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Learning materials/Grammar & Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.6 PAST continuous.doc
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PAST TENSE: The Past Continuous tense

I was doing.
This tense is used to say that somebody was in the middle of doing
something at a certain time. The action orsituation had already started
before this but had not finished.

Example of this in action:
• Yesterday Sanjit met Harjinder for lunch at one o’clock. They finished
at two o’clock. Therefore at onethirty, they were having lunch.

I started doing
Past

I was doing

I finished doing

past continuous

past

Examples
• This time last year I was working in Starbucks’.
• What was hedoing at ten o’clock yesterday?
• She was run over because she wasn’t looking where she was going.
• I did not hear the phone because I was cleaning the car.
• She was late for class because thebuses were running late.
• He repaired his car yesterday but got drenched as it was raining
continuously for 4 hours.
PTO/…
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Learning materials/Grammar &Punctuation/1. Tenses/1.6 PAST continuous.doc

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Have a look at Peter’s diary then complete the exercise below
This gives an account of Peter’s day
9-10

Gofor morning run

10-11

Shop for food

11-1

Do the accounts

1-2

Have lunch

2-5

Have meeting with Gosport and Company

5-6

Travel home

6-8

Watch television

8-9Prepare supper

Now answer the following questions. The first one has
been done for you.
1. What was Peter doing at 6.15? Answer: He was watching television.
2. What was Peter doing at 10.30 ?Answer:…………………………………………………
3. What was Peter doing at 2.45?

Answer:…………………………………………………

4. What was Peter doing at 8.20?

Answer:…………………………………………………

5. What was Peter doing at 11 05?...