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Unit 14 · Past

I was doing (past continuous) and I did (past simple)

Study

A
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Jack was reading a book. His phone rang.

What happened? His phone rang (past simple) What was Jack doing when his phone rang? (past continuous) He was reading a book.

What did he do when his phone rang? He stopped reading and answered his phone. (past simple)

Jack began reading before his phone rang. So when his phone rang, he was reading.

B
past simple past continuous
A: What **did** you **do** yesterday morning? A: What **were** you **doing** at 10.30?
B: We **played** tennis. (from 10 to 11.30) B: We **were playing** tennis.
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Jack read a book yesterday. (= from beginning to end)

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Jack was reading a book when his phone rang.

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Did you watch the game on TV last night?

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Were you watching TV when I phoned you?

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It didn't rain while we were on holiday.

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It wasn't raining when I got up.

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I started work at 9 o'clock and finished at 4.30. At 2.30 I was working.

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It was raining when we went out. (= it started raining before we went out)

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I saw Lucy and Steve this morning. They were waiting at the bus stop.

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Kelly fell asleep while she was reading.

Exercises (2)

0/2 exercises checked
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14.1

Look at the pictures. Put the verbs in the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

  1. 1Woman with arm in cast beside fallen ladder and paint
    Lucy {} (break) her arm last week.
    It (happen) when she (paint) her room. She (fall) off the ladder. example
  2. 2Woman getting off a train, two friends waiting
    The train {} (arrive) at the station and Paula {} (get) off. Two friends of hers, Jon and Rachel, {} (wait) to meet her.
  3. 3Woman and man with a bag stopping to talk on a street
    Yesterday Sue {} (walk) along the road when she {} (meet) James. He {} (go) to the station to catch a train and he {} (carry) a bag. They {} (stop) to talk for a few minutes.
14.2

Put the verb into the past continuous or past simple.

  1. 1
    a: What was the weather like when you got (get) up this morning?
    b: It (rain).example
  2. 2
    a: Was Jane busy when you went to see her?
    b: Yes, she (study).
  3. 3
    a: {} (Paul/call) you this morning?
    b: Yes, he (call) while I (have) breakfast.
  4. 4
    a: Was Tracey at work today?
    b: No, she (not/go) to work. She was ill.
  5. 5
    a: How fast {} (you/drive) when the police {} (stop) you?
    b: I'm not sure, but I (not/drive) very fast.
  6. 6
    a: {} (your team / win) the football match yesterday?
    b: The weather was very bad, so we (not/play).
  7. 7
    a: How {} (you/break) the window?
    b: We (play) football. I (kick) the ball and it (hit) the window.
  8. 8
    a: {} (you/see) Jessica last night?
    b: Yes, she (wear) a very nice jacket.
  9. 9
    a: What {} (you/do) at 2 o'clock this morning?
    b: I was asleep.
  10. 10
    a: I {} (lose) my key last night.
    b: How (you/get) into your room? a: I (climb) in through a window.