Simple Past and Past Continuous
There was a burglary in your neighbourhood. You saw something suspicious.
Tell the police officer all about it by filling in the blanks choosing the correct
forms of the words from the options given below.
It (a) was raining last night. I (b) _________ TV. I (c) _________ a little restless. I (d) _________ to the window and was looking out when I (e) _________ that Mr Sharma, my neighbour (f) _________ near the door. I thought he had gone to shut it. I also (g) _________ Mrs Sharma walking up and down in her garden. Then I heard Mr Sharma calling his wife to come in. I (h) _________ back to my table and opened my book. I (i) _________ when I heard a thud and a scream. I (j) _________ out of the house and saw a man in a black coat and hat running towards the gate. Mr and Mrs Sharma (k) _________ in the street. I saw a car speeding away with the burglar.
(a) (i) raining (ii) was raining (iii) were raining (iv) rained
(b) (i) were watching (ii) watched (iii) was watching (iv) watching
(c) (i) has felt (ii) felt (iii) was feeling (iv) feel
(d) (i) had gone (ii) went (iii) was going (iv) gone
(e) (i) noticing (ii) was noticing (iii) were noticing (iv) noticed
(f) (i) stood (ii) were standing (iii) was standing (iv) were stood
(g) (i) seeing (ii) saw (iii) was seeing (iv) seen
(h) (i) had come (ii) was coming (iii) came (iv) were came
(i) (i) hadread (ii) was reading (iii) were reading (iv) read
m (i) rushed (ii) was rushing (iii) were rushed (iv) rushing
(k) (i) had screamed (ii) was screaming (iii) screamed (iv) were screaming
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emotion |
possession |
perception (often used with can) |
measurement |
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Some verbs, like the ones mentioned above, are not normally used in the continuous (- ing) form. However, we do sometimes use such verbs in the continuous form. Look at the following examples.
1. “I can’t concentrate on my work because I’m thinking about that beautiful scene.”
2. “I think it is beautiful.”
- Which sentence expresses an activity in progress at the moment?
- Which sentence expresses a decided opinion?
Now write three situations similar to (a) in the box. Exchange the information with your partner and guess the answer to each other's situations as in (b).
Question 1.
My dog is barking angrily and is trying to get loose.
Question 2.
The car is making a curious noise.
Question 3.
Satish enters breathing heavily.
Satish enters breathing heavily.
(4)

WRITING A MYSTERY STORY
Mysteries can be divided into several categories. There are puzzling stories, detective I crime stories, and suspense stories. They all give the reader a chance to become involved in the solution of the story through clues and character descriptions.
Characters
Before you start to write, think about the characters you might put in your story.
• What will each character do?
• Why is he or she important to the story?
• In what ways are your characters alike?
• How are they different?
• What can your characters learn from each other?
• One last thing to remember: your characters don't always have to be human. If an animal plays a part in the story, that animal is a character, too
Setting
A story has to happen in a place.
• The setting might be a place you are familiar with.
• It might even be another planet!
• A setting doesn't even have to be a real place.
Details
• Use your Imagination.
• Details help readers understand how something looks, how it feels, how it sounds - even how something smells or tastes!
Plot
• Your characters have to DO something!
• What they do is the Plot of your story.
• To make the plot exciting add Situations.
Ending
• The Ending of a story is the solution to the conflict.
• Solve the problem, dilemma or conflict faced by the main character.
• Show that your main character has changed or grown in some way.
• Tie up all the loose ends. Readers shouldn't have to choose between several hinted endings.
Reporting 'Questions' and 'Requests'
The words in these sentences have been mixed up. Put them in the correct order. Direct questions (?) are followed by reported questions ( • ). Study the examples first.
Your seat comfortable is (?)
Is your seat comfortable?
Seat he if asked your comfortable was (•)
He asked if your seat was comfortable.
feeling are you better (?)
___________________________
she if feeling better were asked you (•)
___________________________
did kalias live where the (?)
___________________________
asked he the kalias where lived (•)
___________________________
they will be leaving when (?)
___________________________
asked be he when they leaving would (•)
___________________________
can open the please you window (?)
___________________________
you open asked window could she whether the (•)
___________________________
model how have finished that quickly so you (?)
___________________________
that model quickly so how had finished they asked you (•)
___________________________