What did they do last Sunday?

At 3:00 pm last Sunday, what were they doing?

The Past Continuous Tense

Specific time in the past Use Specific time in the past We use it to talk about actions that were happening at a specific time in the past.

They were doing the following: Grandfather was reading the newspaper at 3:00 pm last Sunday. Grandmother was knitting at 3:00 pm last Sunday. The girl was listening to music at 3:00 pm last Sunday. Father was sleeping at 3:00 pm last Sunday.

2nd Use Parallel Actions We use the past continuous tense to talk about two or more actions which were taking place at the same time in the past.

While Grandfather was reading the newspaper while grandmother was knitting. I was studying as my brother was watching T.V.

Interrupted Actions 3rd Use We use the Past Continuous to talk about a long action in the past that was interrupted by another short action.

The couple were singing songs when the fire broke out What were the couple doing when the fire broke out? The couple were singing songs when the fire broke out

He was playing video games when the bell rang. Long action Short action What was he doing when the bell rang? He was playing video games when the bell rang.

What was she doing when the fire broke out? She was talking on the phone when the fire broke out.

They were playing cards when the dog barked. What were they doing when the dog barked? They were playing cards when the dog barked.

Keywords While / As When All day/night/morning All day yesterday

Why did we use the past continuous tense in these examples? Last night at 6 p.m, I was eating dinner. I was studying while he was making dinner I was studying when she called.

Answers Last night at 6 p.m, I was eating dinner.(Specific time in the past) I was studying while he was making dinner.(Parallel Actions) I was studying when she called.(Interrupted action)

Exercise 1 When I phoned my friends, they (play)_________ monopoly. Yesterday at six I (prepare)___________dinner. The kids (play)______in the garden when it suddenly began to rain. I (practice)________the guitar when he came home. While Alan (work)______in his room, his friends (swim)____in the pool. What (you / do)_______ at 8 p.m. yesterday? I (listen)__________to the radio while my sister (watch)_____________TV. When I arrived, they___________ (play) cards. We (study)____________English yesterday at 1:00 pm .

Answers When I phoned my friends, they (play) were playing monopoly. Yesterday at six I (prepare)was preparing dinner. The kids (play) were playing in the garden when it suddenly began to rain. I (practice) was practicing the guitar when he came home. While Alan (work) was working in his room, his friends (swim) swam in the pool. What (you / do) were you doing at 8 p.m. yesterday? I (listen) listened to the radio while my sister (watch) was watching TV. When I arrived, they were playing (play)cards. We (study) were studying English yesterday at 1:00 pm .

Form Affirmative - I, He, She, It + was + v-ing I was studying. He was playing. - You, We, They + were + v-ing You were reading. They were sleeping.

Negative form - I, He, She, It + wasn’t(not) + v-ing I wasn’t (not) studying. He wasn’t (not) playing. - You, We, They + weren’t(not) + v-ing You weren’t (not) reading. They weren’t (not) sleeping. Negative Form

Question form - Was + He, She, It + v-ing. Was he working Question form - Was + He, She, It + v-ing? Was he working? - Were + you, we, they + v-ing? Were they working? Short answers - Yes, he, she, it + was. you, we, they were. - No, he, she, it + wasn’t. you, we, they + weren’t. Question Form

Activity. yesterday Mandy 1- Yesterday at 4:00 pm Mandy was feeding her dog.(Affirmative) 2- Yesterday at 4:00 pm Mandy wasn’t studying. (Negative) 3- Was she feeding her dog yesterday at 4:00pm?(Question) Yes, she was. (Short answer)