Unit 7: Present Perfect, Past Continuous

Past Continuous Tense

We use the Past Continuous Tense to indicate that a longer action in

the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually an action in the

Simple Past

I was talking on the phone when

my husband came home.

The students were doing their

assignment when Miss Chang

entered the classroom.

When we use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same

sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at

the same time

While May was playing the piano, While the children were

her little brother was singing. playing with a ball, their dog

was chasing a butterfly.

The difference between while & when

Some clauses begin with the word when such as "...when she called ".
Clauses with the Past Continuous usually start with while. While
expresses the idea "during the time."
I was watching TV when she called.

When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

While we were having a picnic, my father was taking a nap.

Janet was working when her son had the car accident.

While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.

The Past Continuous with the word always expresses the idea that

something irritating happened in the past.

She was always coming to class late.

I didn't like Nancy because she was always complaining.

Exercise (A) Look at the picture and write what the Greens were doing

when the earthquake happened.

Mr. Green

Mrs. Green

Mr. Green’s mother

Their elder son

Their second son

Exercise (B): Simple past or Past Continuous

1. It _________________ (rain) when we __________ (go) out.

2. When I ___________ (get) to the office, Al and John _________ (talk).

3. The doorbell ______________ (ring) when Anna ______________ (cook).

4. Bruce had a book in his hands, but he ________________ (not read)

it.

5. I _____________ (see) Jade this morning while I ______________ (walk)

along the street, and she ________________ (buy) something.

6. Amy ___________ (fall) asleep while he ______________ (watch) HBO.

7. I _______________ (open) the window because it was hot.

8. Joan ___________ (read) newspaper when the cop _____ (pull) her

over.

9. The little dog ______________ (laugh) when the cow _________ (jump)

over the moon.

10. Joe ___________ (ride) a horse when her cell phone _________ (ring).

Exercise (C): Simple Past or Past Continuous

1. When the police ____________ (arrive), the burglars___________

(carry) the CD player to the truck.

2. I _________ (look) out of the window and ________ (see) Bobbie.

3. While we _________ (walk) the woods, we _______ (find) the stolen

car.

4. A heavy wind _____________ (blow) when our plane _________ (land).

5. The audience__________ (laugh) and _________ (clap) their hands.

6. While they __________ (sing), Rose _____________ (play) the piano.

7. My nieces and nephews ___________ (play) cards when the postman

__________ (come).
8. We _____________ (hear) a cry and _________ (run) into the

bathroom.

9. A lot of female fans ________________ (wait) at the airport when the

superstar _____________ (arrive).

10. We _________ (talk) about the film while we _____ (walk) home.

11. While Ruth ______________(do) the ironing, her husband ______

(feed) their dog.

12. When Shelia ____________ (walk) into the office, her boss

__________ (wait) for her.

13. While we ________ (have) our breakfast, the toast _______ (blow)

up.

14. While my mother ______ (tide) up the rooms, my father ________

(do) the laundry.

15. While Mrs. Baker ________________ (wash) her hair, the baby

___________ (begin) to cry.

Present Perfect:
We use the Present Perfect Tense to present an action happened at an

unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. The

Present Perfect can not go with time expressions such as "yesterday,"

"one year ago," "last week," We use the Present Perfect with

expressions like "ever," "never," "once," "several times," "before,"

"so far," "already" and "yet." and “recently”.

The forming of Present Perfect Tense:

It is twelve o’clock now.

Melissa has studied English for three hours.

Melissa has studied English since nine o’clock.

Has Melissa studied English for three hours?

Yes, she has.

 Has Melissa studied English since eight o’clock?

No, she has not. (No, she hasn’t).

It is eleven o’clock now.

Maria has watched a movie on HBO for two hours.

Maria has watched a movie on HBO since nine o’clock.

Has Maria worked on the computer for two hours?

We can use the Present Perfect to describe experience

I have been to the United States several times.

They have never studied English before.

Present Perfect is often used to list the accomplishments of

individuals. Time in not necessary mentioned here.

Man has walked on the moon.

Paper has been invented for three thousand years.

Present Perfect is used to say an action which we expected has not

happened.

Ming Fong has not finished her project yet.

My parents have not come home yet.

Exercise (C): Complete the sentences:

1. I/never/be/any foreign countries

Answer:
2. Sara/have/her dinner yet
 Answer:
3. Owen /already/go to Paris
Answer:
4. We/visit the art gallery/several times
Answer:
5. Sean/learn to play the drums/ for two years
Answer:
6. We/know each other/for ages
Answer:

The difference between for & since:

for + period :A period is a duration of time:

Examples: for 5 minutes, for 2 weeks, for 6 years.

since + point: A point is a precise moment in time:

Examples: since 9 o'clock, since the 1st of January, since Monday.

Exercise (D): Fill in the blanks with since or for

Lulu has learned English

two months.
February.
three days.
ten years old.
1996.
she came to America.
the beginning of the year.
seven weeks.
a year ago.
last summer.
then.
a long time ago.
more than five years.
Exercise (E): Complete each sentence with correct tense

1. Mark and Liz are married. They _____________ married for five

years.

2. It is midnight. David _____________________ since eight.

3. Sue ________________ (know) her boyfriend for three years.

4. How long __________________ (you/live) in Los Angeles?

5. My father ____________________ (have) the same job for thirty years.

6. Most people ___________________ (never/eat) ostrich meat.

7. Our manager isn’t in Taipei now. He ____________ (go) to Hong

Kong.

8. How many times _____________________ (you/be) to London?

9. This is the best Korean restaurant that I ________________ (ever eat).

10. A: ________________________ (you/be) to Rome?

B: Yes, I ________________ (go) there two years ago.

11. A: How long ___________________ (you/have) this truck.

B: It is new. I ________________________. (just /buy)