Monday April 20th,

2020
Unit 9, Lesson A
Page 86
● Read and listen to the people talking about their bad week (pista 23)
● Use the interviews to help you choose the correct verb form in activity C.
Answers page 86
1. Sean missed his stop because he was talking to a woman on the train.
2. Julia’s friend deleted all Julia’s music files when she was using her
computer.
3. Roberto and his friend were trying to look cool when they walked into a
glass door.
 ● Used to talk about actions

The past and events in progress in the

past. The events may be

continuous temporary or unfinished.

ex: Helen was using my

computer last night.
How to form the past continuous
● Affirmative statements ● Negative statements

subject + was/were + present participle (ing) subject + wasn’t/weren’t + present participle

(ing)
I was talking
I wasn’t paying attention
They were watching a movie
We weren’t looking
Parallel actions
● We can use the past Examples
continuous to talk
● I was studying while he
about 2 actions
was making dinner.
happening at the same
● While he was reading, I
time in the past.
was watching
television.
 Example

Giving context ● When I walked into the office,

several people were busily
● Another use of the past typing, some were talking on
the phones, the boss was
continuous is to give
yelling directions, and
context for our customers were waiting to be
anecdotes. helped. One customer was
yelling at a secretary and
waving his hands. Others
were complaining to each
other about the bad service.
 Sometimes, to ● The simple past is often used
tell an anecdote, for shorter actions that
happened and were
we use the past completed during the time of
another longer action (in past
continuous and continuous)

the past simple ex: A friend of mine deleted

all my files (short action,

together. completed) when she was

using my computer
(background, longer action)
Example: interruption
● Use the simple past (the
power went out) to
indicate that a longer
action in the past (the
students were studying)
was interrupted.
watch these videos
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7
KCF_Q5crKE
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K
d4tfV8XqLU
***start this one at 9 minutes (9:00)
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L
tVkKpBWy54
Try these exercises
Do these in your notebook. Use the present simple or present continuous to complete the
sentences.

1. We____________(wait)for Jane when suddenly Louis__________(come)around the corner.

2. I___________(cycle)through the park when I_________(hear)a strange noise.
3. He__________(pass)her a message when the teacher________(look / not).
4. I___________(fall)asleep while I___________(watch)TV last night.
5. When Mike and Jane__________(paint)the walls, their dog___________(knock)over the paint pot.
6. Tom_________(break)his leg when he_______________(play)frisbee.
7. The phone___________(ring)when I_____________(sit)on the toilet.
Answers
1. We were waiting for Jane when suddenly Louis came around the corner.
2. I was cycling through the park when I heard a strange noise.
3. He passed her a message when the teacher was not looking.
4. I fell asleep while I was watching TV last night.
5. When Mike and Jane were painting the walls, their dog knocked over the
paint pot.
6. Tom broke his leg when he was playing frisbee.
7. The phone rang when I was sitting on the toilet.
Page 87
● Do the grammar activity. IMPORTANT: Read all the anecdote before you
begin to complete them.
Answers page 87
1. I was having lunch in a cafe yesterday when the server accidentally spilled
tomato sauce on my shirt. I guess he wasn’t paying attention. I was upset,
but I got my lunch for free.
2. My friend and I were at a barbecue last week. When we were walking
around the yard, she tripped and fell into the pond.
3. I damaged my parents’ car last week. I was trying to park, and my friend
was talking to me, and I hit a wall. Now I have to pay for the repairs.
4. I was in a chemistry class recently, and a classmate and I were doing an
experiment when something went wrong. I burned my hand.
5. Last week I was on the bus, and I was talking to my girlfriend on my cell
phone. Well, actually, we were having a long argument. We were not
getting along at the time. When I ended the call, I realized that everyone
on the bus was listening. How embarrassing!
Homework
● Workbook Online: Unit
9 lesson A
● Send photos of your
book.
● Write a short anecdote
in your notebook using
the past simple and
past continuous.