Catholic University of Mozambique

Distance Education Institute

COMPREHENSION, PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

Quito Luís Domingos Saíde
Code: 708210762

Degree in Mathematics Teaching

Subject: English
1st year

Nampula on the 23th of May

2022

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Catholic University of Mozambique
Distance Education Institute

Quito Luís Domingos Saíde

Code: 708210762

Research work of an evaluative nature

to be delivered in the degree course in
Mathematics teaching

subject: English

Tutor – Regent: Ernesto Matanda

Nampula on the 23th of May

2022

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Feedback Sheet

Classification
Note
Categories indicators Standards Punctuati of Subtot
on tutor al
maximum
• Front cover 0.5
• Index 0.5
Aspects • Introduction 0.5
Structure organizationa • Discussion 0.5
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• Conclusion 0.5
• Bibliographic 0.5
• Contextualization
(Clear indication of 1.0
the problem)
• Description of 1.0
Introduction objectives
• Methodology
appropriate to the 2.0
object of the work
• Articulation and
mastery of
academic discourse 2.0
(careful written
expression,
Contents coherence / textual
Analysis and cohesion)
discussion • Relevant national
and international
literature review in
the study area 2.0
• Data exploration 2.0
➢ Practical 2.0
Conclusion theoretical
contributions
Aspects ➢ Pagination, font
general and size,
Formatting paragraph, line 1.0
spacing
References APA ➢ Accuracy and
Bibliograp Standards 6th consistency of 4.0
hic Edition in citations/references
quotes and bibliographic
bibliography

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Improvement recommendations:
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Índex
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5

A. Read the text and then answer the following questions. ........................................................ 6

B: Grammar (choose the best answer from A, B, C, or D) ........................................................ 7

C. Complete the blank spaces using the past simple or the past continuous tense of the verbs
in brackets. .................................................................................................................................. 7

Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 8

Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 9

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Introduction

The present work has as its theme “Comprehension, past simple and past continuous tense“,
The past continuous is used in English when we aim to express the idea that something was in
progress, that is, in progression in the past tense. It is also very common to use the past
continuous to say that an action was interrupted by another. There is also the possibility of using
the past continuous for temporary past actions.

With so many possibilities, the English language learner needs to be attentive when studying
the past continuous. So that there are no doubts about its use and meaning, in the next topics
we will study the past continuous and its structure, exemplifying each aspect of this verb tense
in English.

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A. Read the text and then answer the following questions.

Dear Mary
I am 16-year old girl and I live with my family in Maputo. My family comes from India
and I love them very much. They spoil me and give me lots of support. But now
something has happened, which has upset me a great deal. My parents have arranged
marriage for me, they want me to leave school and travel back to India to marry a man
whom I have never met, and they say that it is their duty to find me a husband, but I don’t
agree. I want to finish school because I enjoy studying. I also want to choose my own
husband one day. What should I do? I think I will need to leave home, please advise me.
Yours Sincerely
Frightened
1. This letter is about…
A. a forced marriage
B. a free marriage
C. a wedding
D. an imprisoned girl

2. Why is the writer not happy with her parent’s decision? Because she…
A. does not have money for school fees
B. enjoys living her own
C. keeps failing at school
D. wants to study and choose her own husband
3. The writer’s plan for the future is to…
A. get married as soon as possible
B. give up studying and married
C. to stay at school until she finishes studying
D. travel abroad and visit other places
4. From the writer’s perspective, a marriage should not depend on…
A. community’s likes and dislikes
B. school subjects and carrier
C. the parent’s decision
D. writing to a pen friend.
5. What is the purpose of this letter? it is to…
A. apply for a scholarship
B. find a husband
C. give advice
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 D. seek for advice

B: Grammar (choose the best answer from A, B, C, or D)

6. The girl wanted to be a teacher -------- she studied a lot.

A. and
B. but
C. so
D. when
7. He studied hard…………… he failed the exam.
A. when
B. but
C. in order to
D. so
8. The synonym of illiterate is-----------. O sinônimo de analfabeto
A. educated
B. uneducated
C. capable
D. literate
9. ------------------------ is the same as without respect.
A. Disrespectful
B. unrespectful
C. Inrespectful
D. Irrespectful
10. Deteriorate means the same as --------------------------.
A. increase
B. decrease
C. devalue
D. decompose

C. Complete the blank spaces using the past simple or the past continuous tense of the
verbs in brackets.

1. While Ana (wash) washing the plates,Tom (enter) entered through the door.
2. The phone (ring) rang while Tina (sleep) sleeping.
3. I (take) taking a bath when he (fall) fell off the ladder.
4. Mother (go) went into the kitchen to see what we (do) doing.
5. While my sister (play) playing in the yard, I (watch) watched TV in the sitting room.

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Conclusion

I came to the conclusion that in The Past Simple is used to express past habits or actions that
started and ended in the past, with a certain time. In order to determine the time at which these
actions were performed, we usually use words like: yesterday, last night, last month, last year,
ago, etc.

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Bibliography

1. Dickie, Amalia Marina (2010): English year 1, UCM Beira-Sofala

2. Murphy R and Smalzer W, (2002), Basic Grammar in Use 2nd edition United kingdom:
CP