Casa · A2 Elementary · Lesson 16 of 20 · Step 2

Telling Stories

Narratives & Events

Use the past continuous to describe background actions in a story
Combine past continuous and simple past with 'when' and 'while'
Tell an engaging short story

Words · tap a card to see it used

Grammar

Past continuous — background actions in a story

Use was/were + -ing for longer actions in progress when something else happened. Use simple past (interrupted action) with when, and past continuous (background action) with while.

I was walking to the station when I saw an old friend.

While she was cooking, the smoke alarm went off.

They were sitting in the garden when the storm started.

He was not paying attention when the announcement was made.

Exercises · type, then check

1. Complete each sentence using the past continuous or simple past of the verb in brackets.

1.While I (read), someone (knock) on the door.

2.She (drive) to the airport when her tyre (go) flat.

3.They (have) dinner when the power (cut) out.

4.I (not look) at the road when I (trip).

5.What you (do) when the earthquake (start)?

2. Choose the correct form.

1. She ___ when I called — I had to leave a message.

2. While we ___ in the queue, someone stole his wallet.

3. He ___ his keys just as he ___ to leave.

0 of 8 answered · nothing you type leaves this device

Reading

The Storm

Last August, I was sitting on the beach with a book when the sky suddenly turned dark. While other tourists were still swimming, I noticed the wind picking up dramatically. I was walking back to the hotel when the rain started — first a drizzle, then a downpour. People were running in every direction. A waiter was carrying a tray of drinks when a gust of wind knocked everything to the ground. I made it inside just before lightning struck a palm tree nearby. I was shaking for twenty minutes afterwards but it was quite a story to tell.

1. What was the writer doing when the sky turned dark?

2. What happened to the waiter during the storm?

Speaking · say it out loud, with a partner or alone

1Tell your partner a story about something unexpected that happened to you. Use past continuous and simple past with when and while.

2Describe the scene: what were people around you doing the last time something surprising happened?

Writing

Write a short story (5–7 sentences) about a surprising or funny moment. Use past continuous at least three times.

0 words

Finished?

Check your exercises first, then mark the lesson done.