Here's an exercise about the positive and negative verb forms

The Past Continuous

(or past progressive tense)

How can we make the past continuous? Firstly, check that you know how to make the past simple with 'be' (subject + was / were). Then just add verb-ing.

(Click here for practice on how to USE the past continuous)

Here's the positive form:

• I was sleeping
• you were working
• he was coming
• she was reading 'War and Peace'
• it was raining
• we were shopping
• they were watching a film

Next, here's the negative - it's very easy, just add 'not':

• I was not (wasn't) sleeping
• you were not (weren't) working
• he was not (wasn't) coming
• she was not (wasn't) reading 'War and Peace'
• it was not (wasn't) raining
• we were not (weren't) shopping
• they were not (weren't) watching a film

And, just like the past simple with 'be', to make a 'yes / no' question, put 'was / were' in front of the subject:

• Was I listening?
• Were you working?
• Was she working?
• Was he living in Paris at the time?
• Was it snowing when you arrived?
• Were we eating?
• Were they studying?

To make a 'wh' question (of course) put the question word at the beginning:

• Why was I working?
• Where were you living?
• How was she travelling?
• Where was he going?
• Why was it snowing in the summer?
• What were we eating?
• Why were they studying?

Упражнение 1. Choose the correct verb form (Past Simple or Past Continuous) to complete the sentences.

1. The film was rubbish, so we left / were leaving the cinema and went / were going to the cybercafé.
2. I didn’t like / wasn’t liking the program we watched / were watching, so I turned / was turning off the TV.
3. Dave rang / was ringing me while I did / was doing my homework.
4. As I fell / was falling asleep, I heard/was hearing a strange noise.
5. I dropped / was dropping my keys while I ran / was running for the bus.
6. The competition judges didn’t know / weren’t knowing whose food they tasted / were tasting.

Упражнение 2. Complete the email with the Past Simple or Past Continuous of these verbs. You will need to use some verbs more than once.