DISASTERS
Uni 9 NATURAL
ETHNIC GROUPS
OF VIET NAM
Uni
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LESSON
3:3:
AA
CLOSER
LOOK
22
LESSON
CLOSER
LOOK

Uni
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HOBBIES

Questions and answers

I was watching TV at
8 pm yesterday.
What were you doing?

PRESENTATION
Form of the past continuous:
Affirmative sentences: S + was/ were + V_ing…
Negative sentences: S + was/ were not + V_ing…
Questions: Was/ were + S + V_ing…?

PRESENTATION
The use of the past continuous:
We use the past continuous to describe:
+) an action that was happening at a particular time in the past.
+) a past action that was happening when another action
interrupted it. We use the past simple for the action that
interrupted it.
Notes:
+) We can use when or while before the past continuous.
+) We can only use when before the past simple.

PRACTICE

1 Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into the past continuous.
were helping the flood victims at 10 o'clock last night.
1. They (help) _____________
wasn't snowing when I left home this afternoon.
2. It (not snow) _______________
was working
3. While she (work) ____________ in the field, the tornado came.
were you doing at 9 o'clock yesterday morning? – I (watch)
4. – What you (do) ______________
was watching
____________ the news about a volcanic eruption.
were you crying when I saw you two days ago? – No, I wasn't.
5. – you (cry) _______________

PRACTICE

2 Circle the correct answer to complete each sentence.
1. We donated / were donating money to help the earthquake victims last
month.
2. – What did you do / were you doing when the volcano erupted? – I slept /
was sleeping in my bed.
3. While they camped / were camping near the river, the flood was coming /
came suddenly.
4. After Tom ran / was running out of his house, he moved / was moving
quickly to a safer place.
5. I didn't read / wasn't reading a newspaper at 9 a.m. yesterday, but I
watched / was watching the news about the tornado.

PRACTICE

3

Look at the picture and write what each person in Lan's family was doing when
the earthquake happened. Use the given word and phrases from the box.

watch TV
read a book
drink tea
talk on the phone
draw

1. Lan's grandparents were watching TV.
2. Lan's/ Her mother was reading a book.
3. Lan's/ Her father was drinking tea.
4. Lan was talking on the phone.
5. Lan's/ Her brother was drawing.

PRACTICE

4

Form questions using the past continuous. Then in pairs, ask and
answer the questions.
Example: you / play / football / 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon?
Þ Were you playing football at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon?
Þ Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't. I was doing my homework

PRACTICE

4

Form questions using the past continuous. Then in pairs, ask and
answer the questions.

1. you / have dinner / 7 o'clock yesterday evening?
=> Were you having dinner at 7 o'clock yesterday evening?
2. you / do / homework / 8 o'clock yesterday evening?
=> Were you doing your homework at 8 o'clock yesterday evening?
3. you / watch / film / 9 o'clock yesterday evening?
=> Were you watching a film at 9 o'clock yesterday evening?

PRODUCTION

5

Work in groups. Take turns to say a sentence that describes what each
person in the picture was doing
- Mai was reading.
- Phong and Nick were playing chess.
- Lan and Ann were singing.
- Nam was cleaning the board.
- Mi and Ha were talking.

CONSOLIDATION

1

WRAP-UP

Structures:
Affirmative sentences: S + was/ were + V_ing ….
Negative sentences: S + was/ were not + V_ing …
Questions: Was/ were + S + V_ing …?

CONSOLIDATION

2 HOMEWORK

- Remember the structures and the use of the past
continuous.
- Do exercises in the workbook.
- Prepare for Lesson 4 - Communication

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