LESSON 11

The Past Continuous Tense. Сравнение The Past Simple Tense и the Past Continuous Tense.

Text 1

Do you miss your school-mates? Did you study well? How did you spend your holidays? Tell the students about it. Then read the text, answer the questions and retell it.

Holidays

After each term in school we had our holidays. It’s fun to have holidays, you can do whatever you like, you don’t have to get up too early, do your homework or think of troubles which occur very often at school.

Most of all I liked summer holidays, they were the longest ones, though, when winter was snowy and frosty, I enjoyed my winter holidays skating and skiing, sledging and making a snowman or having a fight with snowballs.

I’d like to tell you about my summer holidays I spent in Sochi. It was just three years ago. My parents and me were sitting in the living-room. We were discussing our plans for the summer holidays. We decided to go to Sochi. I jumped up with joy and said it was a wonderful idea. My mother wasn’t against the idea either.

So one summer morning we started for our journey to Sochi. First, we travelled to Odessa by plane and from there we got to Sochi by boat. We stayed in Odessa for three days. So we had an excellent opportunity to go round the city, to see beautiful monuments to the famous people who had lived in Odessa, museums and the Odessa Opera House.

We enjoyed our trip from Odessa to Sochi. The Black Sea was calm. We sat on deck in the lounge chairs and looked at the sea. I liked Sochi very much, we bathed and went boating and swimming, lay in the sun on the beach. In the evenings we went for a walk or dropped in at a cafe to have icecream or juice. My father showed us the famous Botanical Gardens, we went for hikes in the mountains, we saw the magnificent Augura Waterfalls.

The sea was nice and warm. The weather was fine. When it was time to go home, we were sorry to leave the marvellous town of Sochi.

Every day, when I went to bed, I was thinking about my holidays.

1.Why is it fun to have holidays?

2.What holidays did you like most of all?

3.Did you like winter holidays?

4.Have you ever been to Sochi? When were you there?

5.What did your father suggest?

6.When did you start for your journey to Sochi?

7.Where did you travel by plane?

8.How many days did you stay in Odessa?

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9.Where did you live there?

10.What did you do in Odessa?

11.Did you enjoy your trip to Sochi?

12.What did you do in the evenings?

13.Why were you sorry to leave Sochi?

Text 2

Provide the sentences with “were” or “was”. Read the text and tell your group-mates about a special day in your life.

Special Day in My Life

Days are usually alike, we go to the Institute, see our friends and have some duties at home. But everybody has some days in his life that will never be forgotten.

The special day I remember … during a holiday and I think that the most special days for young people happen during holidays.

It … a sunny day in July and I … spending time at my grandmother’s home in the country. My grandmother’s house … situated close to the lake. A group of young people came to the village. They wanted to put up a tent by the lake. It … prohibited to put up tents in the woods so they came to my grandmother and asked her to allow them to camp on her meadow close to the lake. I … still sleeping when they came but later my grandmother said they

…three boys and two girls. They … really nice so she let them set up the tents and invited them for breakfast. As they … of my age she thought they would be a good company for me. They … from the same city as I … . And she

…right. I liked at first sight one of the boys named Dennis.

So I had not only good company during the holidays but on that special day I met Dennis who is still my boyfriend. That is why it … such a special day for me.

Text 3

Read Freda’s letter. Imagine that you are Freda’s mother (father). Write a letter to Freda.

A Letter From Holidays

Gdynia, the 3rd of July, 1996

Dear Mum and Dad,

How are you? I am o.k. The camp is very nice. The weather is very nice too so I had no time to write to you. It is raining today so I have time to write. Is it raining there, too?

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We are having a very nice time, we walk a lot, we play ball and different games. I swim a lot and row a boat.

In the evenings we watch television or video, sometimes we have a disco. Bedtime is at ten o’clock. In my room there are five persons, they are

nice.

I will write again soon.

Love, Freda

ORAL PRACTICE

Answer the questions:

A.What is the traffic in your city like? What kind of city transport do you like? What is the most convenient kind of city transport? At what time does the bus service begin in your city? Till what time do buses run? What do we call the hours when the city transport carries the greatest number of passengers? When are buses usually full? What do we call the money passengers pay for their trip on buses? What is the fare on Moscow buses? Are there conductors on buses in Moscow? Have you ever travelled abroad? What countries have you visited? Is the public transport in those countries different from the public transport in this country?

