English Grammar – Intermediate

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Grammar Focus
The past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were happening at a specific moment in the past. We form the past continuous with was/were + verb + ing.

• Was is used with I, he, she, it.
• Were is used with you, we, they.
  The past continuous describes actions in progress at a particular time in the past. It’s useful when you want to show that something was happening when another action occurred.
  🔹 Examples:
  • I was reading a book when she called.
  • He was playing soccer yesterday afternoon.
  • We were watching TV when the lights went out.
  • They were studying for the test all day.
  Important tip: Be careful not to confuse the past continuous with the simple past. The past continuous is used for actions in progress, while the simple past describes completed actions.

Why This Grammar Matters for Listening and Speaking
Understanding and using the past continuous helps you communicate more naturally when talking about actions in the past. It allows you to describe things that were happening over time, which is common in everyday conversations.
• Meeting people:

• “I was walking to work when I saw you!”
  • Describing past events:
• “We were traveling in Italy last year.”
  • Talking about what you were doing at a specific time:
• “What were you doing at 8 p.m. yesterday?”
• “I was having dinner with my family.”
  • Listening for important details:
• “She was studying when the phone rang.”
  This grammar is crucial for understanding what was happening at a particular time and can make your conversations sound more fluent and clear.

Now, practice your language skills with these interactive games.

🎧🗣️ Listening & Speaking Practice Questions
Talk About the Past
We use the past continuous to talk about actions that were happening at a particular moment in the past. These questions help you practice speaking about things you were doing, events in your life, and more. Use “I was…,” “He was…,” or “They were…” in your answers. Listen to your classmates and try to ask follow-up questions.

• Talk About What You Were Doing:
  What were you doing last night at 8 p.m.?
  ➤ For example: “I was studying. I was watching TV.”
• Talk About Past Events:
  What were you doing when it started to rain?
  ➤ For example: “I was walking to the store. I was driving home.”
• Talk About a Family Member or Friend:
  What was your friend doing last weekend?
  ➤ For example: “She was visiting her grandmother. He was playing soccer.”
• Describe What Was Happening at a Specific Time:
  What were you doing at 6 p.m. yesterday?
  ➤ For example: “I was having dinner. We were watching a movie.”
• Talk About Your Past Week:
  What were you doing last Tuesday afternoon?
  ➤ For example: “I was at work. I was reading a book.”
• Discuss Group Activities:
  What were you and your friends doing together last weekend?
  ➤ For example: “We were playing football. We were eating at a restaurant.”

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