Bài tập môn Tiếng Anh Lớp 6 - Unit 6: Past continuous tense

UNIT 6	PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE 
GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT:
CONVERSATION: 
Malanie	: I rang at about three yesterday afternoon, but you weren’t in. I didn’t know where you were. 
David	: Oh, I was helping Mike. We were repairing his car. It took ages. We were working on it all afternoon.
Malanie	: It was raining. I hope you weren’t doing it outside.
David	: No, we were in the garage. So I didn’t get wet. But I’m afraid I got oil all over my new trousers.
Malanie	: Why were you wearing your new trousers to repair a car?
David	: I don’t know. I forgot I had them on.
GRAMMAR PRESENTATION;
The past continuous is the past tense of be + an -ing form. We use this tense with actions. We do not normally use it with stative verbs.
	I/he/she/it was playing.
	You/ we/ they were playing.
	NEGATIVE	QUESTION
	I/he/she/it wasn’t playing.	Was I/he/she/it playing?
	You/we/they weren’t playing.	Were you/we/they playing?
USES AND EXAMPLES
	The past continuous means that at a time in the past we were in the middle of an action.
Ex: I had a wonderful dream last night. I was sitting in a park. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing. Children were playing and laughing. It was very peaceful. I didn’t want to wake up.
The past continuous is chiefly used for:
. a past action in progress at that very moment of past time. The action began before the specific time and may or may not continue after the specific time
Ex: At eight, he was having breakfast.
Ex: I asked them to be quiet. I was trying to hear what the man was saying.
‚. a continuous activity during a specified period in the past. The activity went on for the whole period.
Ex: I was working all day last Saturday.
Ex: I was reviewing my lesson between two o’clock and three 
ƒ. an action which was in progress when another action happened. 
Ex: When I arrived, Tom was talking on the phone. (An action started before another past action used in the simple past and probably continued after it. The past continuous comes after as, while, or when)
Compare: 	- When our visitor arrived, my wife was making tea. (Duration of an action focused)
	- When our visitor arrived, my wife made tea. (Completion of an action is focused)
„. two or more past actions in progress at the same time
Ex: While/ As I was reading, Linda was playing the piano.
…. used without a time expression, it can indicate gradual development.
Ex: It was getting darker.
†.with “forever, constantly, always” for a frequently repeated past action, which probably annoyed the speaker.
Ex: My uncle was always putting cigarette ends on the floor when he was with us. 
The following time expressions are frequently used with this tense: a few minutes (moments) ago, at that time, then, just, still, all (evening), an hour ago, 
Note: The Simple Past of “be going to” is used to express Past Intention. This structure is also known as future in the past
Ex: I was going to do it yesterday, but I had no time.
FOCUSED PRACTICE
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the simple past or the past continuous of the verbs in brackets. 
He (sleep) soundly when he (awaken – passive) by a noise. He (go) downstairs to find out what (happen). He (know) something must be wrong because the dog (bark) furiously.
I (look) for you in the theatre all evening. Where you (sit)?
When I arrived, the lecture had already started and the professor (write) on the overhead projector.
He (not allow) us to go out in the boat yesterday as a strong wind (blow).
As I (cross) the road, I (step) on a banana skin and (fall) heavily. I still (lie) on the road when I (see) a lorry approaching. Luckily, the driver (see) me and (stop) the lorry in time.
She was very extravagant. She always (buy) herself new clothes.
He watched the children for a moment. Some of them (bathe) in the sea; others (look) for shells; others (play) in the sand.
I was alone in the house at that time because Mr. Jones (work) in the garage, and Mrs. Jones (shop).
He was a little mad. He always (try) to prove that the earth (be) flat.
While he (water) the flowers, it (begin) to rain. He (put) up his umbrella and (go) on watering.
As we (come) here, a policeman (stop) us. He (say) that he (look) for some stolen property and (ask) if he could search the car.
I just (write) a cheque when I (remember) that I (have) nothing in the bank.
I (find) this ring as I (dig) in the garden. It looks very old. I wonder who it (belong) to?
