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Unit – 6

         

This tense tell about the action that started in past and continued for some time.  This continuity is showed by this tense.

The following adverbs are used in this tense:

At that time, that day, yesterday etc.

STRUCTURE – 6

Basic Structure     :        Sub. + was/were + V I ing form + Obj.

 

Affirmative                            :           Sub. + was/were + V I ing form + Obj.

Negative                                 :           Sub. + was/were + not + V I ing form + Obj.

Interrogative                          :           Was/were + Sub. + Verb I ing form + Obj.?

Interrogative Negative          :           Was/were + Sub. + not + Verb I ing form + Obj.?

Passive                                    :           Obj. + was/were + being + V III form + by + Sub.

Singular Subjects: He, She, It, I and Singular noun as Rohit, Rajesh etc.

·        Helping Verb: Was

Plural Subjects: We, You, They, and Plural nouns as people, boys, colleges.

·        Helping Verb: Were

Important:

This tense is used with connective ‘while’ and ‘when’ with VII form in one clause and V I ing form in another.

He was taking dinner with his wife, when I phoned him.

They were whistling while she was along the garden.

Important:

In Spoken English, while speaking interrogative, we can use the following structure

Was/were + not + Sub. + V I form + Obj.?

Were you not disturbing him while studying?

Weren’t you disturbing him while studying? (Colloquial structure)

Exercise

A.   Imagine any incident happening in past, be the observer and tell whatever is happening around you. As you are there in a birthday party, now tell whatever is happening around you.

B.    

Affirmative                            :           Kim was teasing her younger brother.           

Negative                                 :           Kim was not teasing her younger brother.

Interrogative                          :           Was Kim teasing her younger brother?

Interrogative Negative          :           Was Kim not teasing her younger brother?

Passive                                    :           Her younger brother was being teased by Kim.

Now speak sentences of Past Indefinite Tense using all these structures and the following main verb. Try using the adverbs and adjective as well.

Discuss over	Take exams	Annoy
Listen to songs	Bark at	Use  mobile
Complain about	Show some relics	Dig in the garden
Edit the book	Waste energy	Knit sweater
Beat dogs	Consult over problem	Walk on platform
Wait for guests	Deride at	Interrupt
Have meal	Talk senseless	Smoke