Past Continuous and Simple Past

Simple Past is used to:

— talk about a past event which took place at a definite point in time

We went to the theatre last night.

Shakespeare died in 1616.

Did you have a good time on holiday?

When did she come?

Who saw Peter yesterday?

What did you do at the weekend?

Why didn't you phone me on Tuesday?

Why were you so angry?

Was Tom at work on Friday?

— describe past states and habits

I smoked forty cigarettes a day till I gave up. He lived in Rome for ten years, (but not now)

— narrate events in sequence

We got home, opened the door and found the house empty. He left the hotel, took a taxi and drove to the theatre. The manager entered the office, sat down at the desk and began to look through the morning mail. When I arrived at the railway station I went to the booking office and bought a ticket.

— report statements and questions

He said that he was a stranger. She asked if I knew her brother.

— tell a story

There was once a man who lived in a small house in the country. One day he left his house and went into town. On his way he met...

*

past Continuous is used to:

— talk about something which was in progress at a past time. The action had started but it had not finished at that time.

"What were you doing at 6 o'clock last night?"

"I was watching the news on television."

Between 10 and 11 this morning I was reading.

I saw you yesterday evening. You were waiting for a bus.

Was Sue working at ten o'clock yesterday morning?

— talk about temporary actions in progress in the past

I was living abroad in 1987. It was raining all night.

— talk about actions which were in progress when something else happened

As/Just as/When/While I was leaving, the phone rang. While/When/As/Just as she was paying for the petrol, a boy stole her wallet from her car.

These are often introduced by conjunctions like when, as, just as and while, but the shorter action can be introduced by when:

We were having supper when the phone rang.

— talk about actions in progress at the same time

While I was reading, Joan was playing the piano.

— give background to an event

I looked out of the window. It was raining.

It was a warm summer day. The sun was shining and the

birds were singing.

— talk about arrangements in the past

Everybody was excited because they were leaving for Paris the next day.

— talk about repeated actions that happened too often

When I worked here I was always making mistakes. She was constantly breaking the dishes.

Past Continuous is also used in polite inquiries.

I was wondering if you could give me a lift.

Used to (/ used to do)

We use used to+infinitive to talk about past habits which are now finished.

Robert used to play football when he was younger, but he stopped playing 20 years ago. (= Robert played football regularly in the past, but he does not play now.)

More examples:

Kate used to go swimming a lot, but she never goes swim­ming now.

"Do you go to the cinema very often?" "Not now, but I used to."

We also use used to for past states and situations which are no longer true.

Robert used to be very slim when he was younger. I used to live in London, but I moved in 1980.

We only use used to to talk about the past. The negative of used to is normally didn 't use to (= did not use to)

I didn't use to live in London.

Jack didn't use to go out very often until he met Jill.

We also use never used to eg You never used to like classical music.

We normally form questions with did...use to... 1

Where did you use to live?

Did you use to like classical music?

Note: When we talk about past habits we can also use would.

When we were children we used to/would play Cowboys and Indians together.

When I was a child, my elder brother used to/would take me to the cinema every Saturday morning.

When we talk about past states, we can use used to, but not •would.

My grandfather used to be a policeman, (not: My grand­father would be...)

