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 Whatwere did you youdoing? see?
Reporting to the Police 2
To my left,there therewas wasanother a young man.man. He To my right, there was a young Suddenly, young was drinking coffee anda reading a woman. She was eating huge dish He snatched the red briefcase and ran newspaper. AShe big red briefcase was of ice with cream. enjoying it. away it so fastwas that no one knew standing next to his feet. After the man stole the what was happening. 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
was having was eating
now
futur e
Be Careful! Non-action verbs are not usually used in the progressive. Note the exception with have. I was I had having a a headache. headache. I was having coffee. She was having ice cream. Here the meaning of have is eat or drink. 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. stole past were enjoying
now
futur e
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
now was reading
futur e
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 thief stole the stole briefcase ran and ran away. past
now was sitting / was watching
futur e
Practice 1
What were you and others doing? Answer the questions using the past progressive.
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
futur e
Past Progressive with While 2 Use past progressive with while to describe two actions in progress at the same time in the past.
While I Iwas While was describing the theft, was the police officer was writing everything writing everything down. past
now
was describing was writing
futur e
Time Clauses The time clause (= the part with while or when) can come at the beginning or the end of the sentence. n no
co m m a
They were having coffee when the thief snatched the briefcase. When the thief snatched the briefcase they were having !!! a m coffee. com
,
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.
came past
When the waiter came, came I looked at the menu. When the waiter came, came I was looking at the came menu. was looking looked
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.
now
futur e
Practice 2
Form sentences with while. Use the past progressive.
Example: read / steal While the man was reading, reading the prisoner was stealing his wallet.
1. talk / drink 4. not look / 3. play / 5. talk / sit burn 2. shine / watch splash 3. one woman manwas was playing pool, the other 5. was talking on the phone, 2. 4. While the the woman sun was shining, not looking, the fountain the toast was the 1. While women were talking, they were shining looking talking was tea. watching. watching man sitting in the chair. splashing. was burning. drinking splashing burning