1. reporting a crime
I was having a cup of coffee, and I was watching the people in the café.
It was about ten in the morning, and I was sitting in Maxi’s Café near City Park.
What were you doing?
What did you see?

2. To my left, there was a young man
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.
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 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!

3. She was eating ice cream.
The past continuous refers to unfinished actions in the past!
I was having coffee.
She was eating ice cream.
10 a.m.
NOW
future
past
was having
was eating

4. The past simple refers to finished actions in the past!
They were enjoying the morning when the thief stole the briefcase.
They were enjoying the morning when the thief stole the briefcase.
stole
NOW
future
past
were enjoying

5. The man was reading the newspaper when the thief snatched his briefcase.
NOW
future
past
was reading

6. was sitting / was watching
I was sitting in Maxi’s Café and watching people.
The thief stole the briefcase and ran away.
stole
ran
NOW
past
future
was sitting / was watching

7. The man was reading the newspaper while the woman was eating her ice cream.
NOW
future
past
was reading
was eating

8. While I was describing the theft, the police officer was writing everything down.
NOW
future
past
was describing
was writing

9. Exercises Example: read / steal
While the man was reading, the prisoner was stealing his wallet.
1. talk / drink
3. play / watch
4. not look / burn
2. shine / splash
5. talk / sit
5. While the woman was talking on the phone, the man was sitting in the chair.
4. While the woman was not looking, the toast was burning.
3. While one man was playing pool, the other man was watching.
2. While the sun was shining, the fountain was splashing.
1. While the women were talking, they were drinking tea.

10. Grammatik-Timeline Past simple NOW future past Past continuous
The past continuous refers to unfinished actions in the past!
The past simple refers to finished actions in the past!

11. Exercises
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 (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 piercing scream. 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 (see) you the other day?

12. Exercises
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 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. a) What were you doing when the telephone rang? (schon bevor das Tel. läutete)
b) What did you do when the telephone rang? (als nächstes, als das Tel. läutete) 10. a) Why were you running when I saw you the other day? (schon vorher …)
b) Why did you run when I saw you the other day? (…, sobald du mich sahst: nachher!)

13. Exercises While I (text), the school bus (arrive) .
2. Cindy (break) her leg while she (snowboard).
3. He (listen) to the radio while he (prepare) breakfast.
4. My father (drive) at 170 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.

14. Exercises 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 170 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.