A Context listening

C!J Look at each picture of Donny. Where is he?

CE ~ Listen and check if you were right.

What news does Donny tell his mother?
C!J Listen again and answer the questions below.
1 What did Donny's mother do at eight o'clock? .
2 Why didn't he answer his phone? .
3 What did she do at nine o'clock? .
4 Why wasn't his phone switched on? .
5 What did she do at ten o'clock? .
6 Why didn't he answer his phone at ten o'clock? ..
~ Now listen again and read the recording script on p.183 to check your answers.
ct] Look at your answers to A3 and answer these questions.
1 Which sentences contain the past simple? .
2 Which sentences contain the past continuous? .
3 Which sentences tell you about a past activity which continued for some time?

4 Which sentences tell you about a single event? .

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. [l1 Past simple - forms
In the past simple
• we add -ed/-d to regular verbs: want ~ wanted, hope ~ hoped, shop ~ shopped
y·+verb +'-e
!Lwe/they did not (didn
!she/it/we/they + verb

• some verbs are irregular and do not end in -edl-d: buy ~ bought, go ~ went, make ~ made
(See p.viii.)

I I/you/he·/shel~tlwelthey
· +.irregular. past
I/you/he/sheltt!welthey did not (didn't) -I-
Did I/you/he/she/it/we/they+ verb

• to be has two forms (was and were)

(wasn't)

Were you there"

[I] Past simple - use

We use the past simple
• for completed actions, events and situations in the past:
I wanted to see the new film.
Your phone ·was on but you didn't answer.
Why didn't you answer?
She left the desk and ran out of the building.

I]] Past continuou

s - forms
We form the past continuous of all verbs with was/were + -ing:

·. e not (weren't)+ verb

she/it + verb + -ing ... ?
eyou/welthey+ verb + -ing ... ?

A We do not use state verbs in the past continuous. (See Unit 4.)

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 Past tenses

[!I] Past continuous - use

We use the past continuous
• for an unfinished activity around a time in the past:
\ At nine o'clock I was sitting in the cinema.
8.3~ ... I was sitting in the cinema .. :~ 9.45

"'>"-I. I .
'"' · ~ 9 o'clock
.........
.,,,,.,: .'2.~

A Compare: At 830 I sat'·q·.own.

\.
(=one e#ent at 8.30)
,· ·.,

• for a past activity beginnirig before a.past event and· continuing until or after it. For the
event we use when + the pas\,simplef
I was talking to the 'T]tqnager -W}ten you rang me.
. - ... ' ....

(I started talking to the manager)' ... J\was talking ... (I continued talking)
-. -. I -
You'ra,ng me

When I went out, you were having a shower.

I went out

You were having a shower ... ~

I was leaving the cinema when I saw a notice.

~ ... I was. leaving (I stopped to read it}
I~
J saw a notice

(Compare: I left the cinema then I saw a notice.= 1 I left, 2 I saw. See Unit 30.)
+ for two activities at the same time in.the past (often with while or and):
I was sitting near the ticket desk and the manager was talking.

I was having a coffeewhile I was waiting.

I was lw1jng,a coffee

~~a$ wditipg
•C3, C4, CS

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 C Grammar exercises

t=] Read this postcard and put the verbs in brackets into the past simple.

~ Tanya and her brother Tony gave a party together. Use the information below and
write sentences with the past continuous to show how they prepared for the party.

:------Ta~j-~Q~--------~~-1---------rn
I 10 Qm . Mak~-"1t::>f2f2~V1!JJ;?f eMQd +1'1e;,, f,,;ends
l_1~ ~ +1'1e dr';~ks c.1.-.oose +1'1e MUS;c;.
I~~
k-~7 f?.'!'.
f-;dfJbe 1.-.oU?~
blow ~P-- fu_~~J!o~?
--2"9'1--~~C ~r'e~~-- _
__ prerzar'e +1'1e food
~C.or'ate +1'1e r'OOMS
1.-.al(~_q_~Q_W_e_r' ~rn

