Yup.  She was reading the newspaper BEFORE the next activity occurred.
It's used all the time to explain background information, settings, etc.

cgv
cgv757 at yahoo.com




--- On Fri, 2/6/09, Joan <owlhouse at wwt.net> wrote:


> From: Joan <owlhouse at wwt.net>

> Subject: [EnglishLanguage 3855] Re: uses of the past progressive/continuous

> To: "The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List" <englishlanguage at nifl.gov>

> Date: Friday, February 6, 2009, 11:29 AM

> 

> 

>  

>  

> 

> 

> 

> 

>  

> Hi, Martin - I teach it as

> an interrupted 

> action.  The action in the past progressive started

> before the action that 

> interrupted it (usually simple past) and probably

> continued after the 

> interruption. 

> 

>   ----- Original Message

> ----- 

>   From: 

>   Martin Senger 

>   

>   To: The Adult

> English Language Learners 

>   Discussion List 

>   Sent: Friday,

> February 06, 2009 9:36 

>   AM

>   Subject:

> [EnglishLanguage 3851] uses of 

>   the past progressive/continuous

>   

> 

>   

>   Pax 

>   et bonum! (peace & goodness) 

>      

>   Does 

>   anyone have good (clear) explanations for why we use the

> past 

>   progressive/continuous verb (i.e. She was reading the 

>   newspaper.)? 

>      

>   I 

>   have several theories of my own, but would like to hear

> what other ESL 

>   teachers think. 

>      

>   Thanx! 

>      

>   

>   Martin 

>   E. Senger 

>   Adult 

>   ESL / Civics Teacher, 

>   G.E.C.A.C. 

>   / The R. Benjamin Wiley Learning Center 

>   Erie, 

>   Pa. 

>   Co-Director, 

>   ESL 

>   Special Interest Group 

>   Pa. 

>   Assoc. for Adult Continuing Education (PAACE) 

>      

>   

>   

>   From: 

>   englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov

> [mailto:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov] 

>   On Behalf Of LaFerlazzo at aol.com

> Sent: Friday, February 06, 

>   2009 5:06 AM

> To: undisclosed-recipients

> Subject: 

>   [EnglishLanguage 3850] Re: Best Sites For Lesson

> Plans,Smoking Dangers, Social 

>   Media Search 

>      

>   

>   Here 

>   are a few more "The Best..."

> lists: 

>   

>     

>   

>   The

> 

>   Best Places To Find Free (And Good) Lesson Plans On The

> Internet 

> (http://tinyurl.com/ahlapy)

> 

>   

>     

>   

>   Not

> 

>   “The Best,” But “A List” Of Search Engines For

> Social Media 

> (http://tinyurl.com/debsg2)

> 

>   

>     

>   

>   The

> 

>   Best Sites For ELL’s To Learn About The Dangers Of

> Smoking

> (http://tinyurl.com/ah4u4j)

> 

>   

>     

>   

>   The

> 

>   Best Sites Where ELL’s Can Learn About The Super

> Bowl 

> (http://tinyurl.com/c7ou2p)

> 

>   

>     

>   

>   Part

> 

>   Thirty Of The Best Ways To Create Online Content Easily

> & Quickly 

>   

> (http://tinyurl.com/b9gvop)

> 

>   

>     

>   

>   The

> 

>   Best Resources For Chinese New Year

> (http://tinyurl.com/b6fls3)

> 

>   

>     

>   

>   The

> 

>   Best Resources For Groundhog Day 

> (http://tinyurl.com/de6cv8)

> 

>   

>     

>   

>   

>   Larry 

>   Ferlazzo 

>   

>   Luther 

>   Burbank High School 

>   

>   Sacramento, 

>   CA 

>   

>     

>   

>     

>      

>   

>   

>   

>   Who's 

>   never won? Biggest

> 

>   Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL 

>   Music. 

>   

>   

> 

>  

> ----------------------------------------------------

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>   Institute for Literacy

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> To unsubscribe or change your subscription 

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> Email delivered to 

>   owlhouse at wwt.net

>   

>   

> 

>   

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>   Date: 02/05/09 11:34:00

>  

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