Unit 14: I was doing and I did

Past Continuous and Past Simple – Full Textbook Version

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GRAMMAR
EXAMPLES
EXERCISES

A. Past Continuous + Past Simple

Jack reading → phone rang → answered
he began
reading
the phone rang
he stopped
reading
he answered
the phone
Jack was reading a book.
The phone rang. (past simple)
He stopped reading and answered the phone. (past simple)
What happened? The phone rang.
What was Jack doing when the phone rang? He was reading a book.
What did he do when the phone rang? He stopped reading and answered the phone.

B. Past Simple vs Past Continuous

A: What did you do yesterday morning? (from 10 to 11.30)
B: We played tennis. (complete action)
A: What were you doing at 10.30?
B: We were playing tennis. (unfinished action)
Jack read a book yesterday. (= from beginning to end)
Did you watch the film on television last night?
It didn’t rain while we were on holiday.
Jack was reading a book when the phone rang.
Were you watching television when I phoned you?
It wasn’t raining when I got up.
I started work at 9 o’clock and finished at 4.30. At 2.30 I was working.
It was raining when we went out. (= it started raining before we went out)
I saw Lucy and Steve this morning. They were waiting at the bus stop.
Jenny fell asleep while she was reading.

Examples

The phone rang while Jack was reading.
We played tennis from 10 to 11.30.
At 10.30 we were playing tennis.
It didn’t rain while we were on holiday.
Jenny fell asleep while she was reading.

Exercises 14.1 – 14.2

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14.1 Look at the pictures and put the verbs in the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

Carol broke her arm
Train arrived
Sue met Jim
  1. Carol broke her arm last week. It when she her room. She off the ladder.
  2. The train at the station and Paula off. Two friends of hers, John and Jenny, to meet her.
  3. Yesterday Sue along the road when she Jim. He to the station to catch a train and he a bag. They to talk for a few minutes.
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14.2 Put the verb into the past continuous or past simple.

  1. A: What were you doing when the phone rang? (you/do / ring)
    B: I was watching television. (watch)
  2. A: Was Jane busy when you went to see her?
    B: Yes, she . (study)
  3. A: What time this morning? (the post / arrive)
    B: It while I breakfast. (come / have)
  4. A: Was Margaret at work today?
    B: No, she to work. She was ill. (not/go)
  5. A: How fast when the police you? (you/drive / stop)
    B: I don’t know exactly but I very fast. (not/drive)
  6. A: the football match yesterday? (your team / win)
    B: No, the weather was very bad, so we . (not/play)
  7. A: How the window? (you/break)
    B: We football. I the ball and it the window. (play / kick / hit)
  8. A: Jenny last night? (you/see)
    B: Yes, she a very nice jacket. (wear)
  9. A: What at 2 o’clock this morning? (you/do)
    B: I was asleep. (be)
  10. A: I my key last night. (lose)
    B: How into your room? (you/get)
    in through a window. (climb)

Unit 14: I was doing and I did • Full Interactive Textbook