1.     The Past Continuous tense shows an action that was going on in the past and then something suddenly happened. This tense is often used with words like ‘while’, ‘when’ and ‘as’.

e.g.     When their mother came home, they were playing computer games.

 

2.      We also use the Past Continuous tense for an action that was going on at a given time or period of time in the past.

e.g.     We were watching television at 9 o’clock last night.

 

3.      We can also use the Past Continuous tense to show two actions going at the same time in the past.

e.g.     While Mrs. Chan was knitting, Mr. Chan was reading the newspapers.

 

Exercise 1

1.          While I _________________ (write) a letter, my mother _________________(walk) in.

2.          He ________________ (twist) his ankle as he ________________ (go) up the stairs.

3.          While I ________________(have) my bath, I _________________(hear) a scream.

4.          I ________________(meet) your brother when I ________________(walk) down the street.

5.          We ________________(wait) for Kitty at one o’clock yesterday afternoon.

6.          While the pupils _______________(shout) in the room, the headmaster _____________(walk) in.

7.          I ________________(rain) this morning when I _____________(woke) up.

8.          While you ________________(play) with May, I _________________(study) for my test.

9.          She _____________(burn) her fingers while she _________________(bake) the cake.

10.      While you _______________________(not look). He spilled the bottle of water.

11.      Those men __________________(paint) my house all yesterday afternoon.

12.      I __________________(enjoy) myself at the party when he ______________(rush) in.

13.      While the ant _______________(work) all summer, the grasshopper ______________(play) in the sun.

14.      He ___________________(jump) off the bus while it ________________(still move) on the road.

15.      ‘What ___________you ________________(do) at 9 last night?’

‘Oh, I ____________________(read) a book.’

 

 

Exercise 2

 

1.      While I _________________ (go) to school yesterday, I ______________(see) Miss Chin.

2.      He ________________ (hurt) his ankle as he ________________ (play) football.

3.      I ________________(wash) my hands when the telephone _________________(ring).

4.      When we _______________(reach) his house last night, he and his wife _________________(laugh).

5.      Just as he ________________(come) out of the shop, he ________________(meet) his old friends.

6.      As my sister _______________(run) down the steps, she _____________(trip) over a brick.

7.      At 6 o’clock yesterday I _____________(wait) for you at the cinema. I _________________(wait) until it was seven, then I _______________(go) in to see the film alone.

8.      I made it just in time. When I ______________(reach) school this morning, the bell ____________(ring) and all the pupils ________________(walk) into their classrooms.

9.      As I ___________________(get) into the bus, it suddenly _____________(start) to move.

10.  They _______________(watch) television when the fire _______________(break) out.

11.  She _________________(sit) on the chair when she suddenly _________________(scream) out.

12.  He _________________(sit) down and ________________(read) a book while I _______________(do) my sums.

13.  At nine o’clock last night I ______________(read) an interesting book when the light ____________(go) out.

14.  When I _________________(walk) into the room, they _____________________(have) their dinner. They _________________(take) no notice and ____________________(go) on eating.

15.  I __________________(look) for my pencil when I found that I ___________________(have) it in my pocket all the time.