Практична граматика англійської мови для першокурсників. Частина II: Навчально-методичний посібник з граматики, страница 30

·  and the Past Simple is used for the action, which interrupted it (shorter action).

e.g. He was walking down the street when he ran into an old friend.

3.  For two or more simultaneous past actions.

e.g. She was talking on her mobile phone while she was driving to work.

4.  To describe the atmosphere, setting, etc. in the introduction to a story before the description of the main events (background action)

e.g.  One beautiful autumn afternoon, Ben was strolling down a quiet country lane. The birds were singing and the leaves were rustling in the breeze.

5.  The past continuous is used with the following time expressions (adverbial modifiers of time:

e.g. What was she doing from 3.30 to 4.30 yesterday?

       She was looking around the shops at that time.

       As Brenda was coming to her house, she remembered that she had left her key in the office.

*TASK 44.  Put the verbs in brackets into past simple or past continuous. Other variants are also possible.

Part 1.

The sun _________ (to shine) and the birds_________ (to sing) as Mike _________ (to drive) down the country lane. He _________ (to smile), because he _________ (to look forward) to the journey ahead. Mike _________ (to enjoy) driving, especially when he _________ (to go) somewhere new. Then, suddenly, the engine _________ (to begin) to make a strange noise and the car _________ (to stop) dead in the middle of the road. Mike _________ (to try) to start it, but nothing _________ (to happen). He _________ (to sigh), then _________ (to get out) of the car. As he  _________ (to push) the car to the side of the road, Mike _________ (to start) to wish he had stayed at home.

Part 2.

John  _________ (to enter) his flat and _________ (to close) the door. He _________ (to hang up) his coat when he _________ (to hear) a strange noise. A tap _________ (to run) in the kitchen. He _________ (to walk) into the kitchen and _________ (to turn) it off. Then, he _________ (to freeze). Someone _________ (to stand) behind him. He _________ (to take) a deep breath and (to turn) around. His flat-mate Steve, _________ (to lean) in the doorway. 'You _________ (to give) me a fright!” John exclaimed. Then he _________ (to see) that Steve _________ (to laugh) at him. John _________ ( to start) to laugh too. “I _________  (to think) you _________ (to be) in London”. “No, Steve _________ (to reply), “unfortunately I _________ (to miss) the train.

Part 3.

On July 19,1989, a plane from Denver _______ (to be) on its way to Chicago when an engine  ________ (to catch) fire. When the pilots  ________ (to make) an emergency landing in Iowa, 112 people _______ (to die), but 183 people ________ (to survive). In the few weeks after the accident _________ (to happen) reporters _________ (to talk) to many survivors about the time between the fire and the landing. When the engine _________ (to explode) Helen Young Hayes _________ (to sleep), and others _________ (to eat) lunch. Babies _________ (to sit) in their parents' laps. Lindsi Werner _________ (to enjoy) the flight with her grandmother when the pilot _________ (to announce) the emergency landing. As the plane _________ (to go down), John Transue _________ (to think) about his life insurance. Most of the passengers _________ (to think) about their families. Clifton Marshall _________ (to finish) a letter to his family while the plane _________ (to circle). While strangers _________ (to cry), they _________ (to hold) hands. Some passengers _________ (to think) about the emergency landing movie. As the plane _________ (to hit) the ground, fire _________ (to come) from everywhere. People _________  (to hang) upside down still in their seats. As the fire _________ (to burn), people _________ (to jump) through the flames to escape. After people _________ (to escape) the flames, many of them _________ (to help) others escape. It _________ (to be) a miracle that more people ________ (not to die).