V-infinitive
1. Have
2. Do
3. Run
4. Come
5. Read
6. Sleep
7. Donate
8. Watch
9. Help
10. Work
11. Camp
12. Snow

V-ing form
(Continuous)
having

Ved/V2
(Past simple)
had
 

WARM-UP: Questions and answers

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

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.
Example: I was having dinner at 6 p.m. yesterday.
Were you having dinner at 6 p.m. yesterday? – Yes, I was.
- a past action that was happening when another action interrupted it.
We use the past simple for the action that interrupted it.
Example: When / While we were watching TV, we felt the earthquake.
What were they doing when they felt the earthquake? – They
were watching TV.
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.
1. They (help) ____________
were helping the flood victims at 10 o'clock last night.
2. It (not snow) ______________
wasn't snowing when I left home this afternoon.
was working in the field, the tornado came.
3. While she (work) ____________
4. – What ______
were you (do) ______
doing at 9 o'clock yesterday morning?
– I (watch) ____________
was watching the news about a volcanic eruption.
5. – ______
Were you (cry) ______
crying when I saw you two days ago?
– No, I wasn't.

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.

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?

2 How much do you know about the past continuous and past
simple?

1. We ______ money to help the earthquake victims last
month.

A: were donating
donated
C:
C donated
:

B was donating
:

2. What _____ when the volcano erupted? – I ____ in my bed.

A: did you do; slept
C were you doing; slept
:

were you doing; was
B sleeping

:

3. While they _____ near the river, the flood _____ suddenly.
were camping; was
A: coming

C camped; was coming
:

B were camping; came
:

4. After Tom _____ out of his house, he ______ quickly to a
safer place.

A: ran; moved
C was running; was moving
:

B: was running; moved

5. I ______ a newspaper at 9 a.m yesterday, but I ____ the news
about the tornado.

A:didn't read; watched
C: wasn't
reading;was
was
wasn't reading;
C watching
watching
:

B wasn't reading; watched
:

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.

PRACTICE

2 Circle the correct answer to complete each sentence.
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.

CONSOLIDATION

*

Homework

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