GRAMMAR FILE UNIT 2

REFERENCE questions
Was I/he/she/it
waiting?
talking about the past Were we/you/they

past simple short answers

positive I/he/she/it was.

Yes,
I/He/She/It/We/You/They helped at the event. we/you/they were.

I/He/She/It/We/You/They went to the event. I/he/she/it wasn’t.

No,
we/you/they weren’t.
negative
We use the past continuous to:
I/He/She/It/We/You/They didn’t help at the event.
• talk about an action in progress in the past.
I/He/She/It/We/You/They didn’t go to the event.
I was playing video games.
questions We were eating breakfast.
Did I/he/she/it/we/you/they help at the event? • set the scene in a story.
Did I/he/she/it/we/you/they go to the event? The sun was shining.
My dad and brother were watching TV.
short answers We use the past simple for an action that interrupts or happens
Yes, I/he/she/it/we/you/they did. during another action in progress in the past. For the action in
progress, we use the past continuous.
No, I/he/she/it/we/you/they didn’t.
Claudette was studying in Pisa when she met Katerina.
We use the past simple to talk about: We can use while instead of when, but we put while before the
• an action that started and finished in the past. past continuous verb.
David finished his maths homework. Dan heard the news while he was reading through his social
• one completed past action after another. media account.
I got home and sat down. When Dan heard the news, he was reading through his social
media account.
• a past habit or regular past event.
Maria and Eva visited the lake everyday on their holiday. stative verbs
Note: Look at the spelling changes: We don’t usually use stative verbs in the past continuous form.
help – helped practise – practised See page 126 for more information on stative verbs.
study – studied chop – chopped
-ing form
past continuous We use the -ing form:
positive • as the subject or object of a sentence.
Eating vegetables is good for you.
I/He/She/It was
waiting. I really love surfing!
We/You/They were
• after prepositions.
negative I always end up leaving my keys at home.
I/He/She/It wasn’t I went home after finishing my game.
waiting. • after some verbs: begin, continue, enjoy, finish, hate, like, love,
We/You/They weren’t
imagine, practise, remember, start, stop, suggest.
I remember stopping at the shop on the way home.
I continued playing in the rain.

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PRACTICE 5 Choose the correct verb forms to complete the sentences.
1 I didn’t know what he meant / was meaning about the
homework. Did you understand?
past simple 2 I thought / was thinking about what to do when my dad
called me.
1 Complete the sentences with the past simple form of the
verbs in brackets. 3 I heard / was hearing the good news while I was having
breakfast.
1 I (see) my friend last night.
4 I didn’t want to call him while he watched / was watching
2 I (enjoy) the book more than the film. the movie.
3 The lesson (not end) on time. 5 I completely believed / was believing what that man said.
4 We (speak) Italian when we were on holiday. 6 Jack understood / was understanding everything.
5 Where (you/be) last night? 7 We didn’t have / weren’t having time for breakfast
6 I (not want) the night to end. because Emma was waiting for us.
8 He was hiding behind a tree, so I didn’t see / wasn’t
2 Read the sentences and complete the questions. seeing him.
1 I saw Connor yesterday morning.
Who ? -ing form
2 The concert ended really early.
When ? 6 Complete the sentences with the correct form of these
verbs.
3 They left the party at about 11 p.m.
What time ? do ​eat ​listen ​look ​paint ​play ​say ​swim ​talk ​think
4 The teacher gave us a lot of homework.
How much ? 1 is probably the best form of exercise.
5 The old man told them a story. 2 Ella doesn’t like in front of everyone else in
class. She’s very shy.
What ?
3 I didn’t want to go to the museum – I’m not interested in

past continuous 4 After

at old things.
my dinner, I went round my friend’s
3 Complete the sentences with the past continuous form of house and we watched a film.
the verbs in brackets. 5 Without , I ran into the garden and rescued
1 What (you/do) at this time last week? the cat!
2 I (not consider) entering the competition. 6 to music is the most relaxing hobby.
3 (your sister/play) tennis in the park on 7 You shouldn’t leave without goodbye –
Saturday? it’s rude!
4 The internet (not work) at home, so 8 My dad finished my room yesterday. It
I couldn’t go online. looks great!
5 (it/rain) on your way home yesterday? 9 Experts say that by homework, students
learn to manage their time better.
6 I had the TV switched on, but I (not pay)
attention to it. 10 I hate chess with my brother. He always wins!

4 Complete the sentences with the past simple or past 7 Complete the sentences to make them true for you.
continuous form of the verbs in brackets. Use -ing forms.

1 I (do) the washing-up while I was listening 1 is one of my favourite activities.

to the song. 2 I can’t stand .
2 When I (come) in, my friends were waiting 3 I love .
for me. 4 I don’t like very much.
3 I (tidy) my room when the phone rang. 5 I sometimes watch TV after .
4 Our team (win) until the others scored in 6 I’m not very keen on .
the last minute.
7 I hate .
5 It (rain) when I went out for a walk
8 I never go to bed without .
yesterday morning.
6 The sun (shine) when we left the house.

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