1. Teacher Silvino Sieben
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
Teacher Silvino Sieben

2. Past continuous was were wasn’t weren’t - ing was not walking cooking
positive
negative I
He/She/It
was
not
walking
cooking
singing We
You
They
were
was
were
wasn’t
weren’t
n’t =
not
- ing
Put the verbs in past continuous form 1.
A man
was riding
(to ride)
a bike. 2.
Click on the verb to see the right answer. He
(to not drive)
wasn’t driving
a car. 3.
People
(to have)
were having
a picnic. 4.
They
weren’t eating
(to not eat)
at home.

3. Past continuous was were - ing was walking cooking singing were
Questions
What
Where
Why
was I
He/She/It
walking
cooking
singing
were We
You
They II
III
was
were
- ing
Answers
Yes No
Were you watching TV?
Yes, I was
No, I wasn’t
Were they studying English?
Yes, they were
No, they weren’t
I, he, she, it
Yes, … was
No, … wasn’t
We, you, they
Yes, … were
No, … weren’t
Complete the story with an appropriate verb in past continuous
do plant collect catch play
The mother looked through the window. What _____ her children
______? ____ Julia ________ flowers? No, she _______. She ____
_________the bouquet. ____ John ________ a butterfly?
Yes, he ____. The children _____ ________ in the garden.
were
doing
Was
planting
wasn’t
was
collecting
Was
catching
was
were
playing

4. Past continuous
The use of past continuous (put the verbs in the right form):
To express activities in progress before, and probably after, a particular time in the past
2) for descriptions
3) to express an interrupted past activity
4) To express an incomplete activity in the past in order to contrast with the Past Simple that expresses a complete activity. At
11 a.m.
Jovanny
(to cook)
was cooking
pizza in
an oven.
People
were playing
(to play)
drums in
the street.
The music
was spreading
(to spread)
around.
When
Click on the verb to see the right answer.
Susan
called, he
was watching
(to watch)
TV. I
(to draw)
was drawing
a plan
during
weekends,
but I
didn’t
finish
It.

5. Past continuous -e -ing X -ie -ying double always –l work ing enjoy
Spelling of verb + -ing
Most verbs add -ing to the base form of the verb.
When the verb ends in –e, leave out -e before –ing.
If the stress is on last syllable and the verb ends with one vowel + one consonant, double the consonant before adding –ing.
Always doubled –l, even if it’s not stressed
Verbs that end in -ie, change the –ie to –y + -ing
-ing -e X
work
ing
enjoy
ing
wash
ing
hope
ing
smile
ing
dance
ing
double
stop
ping
plan
ning
prefer
ring
always –l
Click on the ball for animation
travel
ling
cancel
ling
-ie
-ying
die
dying
lie
lying
tie
tying

6. Homework: put the verbs in the past continuous tense:
The students ____ (to study) during the break yesterday.
Those in favor of the bill ____ (to debate) yesterday.
Her shrink___ (to decide) whether to give her medicine or not.
Jenny and her sister ___ (to play) the piano last weekend.
____ Susan ____ (to wait) for the mailman this morning?
They ___ (not to expect) to see me today.
Thomas ____ (not to write) in his room when I arrived.
___ the men ____ (to work) during the match last Sunday?
Their pets ____ (to eat) at home when they were out.
Those piano players ____ (to have fun) at the bar.