B.What street do you live in? Where do you work? Is your office far from your house? How do you get to work? What bus number do you take to get to work? Do you have to change on your way to work? Where do you change? How long does it take you to get to work? How did you get here? How long did it take you? What’s the easiest way to get to these places from this building: the Town Hall (the nearest cinema; the market, etc.)? Have you ever been lost in a large city? Where? When? Have you ever had to give directions to a stranger in this town/city? Do you always buy a map when you go to a new city in this country or abroad? Why/Why not?

***

Complete the dialogues. Work in pairs.

Asking the Way

Peter: … tell me the way to the British Museum, please?

Passer-by: Yes, certainly. Go straight along this road as far as the traffic light then turn left there …

P.: … ?

P.-by: Oh, yes, you can get a bus or go by underground if you like. P.: … ?

P.-by: The bus stops over there by the Wimpy Bar and you’ll see the underground station a little way along on the right-hand side of the road.

P.: … P.-by: … .

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On the Bus

Peter: Does this bus go to Westminster Abbey, please?

Bus Conductor: No, there isn’t a bus from here to Westminster. P.:

B.C.: You’ll have to change at Oxford Circus. P.: … ?

B.C.: Full up inside. Standing only. Come along. Fares, please. P.: … ?

B.C.: It’ll take about 15 minutes or so to get to Oxford Circus at this time of the day.

P.: … ?

B.C.: Don’t worry, I’ll call it out. P.: … .

B.C.: Thank you, sir. Marble Arch, please!

GRAMMAR EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Continuous Tense.

1. What you (do) yesterday at 10.20 p. m.? – Mr. X.: I (play) chess with my brother. – Mr. Y.: I (listen) to a play on the radio. 2. My wife and I (talk) about you the other day. 3. When I first met him he (study) painting.

4.Who you (talk) to on the telephone as I came in? – I (talk) to Mr. Smith.

5.Where he (live) when you saw him last? 6. Tom (sit) in a corner with a book. 7. I went into the garden to see what the boys (do). 8. The traffic made so much noise that I couldn’t hear what he (say). 9. While he (learn) to drive he had twenty-five accidents. 10. From the sounds it was clear that Mary (practise) the piano. 11. John (work) all day yesterday. 12. He watched the children for a moment. Some of them (bathe) in the sea, the others (play) in the sand. 13. When I first met him he (work) in a restaurant. 14. One winter

evening the old man and his wife (sit) by the fire. The old man (smoke) his pipe and (read) the paper. 15 John got off the train while it (go). 16. It (rain) when we went out. 17. I (play) the piano when he came into the room. 18. I came into the room when Mary (play) the piano. 19. While we (fish) some one came to the house and left this note. 20. She (live) in England when the war began. 21. He hurt his foot while he (climb) the tree. 22. The baby (eat) its dinner when I came home. 23. He (walk) home when the rain began. 24. The car hit a tree while it (travel) at 60 miles an hour.

Exercise 2. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or the Past Continuous Tense.

1. He (write) a letter when I (see) him. 2. Harry (do) his work while his brothers (play) games. 3. The man (fall) down as he (run) for the bus. 4. We (sing) a song when George (come) into the room. 5. While the teacher (give)

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a lesson, a small dog (walk) into the room. 6. When the telephone bell (ring), I (work) in the garden. 7. My hat (fly) off when I (cross) the bridge. 8. The rain (begin) to fall while we (watch) the game. 9. Jack’s father (read) a book last night when he (hear) a noise in the garden. He (open) the window and looked out. It (be) a dark night and at first he could see nothing. But just as he (shut) his window, he (see) a man. The man (try) to climb over the garden wall. He was a thief. When he saw Jack’s father in the window, he (jump) off the wall and ran away. Jack’s father (run) after him. There was a car at the end of the street. The thief reached the car but just as he (get) into it, Jack’s father (catch) him. 10. He (lose) his pocket-book while he (see) the sights of Rome. 11. Jack (do) his homework when his father (come) home from work. 12. Mary (wear) her new dress when I (meet) her yesterday. 13. The pupils still (write) their compositions when the bell (ring).

