Exploring Interruption

Interrupted
Actions in the Past

A2
Online Lesson
Teacher: Lynda Ouchene

Alicia walked to school when it

started to rain.

Example 1

Warm up

Look at these two sentences and try to find the differences and similarities in form and meaning:

​Alicia was walking to school when it started to rain.

Example 2

Drag and Drop

Are the two sentences expressed in the past?

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Yes

No

I have no idea

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is more accurate? Have a guess.

• Example 1:

  Alicia walked to school when it started to rain.

• Example 2:

  Alicia was walking to school when it started to rain.

Drag and Drop

Two different tenses are used in Example 2:

​ Alicia was walking to school when it started to rain. ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

True

False

An interrupted action in the past is:

a continuous action in the past interrupted by another past action. (both actions are in the past).

It comprises a long action + a short action connected by the word WHEN. Do you remember our example?

The long action is written in Past Continuous.

The short action is written in Past Simple.

Alicia was walking to school

it started to rain

The two actions are connected by WHEN

Multiple Choice

How are the two actions connected?

• without anything

• with WHEN

• with a comma

How does the INTERRUPTED past work on a TIMELINE?

Multiple Choice

Is Alicia still walking?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Did the action start and finish in the past?

• Yes

• No

Controlled Practice 1

Multiple Choice

My dad ________ a picture of me when a bird ________ over my head.

• took / flying

• was taking / flew

• took / fly

Multiple Choice

Mark ________ the tree when he _______ his leg.

• was climbing / broke

• climbed / broke

• climbs / breaks

Multiple Choice

The man __________ some branches when the dog _______ to bark.

• was cutting / start

• cuts / started

• was cutting / started

Multiple Choice

Linda __________ to bed when she __________ a noise.

• was going / heard

• went / heard

• goes / hears

Multiple Choice

Peter __________ his bike when he ________ his father arriving.

• rides / see

• rode / saw

• was riding / saw

Multiple Choice

Sally _________ lunch when Lucy ______ at the door.

• had / knocked

• was having / knocked

• have / knocking

Multiple Choice

Tom ________ for his exams when I _______ him.

• was studying / visited

• studied / was visiting

• studies / visited

Multiple Choice

The boys _________ video games when their mother ________.

• played / was calling

• were playing / calls

• were playing / called

Controlled Practice 2

Drag and Drop

The man ​

Placeholder

the roof when he fell off the ladder.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

was repairing

repaired

repairs

Drag and Drop

I was doing my homework when my father ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

arrived

arrives

arriving

Drag and Drop

My parents were ​

Placeholder

when the phone ​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

reading

read

rang

rings

Drag and Drop

Everyone ​

Placeholder

when the teacher entered the classroom.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

was reading

read

were reading

Drag and Drop

He was living in Japan when there ​

Placeholder

a Tsunami.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

was

is

Drag and Drop

Her parents ​

Placeholder

when Laura arrived at the airport.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

were waiting

was waiting

waited

Freer Practice:
Role Play Cards

You studied for an important

exam on Monday. / Your

friend comes over to visit.

(Make a sentence using the

past continuous with an interrupted action.)

​

Role Card 1

You cooked dinner. /

The smoke alarm rings.

(Make a sentence using the

past continuous with an interrupted action.)

​

Role Card 2

You played football. /

Your friend calls you.

(Make a sentence using the

past continuous with an interrupted action.)

​

Role Card 3

You watched TV. /

The doorbell rings.

(Make a sentence using the

past continuous.)

​

Role Card 4

You rode your bike. /
Your father arrives

(Make a sentence using the

past continuous.)

​

Role Card 5

You walked in the forest. /
A bear walks by.

(Make a sentence using the

past continuous.)

​

Role Card 6

Reviewing Past Continuous for Interrupted actions as a whole classroom.

​

Plenary Session