UNIT 10 Past Continuous

Question 1

Past Continuous
Subject + was/were + verb+ING

Answer 1

We can use the past continuous
- to describe an activity happening in the past, often overlapping another interrupting action
* I was watching TV, when the phone rang
-to _describe the setting__for a story
* I was living in Spain at that time
-to describe a repeated action or habit in the past
* I was studying every day when I was at university

Question 2

Part 2 Questions
We can use this tense effectively to give the setting or background to an event.
Q: Describe a time you had to wake up early

Answer 2

A:
At that time, I was studying for my university exams
And I was getting up early every day (past habit)

Possible substitutes for getting up early:
_Burning the midnight oil _= working late into the night
Pouring over my books = studying my books a lot

Question 2

Part 2 Questions
We can use this tense effectively to give the setting or background to an event.
Q: Describe a time you had to wake up early

Answer 2

A:
At that time, I was studying for my university exams
And I was getting up early every day (past habit)

Possible substitutes for getting up early:
_Burning the midnight oil _= working late into the night
Pouring over my books = studying my books a lot

Question 3

Q: Describe a time you watched a play

Answer 3

A:
I remember I was visiting London on holiday,
And I decided to go to the theatre. I wanted to watch ‘The Lion King

Question 4

Q: Describe a time you got bored

Answer 4

A:
I was living in London at that time, And I got invited to a party
But it was so tedious.

Possible substitutes for tedious:
tiresome / monotonous /** mind-numbingly** boring

This tense is also commonly used to describe an activity in progress when a second activity begins

Question 5

Q: Describe a time you heard someone talking on the phone

Answer 5

A:
I was sitting on the train
on my way to work when this man started speaking loudly
on his mobile phone.