le passé BE -ing         WAS / WERE + BV -ing

 

Ce temps peut exprimer :

 

1) Une action qui durait dans le passé qui était en train de se passer.

 

Exemple : At six o'clock, I was watching television. (C'est l'action que je faisais à 6 heures)

 

2) Utilisé avec le passé simple, ce temps exprime une action en décor en arrière plan qui se passait en même temps que l'action exprimée par le passé simple.

 

Exemple : John was reading when the phone rang. ( C'est l'action que John était en train de faire )

                 While the guardian was sleeping, the prisoners escaped.

                (Pendant que le surveillant dormait, les prisonniers s'échappèrent. 

 

Ce temps correspond souvent à l'imparfait en français.

Expression with WAS/WERE BE-ing

Complete the sentences

1) Yesterday, at eight in the morning, I was ..............

2) This morning, at half past nine, I ...................

3) Last Wednesday, at three in the afternoon, I ..............................

4) While I was going to school this morning, I ..........................

5) During our last English lesson, we ....................................

 

Translate

1) Pendant le dîner, je mangeais le dessert quand mon téléphone sonna.

During dinner, I was eating dessert when the phone rang.

2)Pendant que je regardais la télévision, mon frère arriva.

While I was watching television, my brother arrived.

3) A trois heures hier, ils regardaient le concert.

At three o'clock yesterday, they were watching the concert.

4) Pendant le match, il pleuvait.

During the match, it was raining.

5) Pendant que je rentrais à la maison, j'ai rencontré mon ami.

While I was going home, I met a friend.

 

Copy the question and answer

1) What were you doing yesterday at 9 o'clock in the morning ?

I was working in class.

2) What were you doing last Saturday at 5 in the afternoon ?

I was watching a cartoon on the television.

3) Were you watching TV at 8 last night ?

Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't.

4) Were you working on Monday at 11 in the morning ?

Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't.

5) What were you doing  at midnight on New Years Eve ?

I was celebrating with my family and friends.