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Grammar Unit 3

This document provides a summary of grammar rules for using the past continuous and past simple tenses in English. It explains that the past continuous describes actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past, while the past simple describes completed actions or those that interrupted ongoing actions. It provides examples of using the past continuous and past simple together in sentences as well as questions and short answers using these tenses.

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28 views1 page

Grammar Unit 3

This document provides a summary of grammar rules for using the past continuous and past simple tenses in English. It explains that the past continuous describes actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past, while the past simple describes completed actions or those that interrupted ongoing actions. It provides examples of using the past continuous and past simple together in sentences as well as questions and short answers using these tenses.

Uploaded by

eva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Grammar reference

Past continuous Past simple and


Affirm ative Negative past continuous
I was working. I wasn't (was not) working. • we often use the past continuous with the past
You were playing You weren't (were not) simple in the same sentence
games. playing games. I was cycling in the park when I had an accident.
He/She/It was sleeping. He/She/It wasn't (was not)
• we use the past continuous to describe activities
sleeping.
which were in progress
We/You/They were We/You/They weren't (were
I was cycling in the p ark...
taking photos. not) taking photos.
• we use the past simple to describe an action which
we use the past continuous to describe activities in interrupted the activity
progress at a specific time in the past
when I had an accident.
I was practising the piano at four o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
when and while
we use subject + was/were + verb -ing
• we use when before the past simple and while before
He was watching TV until 11 o'clock last night.
the past continuous
we use not to form the negative She was washing the dishes when she broke a plate.
She wasn't listening to music earlier. While she was washing the dishes, she broke a plate.

Yes/No q u estio n s Short an sw ers


Was I wearing a hat? Yes, you were.
No, you weren't.
Were you having lunch? Yes, I was.
No, I wasn't.
Was he/she/it walking? Yes, she/he/it was.
No, she/he/it wasn't.
Were we/you/they Yes, we/you/they were.
eating? No, we/you/they weren't.

• in yes/no questions we use was/were before the


subject
Were you carrying the camera yesterday?
Was Nina working yesterday?

• we don't repeat the verb -ing in short answers


Were they talking in class?
No, they weren't.
Was it raining yesterday?
Yes, it was.

• with wh- questions the word order is wh- question


word + was/were + subject + verb -ing
What were they talking about?
Where was she staying in Paris?

In fluen ce 2 • © M acm illan Education Lim ited 2020 • Your In flu en ce A2+

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