14. She (walk) along the street when she (see) an old friend. 15. The woman was very tired, and she (lie) on her bed when her children (come) home from school. 16. When I (go) out this morning, the sun (shine) and the birds (sing). It was a beautiful morning. I (walk) to the nearest park and sat down on the grass. But while I (sit) there, black clouds gathered and (hide) the sun. It (begin) to rain heavily, so I (run) home. My hat (fall) off as I (run). 17. The sick child (sleep) when the doctor (come). 18. I (read) the newspaper when I (hear) a strange noise. 19. It (rain) hard when I (go) out this morning. 20. We (listen) to the wireless when the telephone bell (ring). 21. The little boy (fish) when he (fall) into the river. 22. Jack’s mother (cook) the dinner when he (come) home from school. 23. A lot of people (see) this accident while they (wait) for the bus. 24. He often (go) to the British Museum when he (study) at London University. 25. He (fall) down and (break) his leg while he (play) football. 26. The gardener (find) a box full of money when he (dig) in the garden. 27. The boy (jump) off the bus while it (go). 28. The hunter (shoot) and (kill) the lion just as it (jump) on him. 29. Mary’s mother often (sing) while she (cook) in the kitchen. 30. The old man never (go) out when it (rain). 31. The travellers (see) some camels as they (cross) the desert.

Exercise 3. Use the Present Perfect Tense or the Past Simple Tense:

1. At last I (to do) all my homework: now I will go out. 2. The building of the house (to begin) early in April. 3. The rain (to stop) but a cold wind is still blowing. 4. We already (to solve) the problem. 5. He (to come) a moment ago. 6. I never (to speak) to him. 7. He just (to finish) his work. 8. You (to make) any spelling mistakes in your dictation? 9. It (to be) very cold yesterday. 10. When you (to meet) him? 11. I (not to see) him since 1987. 12. How many mushrooms you (to gather)? 13. Where you (to put) the newspaper? I want to read it, but cannot find it anywhere. 14. The new school (to

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begin) working last year. 15. You (to read) all the books on this shelf? 16. I (not to see) my cousin since last year. 17. Why you (to put) these things in the wrong place? 18. Why you (to leave) the door open? You will catch cold sitting in the draught. 19. “We (not to meet) for such a long time!” said my friend. “Yes, indeed,” I answered, “and we both (to grow).” 20. What books you (to read) when you (to live) in the country? 21. They (not yet come) from the south. 22. He (to be) ill last week, but now he (to recover). 23. If everybody (to read) this new novel, let’s discuss it. 24. You (to book) tickets? – Yes, I … . I (to book) them several days ago. 25. I can hardly recognize you. I (not to see) you since you (to leave) for Moscow. And you (to change) so much.

Exercise 4. In the Future Simple Tense “be able to” has the following forms: “shall/will be able to”; “shall not/will not be able to” (“shan’t/ won’t be able to”). Fill in the spaces with “shall/will be able to” or “shall not/will not (shan’t/won’t) be able to”.

1. When they buy a car, they ... visit their friends more often. 2. I’m sorry, but I ... come to your birthday party next week. 3. I saw a terrible bus accident in London years ago. I ... never ... forget it. 4. It’s very cold, and the old man ... go out until the weather gets warmer. 5. Why do you sit at the back of the class if you can’t hear well? You ... hear better if you sit in the front. 6. Do you think you ... support yourself when you are twenty-one? 7. I’m too busy to have a holiday this year, but I hope I ... have a long holiday next year. 8. The train leaves at five o’clock tomorrow morning. We ... catch it if we don’t get up very early. 9. He was working very hard before he fell ill. He … work so hard when he comes out of hospital. 10. Perhaps one day we ... travel to the moon. 11. The little girl is still ill, but she’s getting better. The doctor hopes she ... go back to school after the summer holidays.

12.This is a very difficult problem. I’m afraid you ... solve it without help.

13.The doctor is very busy; he ... see any more patients today. 14. He ...

spend more time with his grandchildren when he retires the year after next.

15.Mr. Brown is learning Russian, but he doesn’t think he … ever … speak the language well. 16. Jack has hurt his knee, and he … play football next Saturday.

Exercise 5. Fill the sentences with prepositions of time.

