It’s used to talk about We often use this tense We also use it to tall

an action in progress at to talk about two about an action in

a certain time in the simultaneous actions. progress interrupted
Past of to be+ the –ing form of the verb past. by another past
action.

Look at the Verbs

pictures
It is very often used
and fillAt in the blanks with
7 pm they
of thinking, liking, were watching
the past continuous or
She was coking
dinner while the
The light went out
the past simple
with this tense, but
“when” is also possible.
of one of the
not used in continuous
verbs in the children
being and possession are a terror film on
television.
notebook.were doing
their homework.
while I was watching
my favourite cartoon.
Lisa was studying when her mum arrived home.
forms. We
It’s
Weoften
used
alsouse
touse
talk
this
it about
to
tense
tall
1.
an action
to
about
talk in
an
about
progress
action
twoinat

2. While Ann was at the hairdresser’s, her boyfriend sent her a text simultaneous
aprogress
certain time
Past of to be+ the –ing form of bythe
interrupted
actions.
verb past
another
past.
in the

message. action.

3. At 6 pm Alice was buying lots of presents for her family. At 7 pm She

they
was coking
It is
Verbs
verywere
of
often
dinner
thinking,
watching
used
while
liking,
the
The light went out
4. While Bob and Helen were waiting for the bus it started to rain. with
being
“when”
this
not
a children
and
terror
tense,
possession
film
but
were
on doing
while I was watching
istelevision.
used
also
their
in
possible.
homework.
continuous
are

my favourite cartoon.
5. While Stella was talking to her boyfriend the waitress prepared them an forms.

exotic drink.
6. At 5 o’clock, Paul was leaving his
Lookoffice andandAnna
at the pictures was
fill in the with the paston
speaking
blanks her
continuous
or the past simple of one of the verbs in the notebook.
mobile phone. 1. Lisa …………………….. when her mum…………………….. home.
Look at the pictures and fill in the blanks with the past continuous
7. At 10 am Laura was giving a speech to her employees at her office.
2. While Ann…………………….. at the hairdresser’s, her boyfriend
or the past simple of one of the verbs in the notebook.
…………………….. her a text message.
1. Lisa …………………….. when her mum…………………….. home.
8. While Sue was sitting under a tree
3.
in the park her little cat was observing
At 6 pm Alice…………………….. lots of presents for her family.
2. While Ann…………………….. at the hairdresser’s, her boyfriend
4. While Bob and Helen……………….. for the bus it………………..
…………………….. her a text message.
her. to rain.
3. At 6 pm Alice…………………….. lots of presents for her family.
5. While Stella…………………….. to her boyfriend the waitress
9. When Linda was having breakfast the doorbell rang. 4. While Bob and Helen……………….. for the bus it………………..
…………….. them an exotic drink.
to rain.
6. At 5 o’clock, Paul……………….. his office and Anna………………..
10. Rob and Liz were jogging in the park when I saw them.5. While Stella…………………….. to her boyfriend the waitress
on her mobile phone.
…………….. them an exotic drink.
At 10 am Laura…………………….. a speech to her employees at
Frank and Sandra had a cup of coffee while they were watching the sun
7.
11. 6. At 5 o’clock, Paul……………….. his office and Anna………………..
her office.
on her mobile phone.
go down. 8. While Sue…………………….. under a tree in the park her little
7. At 10 am Laura…………………….. a speech to her employees at
cat…………………………..….. her.
her office.
12. When I went into the café Lana
9.
was serving food and drinks to the
When Linda…………………breakfast the doorbell ……………….. .
8. While Sue…………………….. under a tree in the park her little
10. Rob and Liz…………….. in the park when I……………….. them.
cat…………………………….. . her.
customers. 11. Frank and Sandra……………….. a cup of coffee while they
9. When Linda…………………breakfast the doorbell ……………….. .
……………….. the sun go down.
13. While Tina was looking at a dress
12. her husband was holding a pile of
10. Rob and Liz…………….. in the park when I……………….. them.
When I …………….. into the café Lana …………….. food and
11. Frank and Sandra……………….. a cup of coffee while they
drinks to the customers.
packets. 13.
……………….. the sun go down.
While Tina………….. at a dress her husband…………….. a pile of
12. When I …………….. into the café Lana …………….. food and
packets.
14. At 11 am Tim and Bella were walking
14.
in the town centre. drinks to the customers.
At 11 am Tim and Bella ………………..…….. in the town centre.
13. While Tina………….. at a dress her husband…………….. a pile of
15. At 12:30 my sister was sitting on
15.
a bench in the park reading the
At 12:30 my sister……………..……….. on a bench in the park
packets.
reading the newspaper.
14. At 11 am Tim and Bella ………………..…….. in the town centre.
newspaper. 16. Helen her…………………. hair when mum………………….. her
15. At 12:30 my sister……………..……….. on a bench in the park
for dinner.
reading the newspaper.
16. Helen was combing her hair when
17. mum called her for dinner.
Paul ………….…….. to Amanda while she………..……….. the piano.
16. Helen her…………………. hair when mum………………….. her
18. Lucy …………………….. on platform 2 when her train arrived at
17. Paul listened to Amanda while she was playing the piano. for dinner.
the station.
17. Paul ………….…….. to Amanda while she………..……….. the piano.
19. Anna …………….. asleep while she…………….. on her hammock.
18. Lucy was standing on platform 220.when her train arrived at the station.
18. Lucy …………………….. on platform 2 when her train arrived at
When Susan………………..………..back from the shops her
the station.
Anna fell asleep while she was lying on her hammock.
motorbike ……………………..….. down.
19. 19. Anna …………….. asleep while she…………….. on her hammock.
21. The three girls………………….. an agreement after talking for
20. When Susan………………..………..back from the shops her
20. When Susan was coming back from the shops her motorbike broke down.
over two hours.
motorbike ……………………..….. down.
21. The three girls………………….. an agreement after talking for
21. The three girls reached an agreement over
after talking for over two hours.
two hours.