4. Grammar: The Past Tense: Simple Versus Continuous

The past continuous is used for an action taking place over a longer period of time than another action taking place during that time period.

Example:

SIMPLE PAST PAST CONTINUOUS

When Ruri saw Laurie, she was holding a package.

The past continuous is formed with the past of be (was/ were) plus the -ing form of the verb.

Example:

Some were talking and laughing. . .

We often use the past continuous and the simple past in the same sentence to show that something happened in the middle of something else.

Example:

They were moving when Sam called.

(Moving is a longer action, which was taking place when Sam called.)

Note: Certain verbs are typically not used in the continuous form. Some of these verbs are the following: know, want, need, like, love, hate, seem, believe, and hear.

5. Application

Complete the sentences below with the simple past or the past continuous.

Example:

When I came (come) home, my cat was chewing (chew) the living room rug.

(The cat was still chewing the rug.)

1. What were you doing (do) at 10 o’clock last night?

2. I _____________________________(study) English.

3. Last year at this time, Mario __________________________(live) in Italy.

4. Jose _______________________________ (come) to the United States in 1994.

5. It (snow) eight times last winter.

6. It (snow) when I _________________(get) up this morning.

7. I (hear) the phone ring when I (take) a shower.

8. Dorothy (cut) herself while she ___________________(peel) potatoes.

9. We (talk) about him before he ____ (arrive).

10. When I________ (see) her, she _________________(plant) flowers in the garden.

11. While I __________________ (live) in California, I often _______________ (go) to Hawaii for vacation.

12. It (start) to rain when I (run) this morning.

13. It (still, rain) when I _______________________(leave) for work.

Editing Practice Edit the following paragraphs by correcting any verb that is used in the wrong tense:

When I was meeting my friend Blanca, she studied to be an actress. She was wanting me to study acting, too, but I wasn’t believing I would be good at it. I was knowing Blanca would be good, and I thought she would be getting a good part in some play and become successful.

Then I wasn’t hearing anything from Blanca for a long time. Finally, she called to tell me she took classes and was going to become a teacher. When she was calling me, I was going to work and couldn’t speak to her. But she said she did very well so far in her studies.

D. Thinking About the Story

1. Sharing Ideas

Discuss the following questions in a group:

1. What are some of the unjust decisions that governments make during wartime?

2. Why is the sign “We are loyal Americans” a sad contrast to the way the Japanese Americans are treated in the story?

3. Why is Ruri excited when she thinks she is going to live in an apartment? How is she disappointed?

4. Describe the place to which the family has been assigned.

5. Give three examples of Mama’s courage. Find sentences from the story to support your answer.

6. Why would it have been impossible for the author to have written this story if the action had occurred in another period of American history?