Self check

I. Use the Simple Past or the Past Continuous Tense.

1.1 (hear, not) the thunder during the storm last night because I (sleep). 2. It was beautiful yesterday when we went for a walk in the park. The sun (shine). A cool breeze (blow). The birds (sing). 3. My brother and sister (argue) about something when I (walk) into the room. 4. I (get) a package in the mail. When I (open) it, I (find) a surprise. 5. Stanley (climb) the stairs when he (trip) and (fall). Luckily, he (hurt, not) himself. 6. While Mrs Emerson (read) the little boy a story, he (fall) asleep, so she (close) the book and quietly (tiptoe) out of the room. 7.1 really (enjoy) my vacation last January. While it (snow) in Iowa, the sun (shine) in Florida. While you (shovel) snow in Iowa, I (lie) on the beach in Florida. 8. It was my first day of class. I (find, finally) the right room. The room (be, already) full of students. On one side of the room, students (talk, busily) to each other in Spanish. Other students (speak) Japanese, and some (converse) in Arabic. It (sound) like the United Nations. Some of the students, however, (sit, just) quietly by themselves. I (choose) an empty seat in the last row and (sit) down. In a few minutes, the teacher (walk) into the room and all the multilingual conversation (stop). 9. When I (arrive) she (have) lunch. She (apologize) for starting without me but said that she always (lunch) at 12.30.10. He (wear, always) a raincoat and (carry) an umbrella when he walked to the office. 11.1 (share) a flat with him when we were students. He (complain, always) about my untidiness. 12. He suddenly (realize) that he (travel) in the wrong direction. 13. He (play) the guitar outside her house when someone opened the window and (throw) out a

bucket of water. 14.1 (open, just) the letter when the wind (blow) it out of my hand. 15; The burglar (open) the safe when he (hear) footsteps. He immediately (put) out his torch and (crawl) under the bed. 16. The boys (play) cards when they (hear) their father's step. They immediately (hide) the cards and (take) out their lesson books. 17. He (not allow) us to go out in the boat yesterday as a strong wind (blow). 18. The traffic (make) so much noise that I couldn't hear what he (say). 19. She (stand) at the bus-stop. I asked her what bus she (wait) for. 20. When I (hear) his knock I (go) to the door and (open) it, but I (not recognize) him at first because I (not wear) my glasses. 21. While the guests (dance) thieves (break) into the house and (steal) a lot of fur coats. 22. She was very extravagant. She always (buy) herself new clothes. 23. Her mother often (tell) her that she (spend) too much money but she never (listen). 24. Mr Smith never (wake) up in time in the mornings and always (get) into trouble for being late; so one day he (go) to town and (buy) an alarm clock. To get home he (have) to go through a field where a bad-tempered bull usually (graze). This bull normally (not chase) people unless something (make) him angry, ynfortunately, as Mr Smith (cross) the field, his alarm clock (go) off. This (annoy) the bull, who immediately (begin) to chase Mr Smith. Mr Smith (carry) an open umbrella as it (rain) slightly. He (throw) the umbrella to the ground and (run) away as fast as he could. The bull (stop) and (begin) to attack the umbrella. While he (do) this Mr Smith escaped. 25. Why you (interrupt) me just now? I (have) a very interesting conversation with Mr Pitt. 26. As they (walk) along the road they (hear) a car coming behind them. Tom (turn) round and (hold) up his hand. The car (stop). 27. While he (make) his speech the minister suddenly (feel) faint. But someone (bring) him a glass of water and after a few minutes he (be able) to continue. 28.1 (see) you yesterday from the bus. Why you (use) a stick? — I (use) a stick because I had hurt my leg that morning falling off a horse. — Whose horse you (ride)? 29. How you (damage) your car so bad­ly? —-1 (run) into a lamp-post yesterday. — I suppose you (drive) too quickly or were not looking where you (go). 30.1 just (write) a cheque when I (remember) that I (have) nothing in the bank 31. He (say) that he (build) himself a house and that he (think) it would be ready in two years. 32. Why you (lend) him that book⁹ I (read, still) it. — I'm sorry. I (not know) that you (read, still) it

