The Past Continuous Tense (прошедшее продолженное время)

Образуется с помощью глагола to be в форме прошедшего времени + причастия настоящего времени V(ing): was, were + V(ing). Отвечает на вопрос: «Что делало подлежащее в определенный момент в прошлом?»

Pattern:

When the manager came to the office, the employees were discussing the new production plan. The discussing was lasting for some hours.

Когда менеджер пришел в офис, служащие обсуждали новый производственный план. Дискуссия длилась несколько часов.

Exercise 3. Open the brackets and put the verbs into Present Simple, Past Simple, Present Continuous or Past Continuous.

1. Every day the college (open) its doors at 7 a.m.

2. The inauguration of the new college President (to take place) in 1999.

3. When you (to leave) school?

4. While I (work) in the laboratory my roommate (to clean) the room.

5. How long you (to work) in the garden?

6. Now the students (choose) their majors.

7. Jane and Dolores (to join) the scientific society.

8. They (to begin) a broad-based education.

9. The two friends (to make) plans to go to dinner together.

10. It (to seem) as if you know each other for years.

11. You speak so nicely! Where you (to learn) English?

Exercise 4. Open the brackets and put the verbs into Past Continuous.

1. When Jane came to the party she saw many students there. Dolores (to dance),

Mike (to play the piano), Rebecca (to talk) to John, Ann (to argue) with Tom,

as usual, some other students (to listen) to music and (sing) the tunes.

2. During the interview Kate (to answer) a lot of questions concerning her life,

previous work and her views of business.

3. While the students (to study) at the college their residence life (to become) a part

of their exiting college experience.

Exercise 5. Read and translate the text. Write out and translate the underlined words.

Jane gets her First job

One day while Jane was reading a local newspaper she came across a column “wanted” which invited young people to join a new business organization oriented on perfume and cosmetics production. Jane got interested in the possibility of getting a job and decided to try. She analyzed her chance and came to the conclusion that she could fit the vacancy*. So, she completed an application for admission. For some days she was looking forward* to hearing from the office*. At last she found a letter in her box which invited her for an interview. Of course, she was nervous on the day of the interview. But she pulled herself together* and calmly entered the room. The interviewer was a young and pleasant-looking man who was smiling at her. He welcomed Jane warmly and asked her some questions about her age, family and education. They were also talking about Jane’s future plans and her present ambitions. Jane felt an ease* and even declared her vision how to promote the firm’s production.

She left the office with the belief that she will get the job. In no time the firm informed her of her becoming a member of their young and friendly staff. She became a part-time employer of the advertisement department. Her chief is Jessica, a manager of informational resource department. She is also young and nice.

* Notes to the text:

to fit the vacancy – подходить для данной работы;

to look forward – с нетерпением ждать чего-либо;

to hear from the office – получить ответ от фирмы;

to pull oneself together – взять себя в руки, собраться с духом;

to feel an ease – чувствовать себя в своей тарелке, непринужденно.

TEST 1

TASK 1. Выберите слово для заполнения пропуска в тексте: become; welcomed; countries; first; wished; subjects; success; economics; excited.

This was their … day at the college. There were students from different … .

They all were happy and … . The dean … the new students and … them … .

The students learnt that they would study many … connected with … as they are going to … economists.

TASK 2. Выберите нужный вспомогательный глагол для построения вопроса:

1. … you speak English? a) did; b) do; c) does.

2. Where … you yesterday? a) are; b) was; c) were.

3. What nationality … your friend? a) are; b) were; c) is.

4. Which school … you leave? a) do; b) did; c) does.

5. What … you doing when I phoned you? a) are; b) was; c) were.

TASK 3. Выберите перевод сказуемого:

6. The students listened to the lecture with great interest.

a) слушают; b) слушали.

7. Where do you usually go to rest?

a) ездишь; b) ездил.

8. They were translating the text for an hour.

a) переводят; b) переводили.

TASK 4. Выберите нужную форму глагола для заполнения пропуска:

9. Now Mr. Brown … a lecture in economics.

a) delivers; b) is delivering; c) delivered; d) deliver.

10. Last year the University … a new laboratory.

a) opens; b) opened; c) is opening; d) open.

11. During the discussion the students … about the role of a manager in

business process.

a) speak; b) were speaking; c) speaks; d) spoke.

12. Mark Spencer … from Canada, so he is Canadian.

a) is coming; b) come; c) came; d) comes.

TASK 5. Выберите нужное вопросительное слово:

13. … are you? – I am a student.

a) who; b) what; c) how; d) why.

14. … did you come to England?

a) where; b) how much; c) when; d) what.

15. … do you have English? – Twice a week.

a) how many; b) how much; c) how long; d) how often.

Unit 4