into the class­room? 4. What was your mother doing when you came home yesterday? 5. Did it rain yesterday? Was it raining when you went out?

Exercise 11. Paraphrase the following sentences as in the model.

Model: He intended to work there. — He was going to

work here.

1. We intended to spend our holidays at a camp. 2. She intended to visit the picture gallery. 3. I intended to call on him on Sunday. 4. His son intended to enter an agri­cultural college. 5. The tractor driver intended to buy a car. 6. They intended to congratulate him. 7. We intended to take a taxi.