UNIT
3
Past Progressive and Simple Past
Someone Stole His Briefcase!
Reporting to the Police 1
It was about ten in the morning, and I was sitting in Maxi’s CafÊ near City Park. What Whatdid were you yousee? doing?
Reporting to the Police 2
Tomy myright, left,there there was aa young man. He She was To therewas wasanother youngyoung woman. Suddenly, man. He drinking coffee and reading newspaper. A it was eating ared huge dish ofand icea ran cream. She snatched the briefcase away with big red that briefcase was standing nexthappening. to his feet. enjoying so fast no was one knew whatit.was After the man stole the briefcase, we were all talking loudly. The owner of the briefcase was very upset!
Past Progressive Use the past progressive to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. I was having coffee. She was eating ice cream. 10 a.m. past
now
was having was eating
future
Be Careful! Non-action verbs are not usually used in the progressive. Note the exception with have. I was I had having a headache. a headache. I was having coffee. She was having ice cream. Here the meaning of have is eat or drink or drink.
Past Progressive & Simple Past 1 Use past progressive with simple past to describe an action that was interrupted by another action.
They were enjoying the morning when the thief stole the briefcase.
past
stole were enjoying
now
future
Past Progressive & Simple Past 2 Use past progressive for the action in progress. Use when and the simple past for the action that interrupts.
The man was reading the newspaper when the thief snatched his briefcase. snatched past
was reading
now
future
Past Progressive & Simple Past 3 Use past progressive to focus on the duration of an action. Use simple past to focus on the completion of an action.
I was sitting in Maxi’s CafÊ and watching people. The thiefstole stole the briefcase and ran ran away. past
now was sitting / was watching
future
Practice 1
What w e re yo u and o the rs do ing ? Ans w e r the q ue s tio ns us ing the p as t p ro g re s s iv e .
Example: What were you doing when I called this morning? I was trying to wake up when you called. called 1. What were you doing when the phone rang last night? 2. What were your friends doing at 6 p.m. yesterday evening? 3. What were you doing last weekend? 4. What was the teacher doing when you first saw her/him today?
Past Progressive with While 1 Use past progressive with while to describe two actions in progress at the same time in the past.
The man was reading the newspaper while the woman was eating her ice cream. now past
was reading was eating
future
Past Progressive with While 2 Use past progressive with while to describe two actions in progress at the same time in the past.
While II was While was describing describing the theft, the police was writing officer was writing everything down. past
now was describing was writing
future
Time Clauses The time clause (= the part with w hile or w he n) can come at the beginning or the end of the sentence. no
co m m a
They were having coffee when the thief snatched the briefcase.
,
When the thief snatched the briefcase they were having coffee. a!!! ma m co
Be Careful! Sentences with both clauses in the simple past have a different meaning from sentences with one clause in the simple past and one in the past progressive.
When the waiter came, came I looked at the menu. When the waiter came, came I was looking at the menu. came
past
came
was looking looked
now
First Firstthe thewaiter waiter came; came;then thenII looked lookedat atthe the menu. menu. First FirstIIwas was looking lookingat atthe the menu; menu;then thenthe the waiter waitercame. came.
future
Practice 2
Fo rm s e nte nc e s w ith while. Us e the p as t p ro g re s s iv e .
Example: read / steal While the man was reading, reading the prisoner was stealing his wallet.
1. talk / drink 2. shine / splash
3. play / watch
4. not look / burn 5. talk / sit
3. one manwas was playing pool, the other man was 5. was talking on the phone, the man was 2. 4. While the the woman sun woman was shining, not looking, the fountain the toast was was splashing. burning. 1. While women were talking, they were drinking tea. shining looking splashing burning talking watching. watching sitting in the chair.