LESSON
GRAMMAR
Past continuous
STUDY
Past continuous
Subject
was/were
(
not
)
Verb +
-ing
He
was
getting
the tray.
We
were not
walking
down the hall.
Was/Were
Subject Verb +
-ing
Was
she
helping
Mr. Sánchez? Yes, she was. / No, she wasn’t.
Were
you
talking
on the phone? Yes, I was. / No, I wasn’t.
See page 158 for a review of the past forms of the verb
be
.
See page 158 for a review of spelling rules for continuous forms.
PRACTICE
A
Circle the correct past continuous form.
1.
A nurse
was / were
walking down the hall and slipped.
2.
The janitor
was / were
mopping the floor, so it was wet.
3.
Was / Were
you waiting for a phone call earlier?
4.
The workers
wasn’t / weren’t
eating their lunch at the usual time.
5.
I
was / were
hoping to make an appointment for today, but I couldn’t.
6.
We
wasn’t / weren’t
expecting you to be here so soon.
7.
Was / Were
Frank organizing the stock room this morning?
B
Complete the conversations with the correct past continuous form of the verbs.
1. Nurse 1:
Was
the aide
talk
on her phone?
Nurse 2:
No, she
. She
send
a message.
2. Susan:
I
finish
my rounds and saw the accident.
Henry:
you
plan
to visit Mr. Sánchez?
Susan:
No, I
.
3. Orderly:
the patients
wait
for the nurse?
Manager:
Yes, they
. But they
not / wait
for very long.
C
Then practice the conversations.
PAIRS
What were you doing yesterday at noon? at 4
P
.
M
.? at 8
P
.
M
.? Tell your partner.
Statements
Yes
/
No
Questions
Short Answers
talking
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
5
Use the past continuous for
actions that were in progress
at a specific time in the past.
Grammar Note
UNIT 3
39
