Past Continuous Tense Structure English Grammar JSS 1 Second Term Lesson Notes Week 5
Subject: English Grammar
Class: JSS 1
Term: Second Term
Week: 5
Age (in years): 12-14
Topic: The Past Continuous Tense
Sub-topic: Formation and Use of the Past Continuous Tense
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
- Define the past continuous tense.
- Identify sentences that use the past continuous tense.
- Form sentences using the past continuous tense correctly.
- Use the past continuous tense to describe actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past.
Keywords:
Tense, Past Continuous, Action, Ongoing, Auxiliary Verb, WAS, WERE, Main Verb, “-ing” form, Simultaneous Actions, Past Action.
Set Induction:
Start by asking the students:
- “Can anyone remember what they were doing at 6 p.m. yesterday?”
- “What were you doing when the bell rang during the last break?”
This will help the students think about actions that were happening at specific times in the past, leading them into the lesson about the past continuous tense.
Entry Behaviour:
Students should have basic knowledge of the present continuous tense. This will make it easier for them to understand the past continuous tense, as it follows a similar pattern.
Learning Resources and Materials:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Flashcards with examples of past continuous tense sentences
- Worksheets for practice
- Projector (optional for visual aids)
Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:
Quickly review the present continuous tense to highlight the difference between actions happening in the present (present continuous) and actions that were happening in the past (past continuous).
Embedded Core Skills:
- Critical Thinking: Recognizing the difference between actions happening in the past and actions that were ongoing during a specific past event.
- Communication: Using the past continuous tense to describe past actions.
- Collaboration: Working in pairs or groups to practice forming past continuous sentences.
Learning Materials:
- Lagos State Scheme of Work for JSS 1 (English Grammar)
- Teacher’s Guide on Tenses (if available)
Reference Books:
- Lagos State Scheme of Work for Junior Secondary Schools (English Language)
- Oxford English Grammar Course by Michael Swan
Instructional Materials:
- Flashcards with examples of past continuous tense sentences
- Worksheets for practice on forming past continuous sentences
Content:
- Definition of the Past Continuous Tense:
- The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was happening at a specific time in the past, often when another action occurred.
- Formation of the Past Continuous Tense:
- It is formed by using the auxiliary verbs was or were + the main verb + -ing (the gerund form).
- Was is used for singular subjects (I, he, she)
- Were is used for plural subjects (we, they)
- Example:
- I was eating lunch when the phone rang.
- They were playing football when it started raining.
- It is formed by using the auxiliary verbs was or were + the main verb + -ing (the gerund form).
- Examples of Past Continuous Tense:
- I was eating rice when he entered the room.
- While Kate was selling bread, her sister stole her money.
- The men were working hard when the supervisor appeared.
- She was reading a book when I called.
- They were playing football when the coach arrived.
Evaluation Questions:
- The past continuous tense is used to describe actions that ________ in the past.
a) were finished
b) were ongoing
c) will happen
d) happened regularly - “I ________ reading when the bell rang.”
a) am
b) was
c) were
d) is - “While he ________ studying, I was watching TV.”
a) was
b) were
c) is
d) are - “We ________ working when the power went off.”
a) was
b) is
c) are
d) were - “She ________ singing when I entered the room.”
a) is
b) was
c) were
d) am - “They ________ not paying attention when the teacher asked a question.”
a) was
b) is
c) were
d) am - “I ________ reading a book when the phone rang.”
a) was
b) is
c) were
d) am - “While they ________ eating, the guests arrived.”
a) was
b) were
c) is
d) are - “He ________ playing his guitar when his friends came over.”
a) was
b) were
c) is
d) are - “We ________ studying for the exam when the lights went off.”
a) was
b) were
c) is
d) am - “I ________ not sleeping when you called me last night.”
a) was
b) is
c) were
d) am - “He ________ working on his project all night.”
a) was
b) is
c) were
d) are - “While she ________ walking home, it started raining.”
a) was
b) were
c) is
d) are - “They ________ watching a movie when the internet went out.”
a) was
b) were
c) is
d) are - “I ________ cooking dinner when you called.”
a) was
b) is
c) are
d) were
Class Activity Discussion (FAQs):
- What is the past continuous tense used for?
- The past continuous tense is used for actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past.
- How do we form the past continuous tense?
- We use the auxiliary verbs “was” or “were” + the main verb in the -ing form.
- Can the past continuous tense be used to describe two actions happening at the same time?
- Yes, it is often used to describe two actions happening simultaneously in the past (e.g., “I was studying while he was playing”).
- How is the past continuous different from the past simple tense?
- The past continuous describes actions that were ongoing at a particular time, while the past simple describes actions that were completed in the past.
- Can the past continuous be used for actions that are finished?
- No, it is used for actions that were happening at a specific moment in the past.
- What do we use with singular subjects in the past continuous tense?
- We use “was” with singular subjects (e.g., “She was eating”).
- Can we use “were” with “I”?
- Yes, “were” is used with plural subjects, but it can also be used with “I” in the past continuous tense (e.g., “I was running”).
- Is the past continuous tense always used with a specific time reference?
- It is commonly used with time references like “when,” “while,” or specific times to show the action happening at that moment.
- Can we use the past continuous tense for an action that was interrupted?
- Yes, the past continuous is often used for actions that were interrupted by another event (e.g., “I was reading when you called”).
- What is an example of a negative sentence in the past continuous tense?
- “They were not listening to the teacher.”
- Can the past continuous tense be used to describe a background action?
- Yes, it can describe an ongoing action when another action occurred (e.g., “It was raining when we left”).
- Can the past continuous tense describe a temporary action in the past?
- Yes, it is often used for actions that were happening temporarily in the past.
- How do we form questions in the past continuous tense?
- We invert the subject and the auxiliary verb (e.g., “Was he playing?” or “Were they watching?”).
- Can we use the past continuous tense with stative verbs?
- No, stative verbs (like “know,” “understand”) are usually not used in the continuous form.
- What is the difference between “I was reading” and “I read”?
- “I was reading” is used to describe an action that was happening at a particular time in the past, while “I read” is used to describe a completed action.
Teacher’s Activities:
- Greet the students and briefly review the present continuous tense.
- Introduce the past continuous tense, providing examples and clarifying its formation.
- Write sentences on the board and practice forming past continuous tense sentences.
- Conduct the evaluation questions and the class activity discussion.
- Guide the students in correcting their answers and provide individual support as necessary.
Learners’ Activities:
- Participate in the discussion and ask questions.
- Complete the fill-in-the-blank exercises.
- Construct their own sentences using the past continuous tense.
- Answer questions in the class activity discussion.
Assessment (Evaluation):
Provide 10 short-answer questions for students to write sentences using the past continuous tense. The teacher will review and give feedback.
Conclusion:
The teacher will check the students’ work, provide feedback, and summarize the lesson. The students will be encouraged to practice using the past continuous tense in daily conversations.