Year 2 · Unit 1 · Lesson 1 of 5
Tense Review and the Past Continuous: Set the Scene
I ___ (walk) home when it started to rain.
Should it be "walked" or "was walking"? Why?
"I was walking home when it started to rain." The walking was already in progress, and the rain interrupted it. A longer background action takes the past continuous (was/were + -ing); the short action that interrupts it takes the past simple.
Master the essentials
Present simple
Habits, routines and facts.
"Our club meets every Friday."
Present continuous
Happening now or around now.
"We are planting trees today."
Past simple
A finished action in the past.
"Volunteers cleaned the park last Saturday."
Past continuous
was/were + -ing: an action in progress at a past moment.
"At 9 a.m., we were painting the fence."
Interrupted actions
Long action (past continuous) + short action (past simple), often with when.
"We were painting when it started to rain."
Two actions at once
Use while + past continuous for two longer actions at the same time.
"While Tom was sweeping, Emma was collecting litter."
Setting the scene
Stories often open with the past continuous to describe the background.
"The sun was shining and people were chatting in the square."
Was or were?
I, he, she, it → was. You, we, they → were.
"They were singing." (not "They was")
See it done
1. "When the bell (ring), the students (sing)."
The ringing is short; the singing was already happening. "When the bell rang, the students were singing."
2. "While Mum ___ (cook), Dad ___ (wash) the car."
Two longer actions at the same time: "While Mum was cooking, Dad was washing the car."
Common mistake: Using the past continuous for a short, finished action: "I was dropping my phone." A quick action takes the past simple: "I dropped my phone."
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the correct form to complete each sentence.
1.Our football club ___ every Saturday.
Not quite. A regular habit takes the present simple; "club" is singular. Answer: B. trains.
Correct. A regular habit takes the present simple; "club" is singular.
Not quite. A regular habit takes the present simple; "club" is singular. Answer: B. trains.
Not quite. A regular habit takes the present simple; "club" is singular. Answer: B. trains.
2.Look! The volunteers ___ the wall right now.
Not quite. "Right now" needs the present continuous. Answer: C. are painting.
Not quite. "Right now" needs the present continuous. Answer: C. are painting.
Correct. "Right now" needs the present continuous.
Not quite. "Right now" needs the present continuous. Answer: C. are painting.
3.Last week, the mayor ___ the new library.
Not quite. A finished action at a past time: past simple. Answer: D. opened.
Not quite. A finished action at a past time: past simple. Answer: D. opened.
Not quite. A finished action at a past time: past simple. Answer: D. opened.
Correct. A finished action at a past time: past simple.
4.At 8 o'clock last night, we ___ dinner when the lights went out.
Correct. An action in progress at a past moment: past continuous.
Not quite. An action in progress at a past moment: past continuous. Answer: A. were having.
Not quite. An action in progress at a past moment: past continuous. Answer: A. were having.
Not quite. An action in progress at a past moment: past continuous. Answer: A. were having.
5.I ___ for the bus when I saw my teacher.
Not quite. The longer action that was interrupted: past continuous. Answer: B. was waiting.
Correct. The longer action that was interrupted: past continuous.
Not quite. The longer action that was interrupted: past continuous. Answer: B. was waiting.
Not quite. The longer action that was interrupted: past continuous. Answer: B. was waiting.
6.While Emma ___ litter, Tom was sweeping.
Not quite. Two longer actions at the same time: past continuous after while. Answer: C. was collecting.
Not quite. Two longer actions at the same time: past continuous after while. Answer: C. was collecting.
Correct. Two longer actions at the same time: past continuous after while.
Not quite. Two longer actions at the same time: past continuous after while. Answer: C. was collecting.
7.They ___ football when the storm began.
Correct. The game was in progress when the storm interrupted it.
Not quite. The game was in progress when the storm interrupted it. Answer: A. were playing.
Not quite. The game was in progress when the storm interrupted it. Answer: A. were playing.
Not quite. The game was in progress when the storm interrupted it. Answer: A. were playing.
8.Which sentence is correct?
Not quite. They → were. Answer: D. They were singing..
Not quite. They → were. Answer: D. They were singing..
Not quite. They → were. Answer: D. They were singing..
Correct. They → were.
9.When we arrived at the park, the sun ___ and the birds were singing.
Not quite. "Shone" would suggest the sun began shining after we arrived. Answer: B. was shining.
Correct. The background was already in progress when we arrived: past continuous, matching "were singing".
Not quite. The background was already in progress when we arrived: past continuous, matching "were singing". Answer: B. was shining.
Not quite. The background was already in progress when we arrived: past continuous, matching "were singing". Answer: B. was shining.
10.Which sentence uses the past continuous correctly?
Not quite. A longer action interrupted by a short one. Answer: C. He was reading when the lights went out..
Not quite. A longer action interrupted by a short one. Answer: C. He was reading when the lights went out..
Correct. A longer action interrupted by a short one.
Not quite. A longer action interrupted by a short one. Answer: C. He was reading when the lights went out..
Complete the sentences
Write the correct form of each verb in brackets. Then check below.
1. When the mayor (arrive) ___, the children (sing) ___.
2. While I (paint) ___ the bench, my friend (plant) ___ flowers.
3. We (finish) ___ the clean-up at noon.
4. It (rain) ___ when we (leave) ___ the park.
1. arrived · were singing
2. was painting · was planting
3. finished
4. was raining · left
Next: the Lesson 1 exit quiz. Five questions, recorded on your dashboard. Aim for 4 out of 5.