GRAMMAR FOCUS 4: PAST CONTINUOUS

I. LÝ THUYẾT
a. Usage(cách dùng):
Cách dùng Ví dụ
Diễn đạt hành động đang xảy ra tại một thời điểm cụ - I was doing my homework at 8 p.m
thể trong quá khứ yesterday.
- While I was taking a bath, she was using
the computer.
Diễn tả hành động tiếp diễn liên tục trong một khoảng - I was painting all day yesterday.
thời gian =>nhấn mạnh tính liên tục - Everybody was talking about it all evening.
Diễn đạt hai hành động xảy ra đồng thời trong quá My mom was cooking when I was watching
khứ TV in the livingroom.
Diễn đạt hành động đang xảy ra thì có hành động khác I was walking on the street when I suddenly
xen vào fell over. 
Hành động lặp đi lặp lại trong quá khứ và làm phiền My mom was always complaining about my
đến người khác room when she got there.

b. Formula(công thức):
Forms Formula Using for remain The singular third
(các thể) (công thức) (các ngôi khác) (ngôi thứ 3 số ít)
(+) S + was/were + V-ing + (O) You were walking. He was walking.

(-) S + was/were + not + V-ing +(O) You weren’t walking. He wasn’t walking.
(wasn’t/weren’t)
Interrogative Were you walking? Was he walking?
Was/Were + S+ V-ing + (O)?
(câu nghi vấn)
Negative interrogative Wasn’t/Weren’t + S+ V-ing + O? Weren’t you Wasn’t he walking?
(câu phủ định nghi vấn) walking?

c. Dấu hiệu nhận biết

- các trạng từ chỉ thời gian trong quá khứ kèm theo thời điểm xác định:
 +at + giờ + thời gian trong quá khứ: at 12 o’clock last night,…
 at this time + thời gian trong quá khứ: at this time two weeks ago, …
 Trong câu có “when” khi diễn tả một hành động đang xảy ra và một hành động khác xen vào.
- xuất hiện các từ như: While (trong khi); When (Khi); at this/that time (vào thời điểm đó);…

* Notes(chú ý): Thông thường chúng ta có thể sử dụng cấu trúc sau:
E.g: While we were having dinner, the phone rang.
E.g: We were having dinner when the phone rang.

d. Những động từ thường không dùng trong các thì Tiếp diễn
Verbs of thinking Believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, realize, suppose, understand
Verbs of the senses Hear, smell, sound, taste
Verbs of possession Belong to, have (meaning possess), own, possess
Verbs of emotion Dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Verbs of appearance Appear, seem
Others Contain, depend on, include, involve, mean, measure, weigh, require
 II. LUYỆN TẬP
1. I saw Maggie at the party. She………. a red coat.
a. wears b. wore c. was wearing d. has worn
2. We……… English this time last week.
a. learnedb. were learning c. have learned d. had learned
3. Alan took a photograph of Sandra while she ………
a. didn't look b. wasn't looking
c. hasn't looked d. hadn't looked
4. Last night Tina………. in bed when suddenly she heard a scream.
a. read b. was reading c. had read d. had read
5. While my mother ………dinner, the phone rang.
a. cooked b. had cooked c. has cooked d. was cooking
6. I……….. TV at 8:30 last night.
a. watched b. was watching c. has watched d. had watched
7. Stephen………… on the phone when I came in.
a. talked b. was talking c. has talked d. has been talking
8. When he worked here, Simon………. mistakes.
a. always made b. made always
c. was always making d. was making always.
9. We did not go out because it………….
a. would rain b. was raining c. had rained d. has rained
10. The wind………. very hard when the ship sailed around the Mediterranean Sea.
a. blew b. was blowing c. has blown d. was blown
11. It was noisy next door. Our neighbors…….. a party.
a. had b. were having c. had had d. have had
12. At 5 o'clock yesterday evening, I……….. my clothes.
a. am ironing b. have ironed c. ironed d. was ironing
13. I……… along the street when I suddenly heard footsteps behind me
a. was walking b. walking c. walk d. walked

Ex.1: Chia động từ ở thì quá khứ tiếp diễn

1. I _____________________________down the street when it began to rain (go).
2. At this time last year, I _____________________________an English course (attend)
3. Jim _____________________________under the tree when he heard an explosion (stand)
4. The boy fell and hurt himself while he _____________________________a bicycle (ride)
5. When we met them last year, they_____________________________in Santiago (live)
6. The tourist lost his camera while he_____________________________around the city (walk)
7. The lorry _____________________________very fast when it hit our car (go)
8. While I ______________in my room, my roommate ___________a party in the other room (study/ have)
9. Mary and I_____________________________the house when the telephone rang (just leave)
10. We _____________________________in the café when they saw us (sit)

