UNIT4 PAST CONTINUOUS

UNIT 4

GRAMMAR REVIEW

EXERCISES

1. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Continuous.

A) Yesterday I went for a walk in the park. While I was there I saw lots of children who (play). There was a man who (walk) the dogs. He (throw) sticks and the dogs (run) to catch them. A gardener (plant) some flowers and some old ladies (sit) on a park bench enjoying the warm sunshine. It was lovely!

B) Harry and Linda got married last weekend. It was a beautiful wedding. The bridesmaids (wear) pink dresses and (carry) small bouquets of pink and white flowers. The photographer (take) pictures and the bride’s mother (cry) because she was so happy. The sun (shine) and the couple (smile) at everyone.

2. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Continuous.

A big change

Ron: Have you heard about Julie? Well, while I (wait) for my dentist on Thursday, she phoned me. She was on a train!

Sandra: Oh, I thought she (work) in the tax office.

Ron: So did I! But she (not work). In fact, she (go) to the airport, on her way to Spain!

Sandra: Wow! We (talk) a week ago, and she didn’t say anything about going on holiday!

Ron: Well, she (not go) for a holiday – she’s got a job in Spain! She was really excited!

Sandra: What kind of job has she got? I know she (study) Spanish at evening classes last term…

Ron: Yes, she (train) to be a tour guide.

Sandra: She didn’t say anything to us about that. I know she (not enjoy) working in the tax office, but I didn’t know she (plan) such a big change. Good for her!

Ron: I don’t know why she didn’t tell us. Maybe she (keep) it a secret until she got a job.

3. Choose the right variant.

1. While I did/ was doing the washing up, I broke/ was breaking a glass. 2. We walked/ were walking in the woods when the storm began/ was beginning. 3. John repaired/ was repairing his motor bike when his mother arrived/ was arriving. 4. I ate/ was eating my lunch when the phone rang/ was ringing. 5. He rode/ was riding his bicycle to school when he dropped/ was dropping his bag. 6. We saw/ were seeing a bad accident when we drove/ were driving to the airport. 7. Tom watched/ was watching the match when the TV broke/ was breaking down. 8. We talked/ were talking when the she came/ was coming into the room. 9. He danced/ was dancing when he fell/ was falling and hurt his leg. 10. It rained/ was raining while I waited/ was waiting for the bus. 11. Liz cleaned/ was cleaning the windows when I saw/ was seeing her. 12. Laura made/ was making some tea when she dropped/ was dropping the kettle. 13. She sat/ was sitting in the garden when it started/ was starting raining. 14. Peter drove/ was driving a car when he got/ was getting a flat tire. 15. She walked/ was walking in the park when a dog attacked/ was attacking her. 16. They sang/ were singing while we played/ were playing some music. 17. He read/ was reading a book when his friend called/ was calling him. 18. The bank manager talked/ was talking on the phone when two robbers suddenly appeared / were appearing at the door.19. While I shopped/ was shopping this morning I lost/ was losing my money. 20. Last week the police stopped/ was stopping Alan in his car because he drove/ was driving too fast. 21. I cooked/ was cooking when I dropped/ was dropping the knife. 22. When I arrived/ was arriving at the party everyone had/ was having a good time.

4. Put the verbs in brackets into Past Continuous or Past Simple.

A disastrous holiday

One summer weekend Bill and Simone Butler left Miami in their boat. They (go) to sail round the Caribbean Sea for two weeks. During their holiday they (see) a large group of whales and got very excited. Unfortunately, while they (watch) them, the whales (hit) the side of the boat. Water started flooding in and they realized that they (be) in trouble. While their boat (sink) they quickly (jump) into the lifeboat. Fortunately, they (have) some food and drinking water. For the next twenty days they saw many ships. But though Bill and Simone (wave) and (shout) while the ships (pass), nobody saw them. Finally, a fishing boat (rescue) them when they already (lose) hope. Their disastrous holiday was over.

A dream holiday

Last night I had a wonderful dream.

We (take) a trip to Hawaii. I (be) with my family and two of my friends. We (be) on a ship and we (travel) to Honolulu. On the ship there (be) a disco and we (sit) on nice comfortable seats and (drink) exotic juices. Lots of people (dance) and the music (play) loudly. We (have) a lot of fun! When the ship (arrive) in Honolulu a man (wait) to take us to our hotel. The hotel where we (stay) was by a beach lined with palm trees. Drums (beat) and people on the beach (sing) and (dance) to the music. The music (get) louder and louder until I could hear a ringing in my ears. It (be) my alarm clock! It (be) 7 o’clock and time to get up for school.