1. He bought the car ... August. 2. He never comes ... class ... time. 3. She arrived ... 5 o’clock in a taxi. 4. Every morning I get on the bus ... 8.30. 5. I won’t be back ... several hours. You should eat without me. 6. Everyone finished dinner ... seven o’clock. 7. Will you lend me your pen ... a minute? 8. I have known Dan ... many years. 9. I will wait for him ... six o’clock. 10. The game lasted ... hours. 11. I didn’t finish my work ... time to show it to

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the teacher. 12. I have been working on this ... two hours. 13. He gets up ...

seven o’clock ... the morning and goes to bed ... eleven. 14. I told them I should be there ... an hour. 15. She was usually quite tired ... the end of day. 16. I see her ... time ... time. 17. His office hours are ... ten ...six. 18. Did anyone call me ...my absence? 19. Nick arrived ... six o’clock sharp. 20. The train will leave ... two minutes. 21. He didn’t arrive until late ... the afternoon. 22. I was not there ... last summer. 23. He will be back ...three o’clock. 24. She will be back ... half an hour. 25. They have been studying English ...

two years. 26. He says that he will be back ... a few minutes. 27. They may stay in Europe ... several months. 28. Let’s sit here on this bench ... a while. 29. I’ll call you back ... some minutes. 30. We waited for you ... an hour. 31. I’ll be back ... a minute. 32. I’m going for a walk ... dinner. 33. I’ll be over to see you ... Wednesday night. 34. What time do you get home ... school every day? 35. The buses are always crowded ... this time of the day. 36. We’ll have to postpone our trip ... next month.

Exercise 6. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense: Present Perfect, Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple or Past Continuous.

1. They (to go) to the Hermitage last week. 2. They (to be) at the Hermitage twice this week. 3. After school yesterday he (to come) home, (to have) dinner, (to read) an article from the latest magazine and (to begin) doing his homework. 4. When your friend (to return) from the south? – She (to return) yesterday. – You (to go) to the station to meet her? – No, I..., I (to be) too busy. 5. With whom you (to discuss) this question yesterday? 6. I (to see) this film this week. I like it very much. 7. When I (to enter) the kitchen, I (to see) that my mother (to stand) at the table and (to cut) cabbage. She (to cook) dinner. 8. As soon as I (to hear) a cry, I (to run) out of the room and (to see) that a child (to lie) on the ground and (to cry). “What (to happen)? Why you (to cry)? You (to hurt) yourself?” I asked. 9. As soon as I (to see) him, I (to understand) that he (to work) hard. He (to write) something and (not to notice) anything. 10. When I (to come) home yesterday, the children (to run) and (to sing) merrily. “We (to learn) a new song!” they cried. 11. When the young man (to enter) the room, she (to look) at him in surprise. “What you (to want) to tell me?” she (to say). “Why you (to come)?” 12. It (to rain) hard when I (to leave) home yesterday, so I (to return), (to put) on my raincoat and (to start) again. 13. Your brother (to return) from the north? – Yes, he (to come) a few days ago. 14. You (to be) to the Crimea? When you (to be) there? – I (to be) there in 1993. 15. Where (to be) your brother? – He just (to come) home. He (to take) a shower in the bathroom now.

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ADDITIONAL READING Arguments for and against Examinations

Examinations are a well-tried system. They enable us to assess students’ knowledge in a quick and reliable way. Although some people claim that examination check memory and train in examination techniques, they also check the candidates’ reasoning and logical thinking. Tests are most popular as they assess both reasoning and knowledge of the candidate. When examinations are both written and oral they are more reliable, as they show the students’ level of intelligence and possibilities to learn, to work under stress. The written tests are marked anonymously and the examinations are coded. So no deception is possible.

Aspects of the educational system such as cramming are not the fault of examinations, but of the teachers who cram weak pupils to push them through. Able pupils do not need cramming; they do not learn thoughtlessly by heart. While learning they associate certain historical processes, understand physical or social phenomena, and combine the knowledge of biology and chemistry. They simply think.

Examinations are constantly improved. There is a lot of research into objective testing techniques to eliminate human error. Some universities put the candidate in front of a computer to answer all the questions and afterwards the computer counts the points and gives marks. There are complex systems used by examiners to ensure fair results and avoid any mistakes. If somebody doubts if the marks are fair he can appeal and look into his examination papers.

Exams are the best way to assess students’ knowledge and intelligence. There are so many painful and stressing things in life that examinations are only a part of the whole human existence.

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