1 At ten o'clock .I9.-:~Y9.-: ~2 ~~\l'.;9 o, 2bQJ?P.~r;g 1!2.t . ~0.~ .. .I0.:Y. ~ ~.~!l!r;g th~!r. .. .f!.!~.~9.:2.: .
2 At one o'clock .
3 At three o'clock .
4 At six o'clock .
5 At seven o'clock .
[:iJ Complete each sentence with a verb from Box A in the past continuous and a verb
from Box B in the past simple.
A climb cook dance stay B burn discover meet fall
tidy work
__ P_a_in_t ~-- ·---~·-------·_!
__-p_l_a_y~~s·e~~-
1 I .. ~ ... \'.l.Q..n<;!Dg .. with my boyfriend when the disc jockey ... }?J.Q.~0. .... our favourite song.
2 My parents in a restaurant when they .

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 .- Past tenses

3 I grammar when I asleep.

4 The chef spaghetti when he his hand.
5 The artist in the South of France when she her most famous picture.
6 The scientist his laboratory when he the new drug.
7 We the wall when the gardener us.
~ Read this email and underline the best tense for each verb.
-
- E!11'9
Cl
Hi Bea
A funny thing 1 happened/was happening to me and my flatmates on Saturday.
On Friday night we 2 went/were going to the college party. There were some new students there and
we 3 met/were meeting someone called Lucas. We 4 invited/were inviting him to Sunday lunch. It was
a great party so we 5 didn't go/weren't going home until three o'clock.
Of course, we 6 'didn't get/weren't getting up early on Saturday morning. At half past twelve I
7 watched/was watching TV in my pyjamas, Marie 8 had/was having a shower and Wendy 9 read/was
reading a magazine. Suddenly someone 10 rang/was ringing the doorbell. I 11 looked/was looking out
of the window to see who was there. Lucas 12 stood/was standing on the step. I 13 went/was going
to the door but I 14 didn't open/wasn't opening it. I said 'Hello?' and he said 'Hello, I've come for i

I!
lunch.' Oh no! He'd got the wrong day!!
We 15 got/were getting dressed in three minutes! Luckily we 16 had/were having enough food, and he -.....
seemed to enjoy it. How was your weekend? Love Annette -...
q..

mJ Read this newspaper article and put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense, past
simple or past continuous.

An honest customer
. s 1.
Yiester day J on Atkin u.ient . .
Into
(go) 10 (run) back to the shop. It was
Harpers' Art Gallery cat. the end of the closed so Jon 11 (look) through
afternoon. He 2 (want) to buy a the window.
present for his mother. It 3 (be) Michael Harper 12 (search)
nearly closing time and owner MichaelHarper under the counter, and his assistants
4 (count) the money. Quickly Jon 13 (look) in all the cupboards
5 (choose) a small picture and Mr and drawers. 'I 14 (knock) on the ;
Harper 6 (wrap) it for him. window and 15 (wave) the
While7 he (wait) for his bus, Jon money at them' said Jon.
8 (decide) to look at the picture 'I was so happy,' said Mr Harper. 'It's
again, In the parcel he 9 (find) wonderful to know that there are honest
£500 in cash as well as the picture. He people like Jon.'

29
 ·~, •• c !. ~ >~"'-~'\;-' ·. : . ·~

'

D Exam practice
~ ' ~ ""' -
Grammar focus tsst«;
' " -~ - -

Look at the Writing Part 3 task below. What tense is used in the first sentence of the story?
Here are some sentences which can follow. Put the verbs into the correct tense.
A man.], '.:$ ~l~.i.lJ9. (walk) slowly towards the cafe, He 2 (carry) a huge
box. Sll.ddenly;he 3 (stop) and 4 (look) around him. A woman
5 (follow) him. He 6 (drop) the box and 7 (run)
towards the cafe.
Now think about your story. You can finish the story above or write your own story.
Write down some ideas. Use these questions to help you:
Who are the people in your story?
What were they doing in the market square?
What happened?
How does your story end?
Which tenses will you use?
Now do the exam task below.

Writing Part 3

• Your English teacher has asked you to write a story.

• Your story must begin with this sentence:

One day last week I was sitting in a cete in the market square.

• Write your story in about 100 words.

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