English Grammar Course Unit 12: Past continuous Tense (I was doing)

Incorrect. Was reading is the past continuous of is reading. Therefore this answer is incorrect because it uses the past tense read the newspaper. (Please note that the spelling of read is the same in the present and past tense. In the past tense read is pronounced as red.

Incorrect. Was cleaning is the past continuous tense of is cleaning. Therefore this answer is incorrect because it uses the past tense cleaned. 

Incorrect. Was having is the past continuous tense of is having. Therefore this answer is incorrect because it uses the present tense is having.

Incorrect. Was washing is the past continuous tense of is washing. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense washed. 

Incorrect. Was watching is the past continuous tense of is watching. Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense watched.

Incorrect. Was writing is the past continuous tense and is used to say that someone was in the middle of doing something at a certain time in the past. The event had already started but we don’t know if it got over . Therefore this incorrect since it uses  the past tense.

Incorrect. Was getting ready is the past continuous tense and is used to say that someone was in the middle of doing something at a certain time in the past. The event had already started but we don’t know if it got over . Therefore this is incorrect since it uses  the present continuous tense.

Correct. Were having dinner is the past continuous tense and is used to say that someone was in the middle of doing something at a certain time in the past. The event had already started but we don’t know if it got over . Therefore this answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense. (Please note that when we refer to two or more people, were should be used. Was should be used when we refer to one person)

Incorrect. Was making is the past continuous tense and is used to say that someone was in the middle of doing something at a certain time in the past. The event had already started but we don’t know if it got over . Therefore this answer is incorrect because it uses the future tense.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (while I was taking a shower) and the simple past (phone rang) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. Here the ongoing event is actually the person taking a shower and in the middle of that event, the phone rings and the not the other way around (not the reverse). Therefore this answer is incorrect.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (while I was walking) and the simple past (began to rain) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. However, in this answer the first event (walking) has been used in the simple past tense and the event that happens in the middle of that (rain) has been used in the past continuous. Therefore it is incorrect.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (while we were waiting) and the simple past (saw an accident) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. However, in this answer though the first event (waiting) has been used in the past continuous, the event that happens in the middle of that (accident), is used in the past continuous as well. Therefore this answer is incorrect.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (while he was painting) and the simple past (fell off) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. However, in this answer the first event (painting) has been used in the simple past tense and the event that happens in the middle of that (fall) has been used in the past continuous. Therefore it is incorrect.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (was reading) and the simple past (heard ) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. This answer is incorrect since it uses the simple past (read) for the first event and past continuous (was hearing) for the event that happened in the middle of the first event.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (were you watching?) and the simple past (I called) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. This answer is incorrect because it uses the simple past for the first event (watch tv).

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (was waiting) and the simple past (arrived) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. This answer is incorrect because it uses the simple past tense for the first event (wait) and present continuous for the event that happened in the middle of the first (arrive).

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (was not driving) and the simple past (happened) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. This answer is incorrect because it uses the simple past for the first event (drive) and the present continuous for the event that happened in the middle of the first one (happen).

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (was washing) and the simple past (broke, slipped) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. This answer is incorrect because it uses the simple past for the first event (wash) and the present continuous for the second event (slip) that happened in the middle of the first.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (was not looking) and the simple past (took a picture) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. This answer is incorrect because it uses the simple past for the first event (look) and the present continuous for the second event which happens in the middle of the first event.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous (raining) and the simple past (did not go out) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. This answer is incorrect because it uses the simple past (rain) for the first event and the present continuous (go out) for the event that happens in the middle of the first.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous to say that someone was in the middle of something at a certain time. The action or the situation had already started before this time but hadn’t finished. This answer is incorrect since it uses the past tense.

Incorrect. We use the past continuous ( was wearing) and the simple past (saw) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else. This answer is incorrect because it uses the present continuous for the first event (see) and the past tense (wear) for the event that happens in the middle of the first.