Use was / were + verb-ing for an action in progress in the past.
Use the past simple for a shorter action that interrupted it.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
I was reading.
Moderate / Add a little
They were playing at four o'clock.
Challenge / Try when ready
I was reading when the phone rang.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
The past continuous uses was or were plus ing to show an action in progress at a past moment. A shorter past-simple event may interrupt it. “I was reading when the lights went out” gives a background action and a new event. Keep the timeline clear rather than changing tense only to make the writing look varied.
Read the first model carefully: “The children were playing when the bell rang.” Notice how its words work together to communicate one clear meaning. The second model, “As I was walking home, I saw a rainbow.”, shows a different use of the same lesson idea. Compare the choices rather than memorising a whole sentence. In a new situation, choose the meaning you need first, then select the words and structure that express it. Read or say the result once more to check that another person can understand it.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
An adverb can explain how, when or where something happens, but a precise verb may already communicate much of that meaning. “Whispered” is more specific than “said quietly”.
Choose language that fits the scene.
Too many adverbs can slow a story, and an adverb that repeats the verb’s obvious meaning may add little.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
She whispered the answer.
Moderate / Add a little
The dog crept silently through the gap.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
An adverb can explain how, when or where something happens, but a precise verb may already communicate much of that meaning. “Whispered” is more specific than “said quietly”. Choose language that fits the scene. Too many adverbs can slow a story, and an adverb that repeats the verb’s obvious meaning may add little.
Read the first model carefully: “She whispered the answer.” Notice how its words work together to communicate one clear meaning. The second model, “The dog crept silently through the gap.”, shows a different use of the same lesson idea. Compare the choices rather than memorising a whole sentence. In a new situation, choose the meaning you need first, then select the words and structure that express it. Read or say the result once more to check that another person can understand it.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
Dialogue can reveal a character, give information or change what happens next.
Start a new paragraph for a new speaker.
Put the spoken words inside quotation marks and use punctuation consistently.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
“The gate is locked,” said Nila.
Moderate / Add a little
“Then we need the key,” Ravi replied.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
Dialogue can reveal a character, give information or change what happens next. Start a new paragraph for a new speaker. Put the spoken words inside quotation marks and use punctuation consistently. Include enough surrounding action for the reader to know who is speaking and what the words mean. Avoid a long exchange that adds nothing to the story.
Read the first model carefully: ““The gate is locked,” said Nila.” Notice how its words work together to communicate one clear meaning. The second model, ““Then we need the key,” Ravi replied.”, shows a different use of the same lesson idea. Compare the choices rather than memorising a whole sentence. In a new situation, choose the meaning you need first, then select the words and structure that express it. Read or say the result once more to check that another person can understand it.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
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