What did you see?

It was about ten in the morning, and I was sitting in Maxi’s Café near City Park.

I was having a cup of coffee, and I was watching the

people in the café.

What were you doing?

reporting a crimereporting a crime

Suddenly, there was another young man. He snatched the red briefcase and ran away with it so fast that no one knew what was happening.

To my left, there was a young man. He was drinking coffee and reading a newspaper. A

big red briefcase was standing next to his feet.

To my right, there was a young woman. She was eating a huge dish of ice cream. She was enjoying it.

After that, we were all talking loudly. The owner of the briefcase was very upset!

10 a.m.

NOW

was havingpast future

I was having coffee.

She was eating ice cream.

was eating

The past continuous refers to unfinished actions in the past!

NOWstolestole

They were enjoyingwere enjoying the morning when the thief stole the briefcase.

pastfuture

They were enjoyingwere enjoying the morning when the thief stolestole the briefcase.

were enjoyingwere enjoying

The past simple refers to finished actions in the past!

NOWsnatchedsnatched

The man was readingwas reading the newspaper when the thief snatched his briefcase.

past future

The man was readingwas reading the newspaper when the thief snatchedsnatched his briefcase.

was readingwas reading

The thief stolestole the briefcase and ranran away.

NOWwas sitting / was watching

past future

I was sitting in Maxi’s Café and watching people.

stolestole ranran

The man was readingwas reading the newspaper while the woman was eating her ice cream.

The man was readingwas reading the newspaper while the woman was eatingwas eating her ice cream.

NOWpast future

was readingwas reading

was eatingwas eating

While I was describing the theft, the police officer was writing everything down.

While I was describing the theft, the police officer was writing everything down.

NOWpast future

was describingwas describing

was writingwas writing

1. While the women were talkingwere talking, they were drinkingwere drinking tea.2. While the sun was shiningwas shining, the fountain was splashingwas splashing.3. While one man was playing was playing pool, the other man was was watchingwatching.4. While the woman was not lookingwas not looking, the toast was was burningburning.5. While the woman was talking was talking on the phone, the man was was sitting sitting in the chair.

While the man was readingwas reading, the prisoner was stealingwas stealing his wallet.

ExercisesExercises

Example: read / steal

1. talk / drink2. shine / splash

3. play / watch 4. not look / burn5. talk / sit

Grammatik-TimelineGrammatik-Timeline

NOWpast future

Past continuousPast continuous

Past simplePast simple

The past continuous refers to unfinished actions in the past!

The past simple refers to finished actions in the past!

1. I (drive) my new car when I (have) the accident.2. She (walk) down the street when she (trip) on the pavement.3. They me (not see) me because they (talk) to each other.4. I (have) a shower so I (not hear) the phone.5. We (walk) in the mountains when we (hear) a piercingscream.6. They (have) so much fun at the party, they (decide) to stay.7. When the teacher (arrive), they (play) in the back of the classroom.8. While I (have) a drink in the cafe, I (see) an accident outside.9. What (you/ do) when the telephone (ring)?10. Why (you /run) when I you (see) the other day?

ExercisesExercises

1. I was driving my new car when I had the accident.2. She was walking down the street when she tripped on the pavement.3. They didn't see me me because they were talking to each other.4. I was having a shower so I didn't hear the phone.5. We were walking in the mountains when we heard a piercing scream.6. They were having so much fun at the party, they decided to stay.7. When the teacher arrived, they were playing in the back of the classroom.8. While I was having a drink in the cafe, I saw an accident outside.9. What were you doing when the telephone rang?10. Why were you running when I saw you the other day?

ExercisesExercises

1. While I (text) , the school bus (arrive) .2. 2. Cindy (break) her leg while she (snowboard). 3. He (listen) to the radio while he (prepare) breakfast. 4. My father (drive) at 70 km/h when a policeman (stop) him. 5. The girl (to notice) that the boy (watch) her. 6. My dad (fall off) the ladder while he (paint) the carport. 7. While we (wait), we (do) crossword puzzles. 8. Nick (to become) sick while he (travel) in Texas. 9. What (to do) when you (hear) about 9/11? 10. She said that she (not feel) happy, so I (talk) to her.

ExercisesExercises

• 1. While I was texting, the school bus arrived. • 2. Cindy broke her leg while she was snowboarding. • 3. He was listening to the radio while he was preparing breakfast. • 4. My father was driving at 70 km/h when a policeman stopped him. • 5. The girl noticed that the boy was watching her. • 6. My dad fell off the ladder while he was painting the carport. • 7. While we were waiting, we were doing crossword puzzles. • 8. Nick became sick while he was travelling in Texas. • 9. What were you doing when you heard about 9/11? • 10. She said that she was not feeling happy, so I talked to her.

ExercisesExercises