The Past Continuous Tense

• The Past Continuous Tense is used:
• To show a continuous action that happened at some specified or
unspecified time in the past.

• Example:

• I was listening to the radio just now.
• Kim was watching television a few minutes ago.
• He was working from seven to eleven last night.
• She was cooking at 9.00am in the morning.
• The dog was barking loudly last night.
• To show two actions that happened at the same time

• Example:

• While I was bathing the telephone rang.
• While she was reading a book the thief came in.
• We were studying when the headmaster came in.
• Kassim was painting the gate when he sipped an fell.
• The children were playing in the garden when they saw a snake
• To show two actions that happened at the same time

• Example:
• He
• She
• It was writing on the board just now.
• Ali cooking in the kitchen in the morning.
• My friend
• I


• You
• We
• They were writing on the board just now.
• The boys cooking in the kitchen in the morning.

• Underline the correct words

• 1. The men ( was gambling , were gambling ) when the policemen arrived.
• 2. Tha women ( was quarreling , were quarreling ) over their children.
• 3. We ( was taking , were taking ) photographs when the storm started.
• 4. I ( was introducing , were introducing ) Abu to Ling when you
interrupted us.
• 5. As she ( was going , were goin ) upstairs, someone knocked on the
door.
• 6. As they ( was climbing , were climbing ) over the fence, the gardener
saw them.
• 7. While Fong and Lim ( was fishing , were fishing ), they saw a little
boy drowning.
• 8. While my mother ( was washing , were washing ) the clothes, the
postman came.
• 9. He ( was looking , were looking ) at the sky when a big bird flew
past.
• 10.A motorcyclist honked at me while I ( was crossing , were crossing )
the road.
• 11.The bagger ( was walking , were walking ) to the stall when the car
knocked him down.
12. The hunter ( was hunting , were hunting ) in the jungle when he saw
a giant

• Fill in the correct answer

• 1. I was afraid as it ……… and nobody at home. ( rain )
• 2. He ……… in London a few years ago . ( live )
• 3. Amalludin called while we ……. dinner in the kitchen. ( have )
• 4. The naughty boy …… of a few tricks to cheat the policeman. ( think )
• 5. It ……. when I left my house this morning ( rain )
• 6. Puan Asiah …….. when Satvin walked into the classroom.
• 7. The two girls …….. along the road when the accident happened.
• 8. Sheela ……. her homework while her brother was watching
television.
9 Azlina while we …….. at Bintang superstore. ( shop )
• 10. Jamal …….. his guitar when the teacher called him to the office.
( play )
• 11. While Farid ……. his homework the lights went out. ( do )
• 12. My mother …… all yesterday morning. ( cook )
• 13. It ……. When I got out of bed. ( rain )
• 14. While he …… across the road, the car knocked him down. ( run )
• 15. She ….. her hair when I left the house. ( comb )
• 16.While the train …… the boy jumped off. ( move )

• Write out these sentences putting in the Past Continuous Tense of the
verbs in brackets.
• 1. The bird …… ( fly ) away when he shot it.
• 2. While we ….. ( cycle ) it started to rain.
• 3. The girls ….. ( sew ) at 1o’clock this afternoon.
• 4. John ….. ( sleep ) all yesterday afternoon.
• 5. My little sister …. ( cry ) all yesterday morning because she was
sick.
• 6. I ….. ( go ) to the shop when I saw my teacher.
• 7. While they …..( talk ) it started to rain heavily.
• 8. While the boys ….. ( run ) , the dog bit them.
• 9. While the people…. ( clap ), the curtain fell.
• 10. I ….. ( swim ) when he called me.
• 11. Alice ….. ( read ) when her friend came .
• 12. While I …. ( eat ), the cat jumped on the table.
• 13. He ….. ( dig ) in the garden all day yesterday.
• 14. While they….. ( row ) in the sea, the storm started.
• 15. The sun ….. ( shine ) brightly when we went out.
• Change these sentences from the Simple Past Tense to the Past Continuous
Tense.
• 1. The waiter talked to us.
• …………………………………………………..
• 2. Swee Lan sang sweetly.
• …………………………………………………..
• 3. Rama used my pencil yesterday.
• …………………………………………………….
• 4. It rained heavily just now.
• …………………………………………………..
• 5. The girl danced gracefully at the concert.
• ……………………………………………………..
• 6. Siti counted the money carefully.
• ………………………………………………..
• 7. Two weeks ago we hiked in Cameron Highlands.
• …………………………………………………
• 8. The boys fished in the river yesterday.
• …………………………………………………….
• 9. I slept all afternoon.
• …………………………………………………..
10. The clock struck twelve when my brother came home last night.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Read More

present continuous tense

• The present Continuous tense is used to show that an action is still
going on at the time of speaking. It is formed by using ‘am’, ‘is’ or
‘are’ t ‘ing’ form of the verb.
• Example
• 1. Now I am having my lunch.
• 2. He is driving home now.
• 3. We are studying in the room now.
4. The boys are swimming in the river
• Underline the correct words
• 1. Beware! The enemies ( is preparing, are preparing ) to attack.
• 2. Some people ( is complaining, are complaining ) about the clogged
drain.
• 3. They ( is fighting , are fighting ) over a small matter.
• 4. His top ( is spinning , are spinning ) very fast.
• 5. We ( is discussing , are discussing ) our plans for the weekend.
• 6. The man ( is scolding , are scolding ) his children.
• 7. The policemen ( is checking , are checking ) the mototrists’ licences.
• 8. The ministers ( is debating , are debating ) in the Parliament House.
• 9. The boys ( are playing , is playing ) in the big field.
• 10. My friend ( are writing , is writing ) an essay for the competition.
• 11. The teacher ( are teaching , is teaching ) in the classroom.
• 12. The big house ( is burning , are burning ) now.
• 13. The baby ( are crying , is crying ) because he is sick.
• 14. The football players ( are resting , is resting ) under the shady
tree.
• 15. The man( is scolding , are scolding ) the boys who stole the
rambutans in his orchard.
• 16. I ( am inviting , is inviting ) my friends to my house for the party.
• 17. The wind ( is blowing , are blowing ) strongly.
• Write the correct sentences.
• 1. I …….. my favourite food. ( eat )
• 2. The cat …… the bird in the field.( chase )
• 3. The boys ….. in the classroom. ( laugh )
• 4. My mother ….. to the market to get some vegetables.( walk )
• 5. The sun ….. brightly so we can go fishing. ( shine )
• 6. The butcher ….. the fresh meat at the market.
• ( sell )
• 7. Prishvindip ……. her favourite song in the school hall.( sing )
• 8. Anis ……. her long hair with a comb. ( comb )

Read More