PAST CONTINUOUS *

* English Structure Practice - Gordon Drummond

1) O passado contínuo é usado para indicar:
a) uma ação em progresso num tempo passado declarado ou implícito.
b) uma ação no passado que começou antes e ainda está em progresso quando outra ação no
passado começou.

Ex.: Paul was working when Susan telephoned.
John was watching TV when Mary came in.
The boys went to the library while the girls were preparing lunch.
Mary wrote some letters while the children were having their afternoon nap.

c) duas ações ocorrendo simultaneamente no passado.

Ex.: I was singing while Peter was dancing.
Tom was working while Sue was relaxing.

d) discurso indireto:

Ex.: John said: "I´m coming".
John said (that) he was coming.

Nem todos os verbos podem ser usados em tempos contínuos.

What were you doing at 8 pm last night?
I was reading a book.

What was John doing at 1 pm yesterday?
He was having lunch.

What were you doing at 9 pm last night?
We were going to the cinema.


Exercise 1:

The children weren´t swimming at 4 pm. (tea)
Weren´t they?
No, they weren´t.
What were they doing?
They were having a cup of tea.

I wasn´t studying at 9:30 last night (TV)
Weren´t you?
No, I wasn´t.
What were you doing at 9:30 last night?
I was watching TV.

I wasn´t typing at 11 am. (lesson)
................ you?
No, I ................
What .......... you ............... at 11 am?
I was studying my lesson.

Mary wasn´t cooking at midday. (friends)
............... she?
No, she ................
What was she doing at midday?
She was talking to her friends.

We weren´t having a meal at 7 pm. (rest)
................ you?
No, we ................
What ................ you ................ at 7 pm?
We .................................................................

The girls weren´t working at 9 pm. (TV)
................ they?
No, they ................
What ................ they ................ at 9 pm?
They ..............................................................

I wasn´t having dinner at 8 pm. (newspaper)
................ you?
No, I ................
What .................. you ................ at 8 pm?
I .....................................................................

You weren´t listening to me earlier. (window)
.................. I?
No, you .................
What ................ I ............... earlier?
You ...................................................................

Jim wasn´t writing a letter at 6 pm. (novel)
................ he?
No, he ................
What ................ he ............... at 6 pm?
He ....................................................................

I wasn´t getting dressed at 8 am (sleep)
................ you?
No, I .........................
What .............. you ................. at 8 am?
I ........................................................................

John wasn´t helping Mary after lunch. (garden)
.................... he?
No, he ....................
What ................. he ................... after lunch?
He ........................................................................

I wasn´t going into the town at 2 pm. (tennis)
........................ you?
No, I ........................
What ....................... you ................... at 2 pm?
I ..........................................................................

Peter wasn´t having lunch at 1 pm. (coffee)
.................... he?
No, he .......................
What ................... he .................... at 1 pm?
He .....................................................................

They weren´t going to class at 9 am. (breakfast)
..................... they?
No, they ......................
What ............... they ................... at 9 am?
They ...................................................................

David wasn´t driving to work at 10 am. (suitcase)
....................... he?
No, he ......................
What ................... he .................. at 10 am.
He ............................................................................

Richard wasn´t speaking to Helen at 10 pm. (radio)
....................... he?
No, he .........................
What ................. he ....................... at 10 pm?
He ..................................................................................

The boys weren´t watching the match at 3 pm. (beer)
..................... they?
No, they .......................
What ................ they ...................... at 3 pm?
They .................................................................................