33. You (hear) what she just (say)? — No, I (listen, not). I (think) about something else. 34. Why you (not be) at the meeting? — I (wait) for an overseas call from my family. 35. I'm sure you met Carol Jones at the party last night. — I don't remember her. What (wear, she)? 36. How (break, you) your arm? — I (slip) on the ice while I (cross) the street in front of the dorm. 37. Peter and Ann. (decide) to redecorate their sitting-room themselves. They (choose) cream paint for the woodwork and apricot for the walls. When John (look) in to see how they (get) on, Ann (mix), the paint, and Peter (wash) down the walls. They (be) glad to see John and (ask) if he (do) anything special that day. He hastily (reply) he (go) to the theatre and (go) away at once, because he (know) they (look) for someone to help them. They (begin) painting, but (find) the walls (be) too wet. While they (wait) for the walls to dry, Ann (remember) she (have) a phone call to make. Peter (start) painting while she (telephone), and (do) a whole wall before Ann (come) back. He (grumble) that she always (telephone). Ann (retort) that Peter always (complain). They (work) in silence for some time. Just as they (start) the third wall, the doorbell (ring). It (be) a friend of Peter's who (want) to know if Peter (play) golf the following weekend. He (stay) talking to Peter in the hall while Ann (go) on painting. At last he (leave). Peter (return), expecting Ann to say something about friends who (come) and (waste) valuable time talking about golf. But Ann nobly (say) nothing. Then Peter (think) he would do the ceiling. He just (climb) the step ladder when the doorbell (ring) again. Ann (say) she (get) tired of interruptions but (go) and (open) the door. It (be) the postman with a letter from her aunt Mary, saying she (come) to spend the weekend with them and (arrive) that evening at 6.30. 38. We (not get) much sleep last night because the people next door (have) a noisy party. I (ring) up the landlord and (say) that his tenants (make) too much noise. He (point out) that it (be) Saturday and that people in his house often (have) parties on Saturday nights. 39. What you (do) before you (get) this job? — I (work) for Brown and Company. — And how long you (stay) with them? — I (stay) for about six months. I (leave) because they always (go) on strike. It (become) quite monotonous. 40. How you (break) your leg? — I (fall) off a ladder when I (put) up curtains. The worst of it (be) that it (be) just before the holidays and I (go) away, (had planned to go away) — So you

 

(not go) away? — No, of course not. I (cancel) my bookings and (spend) the holiday hobbling about at home. 41. My neighbour (look) in last night and (say) that he (leave) the district and (go) to Yorkshire to a new job. I (say) I (be) very sorry that he (go) and (tell) him to write to me from Yorkshire and tell me how he (get) on. 42. As the goalkeeper (run) forward to seize the ball a bottle (strike) him on the shoulder. 43. It (snow) heavily when he (wake) up. He (remember) that Jack (come) for lunch and (decide) to go down to the station to meet him in case he (lose) his way in the snowy lanes. 44. It (be) midnight and I (be) alone in the house. Outside it (rain) very hard. I (get) ready to go to bed when I suddenly (hear) a strange noise outside my room in the corridor. Then, when I (look) at the door, I (notice) that someone (turn) the handle! I (rush) over to the door and quickly (turn) the key in the lock. Then I (ask) in a trembling voice, "Who is it?" 45. When I (introduce) Tom to Ryan, they (shake) hands and (smile) at each other. 46. Chris (hurt) his finger when he was making his dinner last night. He accidentally (cut) it with a sharp knife.

II. Translate from Russian into English.

1. Вчера вечером шел сильный дождь, и мы не смогли пойти на стадион. 2. Я не ожидал тебя здесь встретить. Ко­гда ты приехал? 3. Я не успел на поезд в 10 часов и мне при­шлось ждать следующего целый час. 4. Мы не поняли друг друга. Я ждал его в здании университета, а он в это время ждал меня на улице. 5. Стюардесса попросила пассажиров пристегнуть ремни, так как самолет шел на посадку. 6. Ты вчера вечером был дома? — Нет, я ходил в театр. Мне очень понравился спектакль. Игра актеров была великолепной. 7. Когда ты был в отпуске последний раз? — Прошлой зи­мой. — Как ты его провел? — Прекрасно. Ходил на лыжах, катался на коньках. 8. Когда ты позвонил вчера, я был занят. Я переводил наш новый контракт. 9. Вчера я опоздал на урок английского языка. Когда я пришел, студенты писали сочи­нение. 10. Аня подмела пол, вымыла посуду, а потом стала готовить домашнее задание. 11. Вчера мы купались, загорали, катались на лодке, играли в теннис. Мы очень хорошо прове­ли время. 12. Шел ли дождь, когда ты вышел из дома? 13. Он спускался вниз по лестнице, когда я его увидел. 14. С кем ты

