1. What, when you saw him? (the man / to read) was the man reading. 2. Who at 5 o'clock yesterday? (you / to wait for) were you waiting for. 3. What, when you opened the door? (the students / to do) were the students doing. Exercise 1. Choose the correct past continuous and past simple forms to complete the sentences below. 1 I while I down the stairs. 2 He very fast when he the accident. 3 It when we home. 4 I your call because I . 5 This morning I and I breakfast for everybody. 6 When I her, she a really nice purple dress. Use of the simple past does not preclude an extended action / state, or there wouldn't be a simple past tense of say 'wait'. He waited while I combed my hair. He stayed there for several months. The past continuous is used when there is a more punctive occurrence during that process: He saw a mouse as he was waiting while I was combing my hair. The Past continuous tense signal words: as long as; while; Structure of the Past Continuous (Progressive) Tense: The Past Continuous Tense is formed with a form of ” be ” ( was, were ), the infinitive (basic form of the verb) with ” ing “. Phrases in the Past Progressive can be formulated as an affirmative or negative sentence or as a Present continuous ( I am working ) - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Vay Tiền Nhanh Chỉ Cần Cmnd.

past continuous tense while examples