The Past Continuous Tense: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 9

Summary

In this fun and engaging Grammar Gameshow, host Will leads contestants Helen and Greg through a series of challenges focused on the past continuous tense. They answer questions about its formula, usage, and nuances, while competing in a lively back-and-forth. Highlights include a trick question about sentence structure, a discussion on using the past continuous to sound more polite, and the thrilling neck-and-neck race for points. With humorous exchanges and educational moments, this lively episode wraps up with a dramatic winner announcement and playful banter.

Takeaways

• 😀 The show is a fun quiz format called 'Grammar Gameshow' hosted by Will, with Leslie providing commentary.
• 😀 The main focus of the quiz is on the past continuous tense in English grammar.
• 😀 Contestants Helen and Greg are asked various questions about the past continuous tense.
• 😀 The first round features a battle between contestants, where they ask each other questions until one of them makes a mistake.
• 😀 A key aspect of the past continuous tense is its formula: 'was' or 'were' + 'verbING'.
• 😀 The past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were in progress at a past time.
• 😀 The past continuous tense typically doesn't use state verbs and does not describe repeated actions or habits, which is a characteristic of the past simple tense.
• 😀 In the second round, contestants must identify the incorrect sentence in a group of examples involving the past continuous and past simple.
• 😀 A common combination of tenses is the past continuous with past simple to describe a longer action interrupted by a shorter one.
• 😀 The final question explores how using the past continuous can make sentences sound more polite and less assertive, such as 'I was hoping you could...' being more polite than 'I hope you can...'.
• 😀 The winner of the quiz is determined by a mix of correct answers, with some playful back-and-forth between the contestants about who should win.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the Grammar Gameshow episode?

The main topic of the Grammar Gameshow episode is the past continuous tense.

What is the formula for the past continuous tense?

'Was' or 'were' + 'verbING' is the formula for the past continuous tense.

Can the past continuous tense be used with state verbs?

No, the past continuous tense is usually not used with state verbs.

What kind of actions does the past continuous tense describe?

The past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past.

Do we use the past continuous tense for repeated actions?

No, the past continuous tense is not used for repeated actions. The past simple tense is used for that purpose.

Which sentence in the second round is incorrect and why?

Sentence B ('I was walking while I tripped and fell.') is incorrect. We don't use 'while' for quick actions like tripping and falling.

What is the rule about using 'while' and 'when' in past continuous sentences?

We use 'when' and 'while' to connect longer actions with short, interrupted actions. However, we do not use 'while' for quick actions.

How can the past continuous tense make a sentence sound more polite?

Using the past continuous tense can make sentences sound more polite by distancing them from the present, making them sound more tentative and less assertive.

What is an example of using the past continuous to make a request more polite?

An example is, 'I was hoping you could lend me money,' which sounds more polite than 'I hope you can lend me money.'

What is the final outcome of the Grammar Gameshow?

The final outcome of the Grammar Gameshow is that Helen wins the game, despite the playful competition with Greg.