разговаривал, когда я встретил тебя в коридоре? 15. Что ты де­лала, когда я позвонила тебе вчера вечером? — Я готовила ужин. 16. Ты была вчера дома в 5 часов? — Нет, я была в университете. В это время я сдавала экзамен по грамматике. 17. В то время как я искал ключи в гостиной, моя жена иска­ла их в столовой. 18. Она без конца била посуду. 19. Она веч­но жаловалась. 20. Почему тебя не было на собрании вчера? — Я должен был встретить сестру на вокзале. 21. Когда ты виде­ла его в последний раз? — Неделю назад в библиотеке. 22. Пока я готовила обед, мой муж чинил автомобиль. 23. Ко­гда ты писал родителям в последний раз? — Месяц назад.

24. Мы жили в Москве 10 лет, а потом переехали в Минск.

25. Когда я вошел в зал, студенты все еще обсуждали первый доклад. 26. Мальчик ловил рыбу, когда он упал в воду. 27. Пять лет назад я имел обыкновение рано вставать. 28. Неделю на­зад я потерял свои очки, но два дня спустя я нашел их. 29. Стоял прекрасный летний день. Светило солнце и пели птицы. 30. Он был очень занят, когда я его видел, так как на следующий день он уезжал в командировку. 31. Почему ты был так сердит на него? 32. В прошлую субботу мой отец ходил на рыбалку и поймал много рыбы. 33. Почему ты не позвонил мне? — Я вернулся домой слишком поздно. 34. Кто видел вчера Елену? — Я. 35. Какие журналы он хотел пока­зать мне? — Я не знаю. 36. Вчера весь вечер они обсуждали планы на летний отпуск. 37. Вы работали на этом заводе три года тому назад? 38. Вы просмотрели вчера эти документы? 39. Мы ужинали, когда моя старшая сестра вернулась из уни­верситета. 40. Где ты встретил Анну? — Я встретил ее около библиотеки, когда возвращался домой. 41. Кто купил пода­рок для Джейн? — Ник. 42. Сколько писем вы напечатали вчера? — Двадцать. 43. Когда часы пробили двенадцать, мы пошли спать. 44. Я обедал, когда он мне позвонил. 45. Куда ты ходила после занятий? — В универмаг. 46. Когда он вер­нулся из Лондона? — Неделю тому назад. 47. Он ведь пока­зал тебе свою новую квартиру? 48. Дождь шел с пяти до се­ми. 49. Петр просматривал газеты, в то время как Аня смот­рела телепередачу. 50. Ты переводил статью весь вечер, не так ли? — Да, статья довольно трудная, и мне пришлось мно­гие слова смотреть по словарю. 51. Когда я пришел, маши­нистка все еще печатала мои документы. 52. В прошлом го-

 

ду было много снега? — Да. 53. Когда вы получили это пись­мо? — Вчера утром. 54. Погода была хорошая, и дети попро­сили меня повести их в парк. 55. На уроке английского язы­ка преподаватель задавал вопросы, а мы отвечали на них. 56. Я прочитал изложение сестры. В нем было несколько ошибок. 57. Где вы его видели на прошлой неделе? — Мы видели его в театре. 58. Кто навестил вас вчера? — Друзья моего сына. 59. Где ты была сегодня после обеда? Я прихо­дила к тебе, но тебя не было дома. 60. В котором часу ты сегодня обедал? — Я обедал в два. 61. Он пожал мне руку и пожелал успеха в работе.