English Grammar Daily

🎵 SINGALONG SATURDAY! 🎵 This week you've learned about using the continuous. Have a look at the song lyrics, see if you can form the past continuous behind the spoilers of the verbs in [brackets] then listen and check! I was dreaming [dream] of the past And my heart was beating [beat] fast I began to lose control I began to lose control Chorus: I didn’t mean to hurt you I’m sorry that I made you cry Oh my I didn’t want to hurt you I’m just a jealous guy I was feeling [feel] insecure You might not love me anymore I was shivering inside I was trying [try] to catch your eyes Thought that you were trying [try] to hide I was swallowing [swallow] my pain Watch out baby I’m just a jealous guy Look out baby I’m just a jealous guy

FAILURE The past continuous can help us to show that we failed to do something. This works with the following verbs: Hope: • We were hoping to swim in the sea but there was a storm. Intend: • He was intending to get here earlier; however, the train was delayed. Try: • I was trying to get through yet nobody answered. Plan: • She was planning on taking the day off but her boss said 'no'.

POLITENESS Sometimes we can use the continuous aspect to help us sound more polite. This works best in the past and future. We can open polite indirect questions with the past continuous: • I was wondering if you could help me with this form. We can also make polite enquiries with the future continuous: • Excuse me, will you be serving drinks soon? It also comes in handy for making apologies: • I'm sorry but we won't be giving a staff discount any more.