Ex.2: Chia động từ ở thì quá khứ đơn hoặc quá khứ tiếp diễn
1. I ____________ (call) Mr Wilson at 9 last night, but he (not be________________at home. He
(study) ______________________at the library.
2. I ______________ (not hear) the thunder during the storm last night because I ____________ (sleep)
3. It was beautiful yesterday when we went for a walk in the park. The sun_____________(shine). The
birds___________________(sing).
4. My brother and sister _____________________________ (talk) about something when I
_____________________________ (walk) into the room.
5. Tom went to his friends’ house, but the boys _____________________________ (not be) there. They
(play)_____________________________soccer in the vacant lot down the street.
6. The little boy _______________ (fall) asleep while his mother_________________ (read) him a story.
7. I really enjoyed my holiday last January. While it_____________________________ (snow) in Iowa,
the sun _____________________________ (shine) in Florida.
8. While Ted _____________________ (shovel) snow from his driveway yesterday, his wife
_____________________________ (bring) him a cup of hot chocolate.
9. John _________________ (have) a car accident last week. He _________________ (drive) down the
street when suddenly a lorry _________________ (hit) his car from behind.
10. Ten years ago, the government _________________ (decide) to begin a food programme. At that
time, many people in the rural areas _________________ (starve) due to several years of drought.
11. They _________________ (wait) for me when I _________________ at the station (arrive)
12. She _________________ (swim) in the sea when I _________________ her (see)
13. __________they__________________(play) tennis when it _________________ raining (start)?
14.We_________________(drive) home from the theatre when the police_________________ (stop) us.
15. The wind _________________ (blow) very hard when I __________________(go) out this morning.

Ex.3: Cho dạng đúng của động từ trong ngoặc ở thì quá khứ tiếp diễn.
1. At this time last year, they___________________ (build) this house.
2. I ___________________ (drive) my car very fast when you called me.
3. I ___________________ (chat) with my friends while my teacher___________________ (teach) the
lesson yesterday.
4. My father ___________________ (watch) TV when I got home.
5. At this time yesterday, I___________________ (prepare) for my son's birthday party.
6. What you___________________ (do) at 8 pm yesterday?
7. Where you___________________ (go) when I saw you last weekend?
8. They___________________ (not go) to school when I met them yesterday.
9. My mother ___________________ (not do) the housework when my father came home.
10. My sister ___________________ (read) books while my brother___________________ (play)
football yesterday afternoon.

Ex.4: Biến đổi các câu sau sang phủ định và câu hỏi
1. He was planting trees in the garden at 4 pm yesterday.
=> ......... He wasn’t planting trees in the garden at 4 pm yesterday..........................
=> ...........What was he doing at 4 pm yesterday?......................................................
2. They were working when she came yesterday.
=> ................................................................................................................................
=> ................................................................................................................................
3. She was painting a picture while her mother was making a cake.
=> ................................................................................................................................
=> ................................................................................................................................
4. Anne was riding her bike to school when Peter saw her yesterday.
=> ................................................................................................................................
=> ................................................................................................................................
5. He was typing a letter when his boss went into the room.
=> ................................................................................................................................
=> ................................................................................................................................
ĐÁP
 Ex.5: Chọn đúng thì của các câu sau:
1. I saw/ was seeing the accident when I was waiting for the taxi.
2. What were you doing/ did you do when I phoned?
3. They didn't visit/ weren't visiting their friends last summer holiday.
4. It rained/ was raining heavily last July.
5. While people were talking to each other, he read/ was reading his book.
6. Chris was eating/ ate pizza every weekend last month.
7. While we were running/ run in the park, Mary fell over.
8. Did you find/ Were you finding your keys yesterday?
9. Who was she dancing/ did she dance with at the party last night?
10. They were watching/ watched football on TV all day.

