We use it when we want to emphasize the continuing process of an activity or the period of that activity. (If we just want to talk about the past event as a simple fact, we use the past simple.)

• While I was driving home, Peter was trying desperately to contact me.
• Were you expecting any visitors?
• Sorry, were you sleeping?
• I was just making some coffee.
• I was thinking about him last night.
• In the 1990s few people were using mobile phones.

We often use it to describe a “background action” when something else happened.

• I was walking in the street when I suddenly fell over.
• She was talking to me on the phone and it suddenly went dead.
• They were still waiting for the plane when I spoke to them.
• The company was declining rapidly before he took charge.
• We were just talking about it before you arrived.
• I was making a presentation in front of 500 people when the microphone stopped working.

exercise 1

exercise 2

exercise 3

exercise 4

exercise 5

It’s time for the final exercise is our short series on Legal
English.

Today we are looking at language associated with Wrongful Death.

I hesitated about picking this theme but a lot of the vocabulary is
very useful in many situations.

Click here for the exercise

http://www.better-english-test.com/unit31/index.html

Have a nice week.

Pearson

We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.

* She came back last Friday.
* I saw her in the street.
* They didn’t agree to the deal.

It can also be used to talk about a period of time.

* She lived in Tokyo for seven years.
* They were in London from Monday to Thursday of last week.
* When I was living in New York, I went to all the art exhibitions I could.

You will often find the past simple used with time expressions such as these:

* Yesterday
* three weeks ago
* last year
* in 2002
* from March to June
* for a long time
* for 6 weeks
* in the 1980s
* in the last century
* in the past

exercise 1

exercise 2

exercise 3

exercise 4

exercise 5

exercise 6

• for regular actions or events
  I watch TV most evenings.
• facts
  The sun rises in the east
• facts know about the future
  The plane leaves at 5.00 in the morning.
• thoughts and feelings about the time of speaking
  I don’t understand.

We use the Present Continuous

• at the time of speaking (‘now’)
  I’m watching a movie on TV.
• things which are true at the moment but not always
  I’m looking for a new job.
• present plans for the future
  I’m taking my husband to New York for his birthday.

Look at these sentences:

• I usually don’t drink coffee but I’m having one this morning because there is nothing else.
• I often drive to work but I’m taking the train this morning because my car is in for repair.
• I’m thinking about dying my hair blonde but I don’t think my wife will be very happy about it.
• My parents live in New York but I’m just visiting.

Notice how in all these examples we use the present continuous to talk about events which are temporary/limited in time and the present simple to talk about events which are habits/permanent.

exercise 1

exercise 2

exercise 3

exercise 4

exercise 5

exercise 6

In these examples, we are talking about regular actions or events.

• I drive to work every day.
• She doesn’t come very often.
• The games usually start at 8.00 in the evening.
• What do you usually have for breakfast?

In these examples, we are talking about facts.

• Water freezes at 0° C or 32° F.
• I have three children.
• What does this word mean?
• I don’t have any of my original teeth left.

In these examples, we are talking about future facts, usually found in a timetable or a chart.

• The plane leaves at 5.00 tomorrow morning.
• Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year.
• Ramadan doesn’t begin for another 2 weeks.
• Does the class begin this week or next?

In these examples, we are talking about our thoughts and feelings at the time of speaking. Notice that, although these feelings can be short-term, we use the present simple and not the present continuous.

• I think you are wrong.
• She doesn’t want to do it.
• They don’t agree with us.
• Do you understand what I am trying to say.

exercise 1

exercise 2

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exercise 4

In these examples, the action is taking place at the time of speaking.

* It’s raining.
* Who is Kate talking to on the phone?
* Look, somebody is trying to steal that man’s wallet.
* I’m not looking. My eyes are closed tightly.

In these examples, the action is true at the present time but we don’t think it will be true in the long term.

* I’m looking for a new apartment.
* He’s thinking about leaving his job.
* They’re considering making an appeal against the judgment.
* Are you getting enough sleep?

In these examples, the action is at a definite point in the future and it has already been arranged.

* I’m meeting her at 6.30.
* They aren’t arriving until Tuesday.
* We are having a special dinner at a top restaurant for all the senior managers.
* Isn’t he coming to the dinner?

Here are some grammar exercises. Please note that these are different from the one available in English Grammar Secrets.

exercise 1

exercise 2

exercise 3

exercise 4

Just click here to download it.

We’ve had lots of praise for this. I’m sure you’ll find it useful. If you like it, please give copies to your friends. It’s good publicity for us.

Once this is finished, I’ll send you an exercise each week to help you improve your vocabulary.

Please note the following conditions. If you download the file, that signifies that you accept these conditions.

1. This game works with Windows. It can only work with a Mac if you use an emulator program such as VMWare Fusion.

2. The two files necessary are downloaded in one ZIP file. You need to extract both files from the zip file for the game to work.

3. If you don’t know how to do this, ask a friend. We provide no technical support whatsoever.

4. The game has been downloaded more than 60,000 times without problem. However, you download this program at your own risk. We accept no liability whatsoever for  any problems.

Click here to download this file.