The Approximate: The past continuous

The past continuous:

FORM

[was/were + present participle]

Examples:

Positive	Negative	Question
I was singing.	I was not singing.	Was I singing?

SUBJECT : Simple Past and Past Continuous

A) Put the following verbs in the past continuous form ( affirmative- negative and interrogative) :

1. Play……………………………………………………………………….

2. say……………………………………………………………………….

3. read……………………………………………………………………….

4. do……………………………………………………………………….

5. buy……………………………………………………………………….

6. think……………………………………………………………………….

7. listen……………………………………………………………………….

B) Fill in the blanks with a correct form of PAST CONTINUOUS:

1. It was very cold. The sun ………. was not shining. …………………. (not / shine)

2. It wasn’t a stormy night. The wind ……………………………………. (not / blow)

3. He wasn’t sleeping. He …………………………………….. (look) at the ceiling.

4. They were having a rest. They …………………………………….. (not / work).

5. They were very happy. They …………………………………. (enjoy) the party.

6. He was at home. He ………………………………. (watch) a movie on TV.

7. He was getting worse. He …………………………………… (not / recover).

8. We …………………………………. (travel) in the north of Turkey when we were on

holiday.

9. She …………………………………. (drive) so fast when the accident happened.

10. I …………………………………(not / sleep) when you came in.

C) Fill in the blanks with a correct form of PAST CONTINUOUS:

1. Alice hurt herself while she ……………………………………………. (skate).

2. I met my neighbor while I ………………………………………. (walk) home from work.

3. Sally saw a friend while she …………………………….. (ride) her bicycle along Park St.

4. Peter fell asleep while he …………………………………… (study).

5. Bob stepped on Jane’s feet while they ………………………………….. (dance) together.

6. I cut myself while I ……………………………………. (shave).

7. Mr. and Mrs. Brown burned themselves while they …………………………... (bake)

cookies.

8. Tommy had a nightmare while he …………………………….. (sleep) at a friend’s house.

The Approximate