Past Simple Passive: was/were + participle II
38. Fill in the gaps with the verbs in the brackets in Past Simple Passive.
1. At the last lesson the student (ask) to tell the story again.
2. The washing machine (repair) yesterday afternoon.
3. At last the problem (solve) to everyone's satisfaction.
4. Last year our house (redecorate).
5. Yesterday we (tell) a very funny story!
39. Rewrite each sentence, putting the verbs in brackets into Past Simple Active or Passive.
1. Last year computers (not/manufacture) at that factory.
2. We all (suffer) from culture shock at first.
3. David’s new car (damage) in a car park.
4. Most of the guests of the conference (leave) at midday.
5. New scientific achievements (introduce) at the exhibition.
The Past Continuous Tense: be + Participle I
We use Past Continuous for:
| • the scene setting • the interrupted activity • a temporary action taking place at a given moment or period in the past |
Study the examples:
1. At that time the various environmental groups were establishing “green” political movements.
2. While politicians were discussing the nature conservation, other notable environmental developments occurred.
3. It was raining all night yesterday.
| The most common time expressions used with the Past Continuous Tense are: while, as, all night (long), all morning, at 6 yesterday, from 5 till 6, etc. |
40. Match the two halves of the sentences. Explain the use of the Past Continuous Tense in these examples.
| 1. The wind was blowing and | a. we were sailing. |
| 2. He was looking through some papers | b. at 10 in the morning. |
| 3. This time last month | c. while he was listening to me. |
| 4. The policeman was staring at me | d. when someone called my name. |
| 5. I was waiting at the bus stop | e. and I began to get nervous. |
| 6. We were having our English | f. the ocean was beginning to get rough. |
41. Ask questions to the following sentences.
1. She was discussing this problem when they came in. 2. During the lockdown lots of people were working from home. 3. While he was sleeping, his brain was processing the day’s information.