AUGUST 9th, 1974 When Mr Benson took the picture, Nixon ____ _________ goodbye to his cabinet.

AUGUST 9th, 1974 When Mr Benson took the picture, Nixon was saying goodbye to his cabinet.

When Mr Benson ______ this picture, BERLIN, 1989 When Mr Benson ______ this picture, a woman ____ _______ the wall with a stone.

When Mr Benson took this picture, BERLIN, 1989 When Mr Benson took this picture, a woman was hitting the wall with a stone.

PARIS, 1964 Mr Benson ___ this photo while the Beatles ____ _______ with their pillows.

PARIS, 1964 Mr Benson took this photo while the Beatles were fighting with their pillows.

Past of “be” (was-were) + verb in –ing PAST CONTINUOUS Past of “be” (was-were) + verb in –ing The Beatles were celebrating a number one. Nixon was speaking to the people. We use it to talk about an action in progress at a given time in the past (we imagine it happening).

PAST CONTINUOUS NEGATIVE “wasn’t - weren’t” + verb in –ing The woman in the photo _____ smiling. The Beatles ______ composing a song.

PAST CONTINUOUS NEGATIVE “wasn’t - weren’t” + verb in –ing The woman in the photo wasn’t smiling. The Beatles weren’t composing a song.

PAST CONTINUOUS QUESTIONS (Question word) + “Was-were” + subject + verb in –ing ____ the woman ______? No, she wasn’t. (smile) Why ______ the Beatles ______? Because they were number one in the US. (play)

PAST CONTINUOUS QUESTIONS (Question word) + “Was-were” + subject + verb in –ing Was the woman smiling? No, she wasn’t. Why were the Beatles playing? Because they were number one in the US.

PAST SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS We can often find the past simple and continuous in the same sentence: Mr Benson took the photo when Nixon was speaking. [------------------Nixon was speaking-----------------] __________________X___________________ Mr Benson took the photo The action in P. Continuous is longer; the action in past simple is shorter and usually happens in the middle of the long action.