Your English lesson for the day is on the past continuous tense

Hello Students,

One of the most common questions I get from students has to do with the difference between the past tense and the past continuous tense. Sometimes they're very similar; however, they aren't the same.

Use the past tense for actions that took place in the past:

- I went to work.

- We ate dinner last night.

- Sandra lived in New York.

Use the past continuous tense for actions that took place in the past, but these actions were ongoing over a period of time, or the action took place while something else was happening:

- As I was going to work, I noticed my fuel tank was empty.

- While we were eating dinner last night, we talked about the election results.

- Sandra learned how to be a great artist during the time she was living in New York.

To form the past continuous tense, use this formula:

S + was / were + (main verb)ing

Yellow Level Lesson Eight provides more help if you need it.

Now try this exercise. I'll post the answers at the bottom of the page and make an audio recording so that you can listen to the way I pronounce the words.

The past continuous tense

 
Directions: Write the main verb in the past continuous tense.  Some verbs are negative.
the answers in your notebook. Check your answers below. 

 
1. We ________ ________ such a good time we didn't want to leave. (have)
2. Why ________ that guy ________ so mean to you? (be) 
3. My car ________ _________ noise, so I took it in to be fixed. (make)
4. Her phone ________ ________.  (work -- negative)
5. Bob ________ ________ attention to the teacher. (pay -- negative)
6. You ________ ________ last night. (snore)
7. Who ________ they ________ to? (talk)
8. What ________ she ________ last night? (do)
9. Ten years ago Yolanda and Juan ________ ________ in Mexico. (live)
10. I'm sorry, I ________ ________.  (think -- negative) 

The answers are below. You can also listen to the answers here on the blog.

The word of the day is "hack."

Hey! I need some photos for the November photo section. If you want to be included, send me your pic with your first name and the name of the country that you are from. Thanks! 

PEACE!

Answers: 1. were having; 2. was...being; 3. was making;

4. wasn't working; 5. wasn't paying; 6. were snoring;

7. were...talking; 8. was...doing; 9. were living;

10. wasn't thinking