Essential reading: SPINČIĆ, A., An English Textbook For Marine Engineers I., Pomorski fakultet, Rijeka LUZER, J., SPINČIĆ, A., Gramatička vježbenica engleskog jezika za pomorce, Pomorski fakultet, Rijeka Tomislav Skračić, MA Undergraduate English Course for MARINE ENGINEERS 1st Semester

Study these sentences: The engine room was taking in water so that the vessel was slowly sinking. The passengers were trying to get into the lifeboats. It was getting darker. The Carpathia was heading for Rijeka when she received the distress signal. It was dawning. Yesterday evening Ana watched TV from seven o´clock until ten. While she was watching TV, the phone rang. It was John: he asked her out. The Past Continuous (the “ing” form)

The Past Continuous is used to describe: THE PAST CONTINUOUS – USE - a lasting (continuous) action in the past E.g. The coastguard cutter was searching for other survivors. It was raining cats and dogs. - an action gradually developing in the past E.g. It was getting dark. The ship was slowly sinking. - the background activity against which something suddenly happened E.g.John came home while we were having dinner. We were having dinner when John came home. NOTE: These actions are not connected to the moment of speaking – they are finished.

the verb BE + main verb with “ing” ending. was / were + playing 1.I was playing. 2.You were playing. 3.He / She / It was playing. 1.We were playing. 2.You were playing. 3.They were playing. How to form The Past Continuous

the verb to be + the main verb with “ing” ending. was / were + playing NOTE: The following changes take place when adding the ending “ing”: a verb ending in silent –e drops the vowel Ex. come – coming after a short vowel the consonant doubles Ex. sit – sitting run – running stop – stopping -ie changes into – y at the end of a verb Ex. lie – lyingtie – tying BUT: cry – crying How to form The Past Continuous

Questions are formed by reversing the order of the auxiliary and the main verb: Examples: The wind was increasing. Was the wind increasing? The engines were running smoothly. Were the engines running smoothly? How were the engines running? The Past Continuous – Questions

Auxiliary verb BE + not + main verb I was not listening to the radio. She was not listening to the radio. Marta and Petra were not listening to the radio. NOTE: The short forms wasn’t and weren’t in everyday speech. She wasn’t listening to the radio. They weren’t listening to the radio. The Past Continuous - Negations

The Past Simple or Continuous? Tim Clancy, the detective, __________ (open) the door and __________ (enter) the room. It __________ (be) dark, so he __________ (switch) on the light. Loud music __________ (play) on the radio. A man __________ (lie) motionless on the floor. There __________ (be) blood all over the carpet. The window __________ (be) open and the curtains __________ (flutter) in the wind. Tim __________ (walk) quickly over to the window and __________ (look) out. As he __________ (stand) there the telephone __________ (start) to ring. “Hello”, he __________ (say). Nobody __________ (answer). He __________ (can) hear that somebody __________ (breath) heavily.