46
Exploring Grammar (Units 4 – 5)
ii
Past simple – Past continuous –
used to – would
a) Read the email below. Circle the verbs in
the
past simple
and underline the verbs in
the
past continuous
. Then, match the verbs
with their uses below.
a
actions that happened immediately one after
the other
b
an action which was in progress when
another action interrupted it
c
to describe the atmosphere, setting, etc and
to give background information to a story
d
an action that happened at a definite time
(stated or implied) in the past
e
an action that was in progress at a stated
time in the past (we don’t mention when the
action started and finished)
f
two or more simultaneous actions in the
past
1
b) Which time expressions do we use with
the
past simple
and the
past continuous
?
c) Find an example of
used to
in the email.
When do we use
used to
? When can we
use
would
?
Put the verbs in brackets into the
past
simple
or the
past continuous
.
1
Gary .............................
(whistle)
while he
.............................
(wash)
the car.
2
Antonio Canova was an Italian artist who
.............................
(create)
many beautiful
sculptures.
3
At 6:30 yesterday evening, I ......................
(still/wait)
for the bus.
4
Jake .............................
(move)
to Venice
in 2013.
5
We ......................
(get)
home, ..................
(make)
some popcorn and ........................
(sit)
down to watch
Brave
on television.
6
Annie .....................
(write)
a text message
when she .....................
(drop)
her phone.
2
Choose the correct item.
1
Terry didn’t
use/used
to like rock music.
2
I
used to/would
have a mountain bike.
3
Did you
use to visit/visit
France in 2012?
4
When we were children, we
would/use to
camp by the lake all summer.
5
Did Ellen and Claire
used/use
to live in the
USA?
6
Brian
didn’t go/didn’t use to go
swimming
last week.
3
Subject/Object questions
Look at the two underlined questions in the
dialogue below. Which is the
subject
question
and which is the
object question
?
How are
subject
and
object questions
different?
A:
Hi, Ben. How are you?
B:
Oh, hi, Rob! I’m fine. I just got back from an
amazing concert!
A:
Really? Who did you see?
B:
We saw Maroon 5.
A:
Who went with you?
B:
Josh and Anna. They loved it too.
4
Hi Lucy!
How are you? Did you hear what happened to me in the
winter holidays? Three weeks ago, I travelled to the
French Alps with my college friends, Julie and Sarah.
We rented a ski chalet high up in the mountains where
Julie used to stay when she was a child. It was beautiful,
but the day after we arrived the weather was really bad.
Snow was falling heavily all day and an icy wind was
blowing, so we didn’t go outside.
At about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, Sarah was making
hot chocolate in the kitchen. I was reading in the living
roomwhile Julie was watching TV. Suddenly, the room
went dark and half the roof collapsed! It was an
avalanche!
At first, Julie and I panicked, but then we calmed down
and went into the kitchen with Sarah, where it was
safer. Our mobile phones didn’t have any signal, so we
just tried to keep warm and waited for help. Eventually,
hours later, we were talking when we heard voices
outside. The rescue team dug us out and took us to the
hospital for checks. We were so happy to be safe at last!
I hope you had a more relaxing winter holiday than I did!
Love,
Amy
To:
From:
Subject:
Avalanche!
Received:
10th January