Ex.6: Complete the sentences using Past Continuous

Yesterday at 7 p.m:
1. Jame (send) _________ a text message to her mom.
2. Rosy & Billy (have) __________ the evening tea.
3. My dad (drive) ____________ back home from work.
4. Jake (dive) _____________ into the swimming pool
5. My grandma (tidy) ___________ up my wwardrobe.
6. My sister (vacuum) ___________ the livingroom.
7. Mary (fly) ____________ to London to visit her grandparents.
8. My parents (prepare) ________ barbecue for us.
9. Jill (sunbathe) ____________ on Sam Son beach.
10. My brother (water) ____________ floers in the garden.

Ex.7: Past simple or Past continuous

1. She (play) _____________ the drum when her mom (come) ________ home.
2. Tertius (copy) _____________ his classmate’s homework when the teacher (see) _____________ him.
3. My younger sister (cry) __________ when she (come) _____________ home from school.
4. The students (fight) _____________ when the principal (arrive) _____________
5. My brother (read) _____________ books when my dad (come) _____________ in.
6. The rain (start) _____________ to fall while we (walk) _____________ in the park
7. My family (have) _____________ dinner when someone (knock) _____________ on the door.
8. The lights (go) _____________ off when she (have) _____________ a shower.
9. Minh (sleep) __________ when his teacher (talk) ___________ in the class.

Ex.8: Write the correct words

1. I lost my keys when I _____________ (walk) home. 
2. I saw the department stores when I _____________ (sit) on the bus.
3. Her phone rang while she _____________ (talk) to her new boss. 
4. My friends _____________ (drive) to work when they heard the news on the radio. 
5. He _____________ (ride) his bicycle when the cat ran across the road. 
6. We couldn’t go to the beach yesterday because it _____________ (rain) 
7. It was a lovely day. The sun was shining and the birds _____________ (sing) in the trees. 
8. The tourist lost his camera while he  _____________ (walk) around the city.
9. The lorry  _____________ (go) very fast when it hit our car.
10. I _____________ (walk) down the street when it began to rain.
11. At this time last year, I _____________ (attend) an English course.
12. Jim _____________ (stand) under the tree when he heard an explosion.
13. While I _____________ (study) in my room, my roommates ________ (have) a party in the other room.
14. Mary and I _____________ (dance) the house when the telephone rang.
 15. It was raining while we _____________ (have) dinner

Ex.9: Chia động từ đúng trong ngoặc sau:

1. She _______ (come) home, _______ (switch) on the computer and ________ (check) her e-mails.
2. We _________ (have) final test at this time three weeks ago.
3. The light _________ (go out) when I ________ (change) my clothes.
4. When I _______ (be) a little girl, I always _______ (read) comic.
5. I ________ (learn) at high school from 2014 to 2017.
6. He ___________ (make) mistakes even in easy assignments.
7. When my sister _____ (get) there, he _________ (wait) for her.
8. Susie ________ (cross) the road when she ________ (see) Julie.
9. My children __________ (come) home late last night.
10. I __________ (go) to the stadium yesterday to watch the football match.

Ex.10: Tìm và sửa lỗi sai trong mỗi câu sau đây.
1. I was play football when she called me.
2. Was you study Math at 5 p.m. yesterday?
3. What was she do while her mother was making lunch?
4. Where did you went last Sunday?
5. They weren’t sleep during the meeting last Monday.
6. He got up early and have breakfast with his family yesterday morning.
7. She didn’t broke the flower vase. Tom did.
8. Last week, my friend and I go to the beach on the bus.
9. While I am listening to music, I heard the doorbell.
10. Peter turn on the TV, but nothing happened.

Ex.11: Chia động từ sử dụng quá khứ đơn hoặc quá khứ tiếp diễn.
1. ‘What ……………… (you/do) at this time yesterday? ’I was asleep.’
2. How fast ……………… (you/drive) when the accident ……………… (happen)?
3. I haven’t seen my best friend for ages. When I last ……………… (see) him, he ……………… (try) to
find a job.
4. I ……………… (walk) along the street when suddenly I ………………(hear) footsteps behind me.
Somebody ……………… (follow) me. I was scared and I ……………… (start) to run.
5. Last night I ……………… (drop) a plate when I ……………… (do) the washing-up. Fortunately it
……………… (not/break).
6. I ……………… (open) the letter when the wind ……………… (blow) it out of my hand.
7. The burglar ……………… (open) the safe when he ……………… (hear) footsteps. He immediately
……………… (put) out his torch and ……………… (crawl) under the bed.
8. As I ……………… (cross) the road I ……………… (step) on a banana skin and ……………… (fall)
heavily.
9. Just as I ……………… (wonder) what I should do next, the acceptance letter came in my mailbox.