Setting a scene around a past event
The past continuous uses plus an -ing form: , . It describes an activity in progress at a past time.
Use a short completed event with past simple: . A useful story pattern is . You can also tell the same plot in two short sentences.
For questions invert : This pattern goes a little beyond a compact A1 syllabus, but it helps make the festival photographs clear.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past. | ||
| Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past. | ||
| Describe a group’s past activity in progress. | ||
| Describe a group’s past activity in progress. | ||
| Describe Anne’s past activity in progress. | ||
| Describe Anne’s past activity in progress. | ||
| Name the completed event interrupting the scene. | ||
| Name the completed event interrupting the scene. | ||
| Ask about Anne’s past activity. | ||
| Ask about Anne’s past activity. | ||
| Connect an ongoing activity with the event. | ||
| Connect an ongoing activity with the event. | ||
Jack was playing.Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past.
People were dancing.Describe a group’s past activity in progress.
Anne was sleeping.Describe Anne’s past activity in progress.
The lights went out.Name the completed event interrupting the scene.
Was Anne sleeping?Ask about Anne’s past activity.
Jack was playing when the lights went out.Connect an ongoing activity with the event.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the patterns
Tap the form described in this unit.
.
Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past.
.
Describe a group’s past activity in progress.
.
Describe Anne’s past activity in progress.
.
Name the completed event interrupting the scene.
?
Ask about Anne’s past activity.
.
Connect an ongoing activity with the event.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Choose the right word for the gap.
Jack playing.
Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past.
People dancing.
Describe a group’s past activity in progress.
Anne was .
Describe Anne’s past activity in progress.
The lights out.
Name the completed event interrupting the scene.
Anne sleeping?
Ask about Anne’s past activity.
Jack was playing the lights went out.
Connect an ongoing activity with the event.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete a short message
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Jack playing.
Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past.
People dancing.
Describe a group’s past activity in progress.
Anne was .
Describe Anne’s past activity in progress.
The lights out.
Name the completed event interrupting the scene.
Anne sleeping?
Ask about Anne’s past activity.
Jack was playing the lights went out.
Connect an ongoing activity with the event.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build useful sentences
Put the words in order.
Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past.
Describe a group’s past activity in progress.
Describe Anne’s past activity in progress.
Name the completed event interrupting the scene.
Ask about Anne’s past activity.
Connect an ongoing activity with the event.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Describe Jack’s activity in progress in the past.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Describe a group’s past activity in progress.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Describe a group’s past activity in progress.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Describe Anne’s past activity in progress.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Describe Anne’s past activity in progress.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Name the completed event interrupting the scene.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Name the completed event interrupting the scene.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
