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Repeated activity in the past can be expressed using forever or always with the past
¤
continuous; this is often an expression of frustration.

For example:
Iwas forever lending him money – which I never got back.

People often use the past continuous instead of the simple past to avoid sounding
¤
direct and definite.
For example:

1. Nitin and I were talking (rather than talked ) about you yesterday.

2. I was discussing (rather than discussed ) this very problem earlier with dad.

NOTE

People often make tentative offers or requests.
For example: I was wondering if you were free to have dinner with me this evening?

You can use the past continuous for a future activity in a past context.
¤
For example:

1. I was catching a plane to China the next morning, so I left early.

2. He said he couldn’t meet us – he was taking Garima for a dinner.

The
¤ past continuous of go + to-infinitive can be used for activities that were

intended but didn’t happen, or haven’t yet happened (and may not happen).
For example:

I was going to consult a doctor about fever, but I got better, so I didn’t.

A. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past or past continuous: A1 CLT EPS

1. Yesterday I watched the reality show. Rajan ( lead) _____________ the race when he ( have)
_____________ an accident with another car.
2. Last night, I stayed alone at home. I ( read) _____________ when Urvashi ( come)
_____________ in suddenly. She made me scream!

3. I spent yesterday afternoon watching TV. When Amilia ( call) _____________ , I ( watch)
_____________ Dance India Dance.

4. He ( bite) _____________ his tongue while he ( eat) _____________ puris.

5. I ( fall) _____________ off the chair while I ( hang) _____________ the picture.
6. Last Sunday at the cinema, while we ( watch) _____________ the movie, a crazy man ( dance)
_____________ in front of the screen.

40 Grammar - 8
Grammar-8