Amerilingua

Grammar: Past Continuous

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The Street Performer
The Street Performer
Have you ever been strapped for cash? In this lesson, students will explore the topics of homelessness and street performers. The lesson features a video of a man who performs in a subway station just to give the money he earns to those in need. Students will learn and practice the past simple and past continuous tenses, along with related vocabulary. The lesson includes plenty of engaging discussion activities and worksheets specifically designed for adult and teenage learners, ensuring an interactive and meaningful learning experience.
B1 Intermediate   |   General English, Speaking Lessons   |   Video   |   People, Homelessness   |   45 min   | B1-24
Events
Events
Breaking News! In this lesson, students will discuss dramatic events and headlines. Students will learn and practice the past continuous tense along with related vocabulary. The lesson includes plenty of engaging discussion activities and worksheets, specifically designed for both adults and teenagers to ensure an interactive and effective learning experience.
A2 Elementary   |   General English, Speaking Lessons   |   Text   |   Events   |   45 min   | A2-9

In English grammar, the Past Continuous tense is essential for describing actions or events that were in progress at a specific time in the past. This tense is used consistently in both British and American English. Here's a straightforward guide to using the Past Continuous tense:

  1. What is the Past Continuous Tense?: The Past Continuous tense describes actions that were ongoing or unfinished in the past. These actions often occur over a period of time and might be interrupted by another event.

  2. Formation of the Past Continuous Tense: It is formed using the past tense of the verb 'to be' (was/were) followed by the present participle (verb ending in -ing). For example, "I was reading" or "They were playing football."

  3. Usage for Setting a Scene: The Past Continuous is often used to set the scene in a story. For example, "It was raining and the streets were empty." This sets up the background for events that occurred in the past.

  4. Expressing Parallel Actions in the Past: This tense is also used to describe two or more actions happening at the same time in the past. For example, "While I was cooking, my brother was watching TV."

  5. Interrupted Actions in the Past: The Past Continuous is commonly used to indicate an action that was ongoing in the past and was interrupted by another action. For example, "I was walking to the park when it started to rain."

  6. Combining with Simple Past: Often, the Past Continuous is used in conjunction with the Simple Past to show that an ongoing action was interrupted by a shorter action. For example, "I was having a bath when the phone rang."

Understanding the Past Continuous tense is key to describing ongoing or simultaneous actions in the past, making narratives more vivid and detailed. Its proper use enhances the storytelling aspect of both spoken and written English.