David’s Activities – Wednesday

Past Continuous Tense

(Прошедшее длительное время)

The Past Continuous Tense (прошедшее длительное время) образуется при помощи вспомогательного глагола –to be- в прошедшем времени was/were + Ving и выражает прошедшее действие в процессе его совершения, т.е. незаконченное длительное действие.

I was We

You were working You were working

He, she, it was They

Это время не сообщает нам о законченности действия. Мы используем Past Continuous Tense:

1. чтобы сообщить о действии, которое находилось в процессе совершения в определённый момент времени в прошлом:

At 3.15 yesterday afternoon, Mr. Jansen was seeing some clients in London.

What was Jane doing all morning yesterday?

She was having talks with the partners.

2. чтобы сообщить о действии, которое находилось в процессе совершения и было прервано другим действием:

We were discussing our expansion plans when the chairman suddenly announced his resignation.

3. когда два действия находились в процессе совершения одновременно в прошлом. (-while-)

While we were having a swim in the lake, Mary was preparing a surprise for us.

* Некоторые глаголы в Past Continuous Tense не употребляются (см. Present Continuous Tense)

Exercises:

I. David’s colleague Jack (who doesn’t have enough work to do) has tried to phone him several times without success. Complete their conversation by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the Past Continuous.

David’s Activities – Wednesday

9.00 – 10.00 make some phone calls to clients 10.00 – 11.00 see Sue Tims (her office) 11.00 – 11.15 have coffee with JC (canteen) 11.15 - 1.00 meeting with designer 1.00 - 2.00 lunch with designer

JACK: I rang at 9.15 and again at 9.30 but the phone was engaged. Who (1) were you talking (you/talk) to?

DAVID: Oh, I (2) _______________ (call) some clients.

JACK: And I tried again at 10.15, but there was no reply.

DAVID: At 10.15? I think (3) _______________ (discuss) the new catalogue with Sue Tims.

JACK: And then I rang back again at 11.10.

DAVID: Yes, I was out. I (4) _______________ (have) a coffee in the canteen.

JACK: I thought so, so I rang again at 11.30.

DAVID: I was out again. The new designer and I (5) _______________ (organize) the artwork for some adverts.

JACK: What (6) _______________ (you/do) at 1.30, then? I called again, and tried to leave a message but even the answering machine (7) _______________ (not/work)!

DAVID: I’d better have a look at it, but the designer and I (8) _______________ (have) lunch. Anyway, what did you want to talk about?

JACK: Oh, nothing special. I just wanted to try out my new mobile phone.

II. Use your own ideas to complete the sentences. Use the Past Continuous Tense.

Example: Tom burnt his hand while he was cooking dinner.

1. The doorbell rang while I ….

2. We saw an accident while we ….

3. Mary fell asleep while she ….

4. The television was on but nobody ….

5. I didn’t answer the phone because I ….

6. He tried to email you the file but his computer ….

7. Dick cut his finger when he ….

8. Jane phoned Harry every week when he ….

III. Choose the correct tense, Past Simple or Past Continuous.

I (1) met / was meeting an old business colleague of mine while I (2) travelled/was traveling to New York for a conference. She (3) noticed/was noticing me while I (4) stood/was standing in the queue at the airport check-in desk. We decided to travel together, and while we (5) waited/were waiting for the flight to leave, we (6) realized/were realizing that we were going to the same conference and staying at the same hotel. We talked about old times, and while we (7) had/were having lunch on the plane, she (8) said/was saying that she was going to look for a new job. I didn’t think of it at the time, but later on when the plane (9) came/was coming in to land, I suddenly (10) remembered/was remembering that we had a vacancy for a lawyer. I told her about the terms and conditions, and later that evening, when we (11) had/were having dinner, she (12) accepted/was accepting the position.

IV. In the following sentences put one of the verbs in brackets into the Past Continuous and the other verb into the Simple Past.

1. (wait, arrive) Jane … for me when I ….

2. (drive, happen) How fast … you when the accident …?

3. (try, see) I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last … him, he … to find a job in London.

4. (ring, talk) When the phone …, I … to the client.

5. (break, wash-up) While Mary …, she … a cup.

6. (wait, start) While we … for the train, it … to rain.

7. (met, study) Jim … to be a doctor, when he … Sally.

8. (go, meet) I first … Mr Rodrigues when I … round Mexico on a marketing trip.

9. (interrupt, give) When she … her presentation, someone at the back of the room … to ask a question.

10. (finalize, ring up) While my PA … arrangements for my trip to Brazil, the clients … to cancel the visit.

11. (notice, look) The auditors … a large unauthorized withdrawal when they … through the account.

12. (happen, clean) The worker who died … the chemical tank when the accident ….

13. (drop, take) One of the removal men … my computer when he … it into my office.

14. (work, approach) A headhunter … her when she … for ICL.

V. Translate the sentences.

1. Отец смотрел по телевизору аналитическую программу, в то время как я готовился к экзамену.

2. Тим ждал свою девушку в парке, когда неожиданно пошёл дождь.

3. - Что вы делали в это время в субботу?

- Мы играли в бейсбол.

4. Я видел тебя вчера. Ты шёл в кино с симпатичной девчонкой. – Правда? Нет, ты ошибся. Это был не я.

5. Они сидели за столом и ели спагетти, когда я вошёл.

6. В комнате было тихо. Джон рассказывал о своей поездке в Австралию.

7. Было ясное весеннее утро. Пуаро и Гастингс сидели в комнате Пуаро. Пуаро расчёсывал усы, Гастингс сидел в кресле.

8. Когда я пришла домой, мой младший брат сидел на стуле и плакал.

9. Мы работали над этой проблемой весь месяц, и мы пришли к очень интересным выводам.

10. Он писал этот доклад весь день вчера.

11. Ты ждал меня вера в 5? – Да, я ждал тебя, но ты не пришла.

12. Мисс Кэлли писала статью в газету весь вечер и просила нас не беспокоить.

13. Когда зазвонил телефон, Sam разговаривал с клиентом.

14. Я путешествовала по Италии со своими друзьями, когда познакомилась со своим будущим мужем.

15. Когда отец брился вчера вечером, он порезался.