1: ONE ACTIVITY IS INTERRUPTED BY SOMETHING ELSE

I was playing computer

games

when someone knocked on the

door.

I was

cleaning

when I broke my vase.

I _______________a shower when the telephone rang.was having

A ball landed on Jane when she

__________________

was sunbathing.

SUBJECT + WAS/WERE + -ING

I was cooking when the telephone rang.

There was a power cut when Joana and Ted were

watching TV.

Teresa was eating dessert when her husband

came home.

2. TWO ACTIONS HAPPENING INDEPENDENTLY

ON EACH OTHER

I was playing computer games…

… and my wife was cooking.

The baby was crying…

… and his sister was playing hide and

seek.

While I __________________ and the girls at the next table __________________

.

was having lunch were gossiping

The sun ________________ and the birds ___________________.was shining were singing

3. ACTIONS HAPPENING AT A PARTICULAR TIME IN THE PAST

8 pm 11 pm 3 am 7 am

At midnigt the baby was still sleeping.

The

baby f

ell

asle

ep

At three o´clock I was lying on the beach.

2 pm 4 pm

I cam

eon t

he

beach

At 5.39 yesterday I was sitting by the window.

At 5. 39 yesterday my wife was doing the hoovering.

At 5.39 yesterday my children were doing their homework.

5 pm6 pm

5.39 – car crash

4. UNFINISHED ACTIVITIES

I was writing my essay yesterday but I still have not finished.

I was repairing my car then it got dark and I couldn´t see any more

so I stopped. - the car is still not fixed

5. BACKGROUND OF SOME ACTION

when I woke up.

Basically the same as rule nb. 1

It was raining

When I arrived at the partyJack was telling a joke.

When I got to the disco almost everyone ____________

only my friend _______________bored at a corner table.

was dancing

was sitting

6. REPEATED ANNOYING HABITS IN THE PAST

He was always making stupid faces.

Jenny was always chewing chewing gums with her

mouth open.

7. IN POLITE PHRASES

I was wondering if I could borrow your newspaper.

I was wondering if you could help me with my essay.

8. EMPHASIZING THE DURATION OF THE ACTIVITY

I was waiting for two hours! Can you imagine that?

He was knocking on the door for 15 minutes! When I didn´t answer

he gave up and walked away.

The duration of these acivities is much longer

than usual or than expected.

9. VERBS THAT SHOW SOME CHANGE

My hair was going grey.

It was getting dark in the room and I was getting more and more

scared.

EXERCISE:

1. When I arrived/was arriving to the party, my friends drank/were drinking

beer.

2. I waited/was waiting in the rain for an hour but the train didn´t arrive/

wasn´t

arriving at all! I was so angry.

3. Susan stopped/was stopping by while you shopped/were shopping.

4. Her English improved/was improving during her private English lessons.

5. Just as I fell/was falling asleep, I heard/was hearing a strange noise.

6. We went to dinner last night and, as we ate/were

eating,somebody stole/was

stealing my wallet.