The children (be) frightened because it (get) dark.
I’m afraid I must ask you both what you (do) yesterday between 10:20 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
At 3 a.m., Mrs. Pitt (wake) her husband and (say) that she (think) that someone (try) to get into the house.
It was a fine day and the roads were crowded because a lot of people (rush) to the seaside.
The director didn’t allow the actors to travel by air while they (work) on the film.
As he (get) into the bus it (start) suddenly and he (fall) backwards onto the road.
Tommy went to his friends' house, but the boys (be, not) there. They (play) soccer in the vacant lot down the street
Exercise 2: Write the sentences from the notes. Each sentence has one verb in the past continuous and one in the past simple.
 Example: 	when / he / carry / a suitcase / he / drop / it / on his foot
	à When he was carrying a suitcase, he dropped it on his foot.
he / break / his leg / when / he / ski //
he / sit down / on a chair / while / I / paint / it //
as / he / run / for a bus / he / collide / with a lamp post //
his hair / catch / fire / when / he / cook / chips //
when / he / hold / a beautiful vase / he / suddenly / drop / it //
he / sit / in the garden / when / a wasp / sting / him / on the nose //
at six o’clock/ this morning/ I /have/ a wonderful dream/ but/ then/ the alarm/ go/ off //
I/ saw/ Sed/ when/ I/ come/ to work/ this morning/ he/ shop //
I/ look out/ of the window/ and/ see/ that/ we/ fly/ over the mountain //
I/ go/ to see/ how/ she/ be/ and/ found/ she/ cry //
Exercise 3: Write a second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the word in parentheses.
 Example: 	There were lights on the spacecraft. (had)
	à The spacecraft had lights on it.
I had my old coat on. (wearing)
I was on holiday, and you were on holiday, too. (we)
It isn’t true that I made a mistake. (didn’t)
The boys were in the middle of a game of cards.
No one told me about the change. (didn’t)
My friend was the winner of the competition. (won)
Is it a fact that the Romans built this wall? (did)
COMMUNICATION PRACTICE
4. Speaking:
Complete each sentence in two ways. In A, use the past continuous to say what was happening at the time. In B, use the simple past to say what happened next.
When I got to the airport,....
A	: the company driver was waiting for me.
B	: I went straight to the meeting.
When I got to work this morning, 
A	:	
B	:
When the accident happened, 
A	:
B	:
When they decided to close down the factory,../.
A	:
B	:
5. Listening: 
Listen to the manager and the office assistant. Yesterday and today, the assistant was trying to do many things. Which actions did the assistant complete? Cross the number beside each completed item
Typed the reports
Started to write down phone messages
Organized all the files
Made photocopies
Found pencils
Got coffee
Finished lunch
Gave phone messages to the manager
Answered all the phone calls
Broke the photocopier
Went to the supply closet
6.Editing: Read Monique's letter to a friend. Find and correct eleven mistakes in the use of the simple past tense and the past continuous tense. The first mistake is already corrected
Dear Crystal,
I was writing chapter two of my new book when I thought of you. The last time I saw you, you walked down the aisle to marry Dave. That was more than two years ago. How is married life?
	A lot has happened in my life since that time. While I worked at Lenox Hospital, I began writing. In 2000, I was publishing a book on women's health issues. It was quite successful here in Australia. I even got interviewed on TV. When I was getting a con tract to write a second book, I decided to quit my hospital job to write full time. That's what I'm doing now. Paul, too, has had a career change. While I was writing, he was attending law school. Ha was getting his degree last summer
	Oh, the reason I though of you while I wrote was because the chapter was about rashes. Remember the time you were getting that terrible rash? We rode our bikes when you were falling into a patch of poison ivy. And that's how you met Dave! When you were falling off the bike, he offered to give us a ride home. Life's funny, isn't it?
	Well, please write soon, and send my love to Dave. I miss you!
Monique
7.Writing. 
Write about a relationship that is important to you. How did you meet? What were you doing when you met? Describe some events in the relationship?