Grammar: Relative Pronouns, Past Progressive & Can/May/Could

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Lesson idea

Use relative pronouns who, that and which, the past progressive with when and while for interrupted past actions, and can, may and could for ability, permission and possibility.

Key points

• who → people; which → things; that → people or things: The man who helped me… / The book which I bought…
• Past progressive (was/were + -ing) for a longer action interrupted by a simple past action: I was reading when the phone rang.
• While + past progressive: While I was walking, I saw an accident.
• can/could = ability; may/can/could = permission (May I go out?); may/could = possibility.

Vocabulary

Lesson questions (12)

1. The man ____ fixed my car was very honest.
   Answer: who
2. I lost the book ____ you gave me.
   Answer: which
3. She is the teacher ____ won the award.
   Answer: that
4. I ____ TV when the lights went out.
   Answer: was watching
5. While they ____ football, it started to rain.
   Answer: were playing
6. What ____ you doing at 8 p.m. yesterday?
   Answer: were
7. I was walking home ____ I saw an old friend.
   Answer: when
8. ____ I was cooking, my brother was studying.
   Answer: While
9. "____ I use your phone, please?" – "Of course."
   Answer: May
10. I ____ swim when I was five years old.
    Answer: could
11. Take an umbrella. It ____ rain later.
    Answer: may
12. The thief ____ stole the bike was caught by the police.
    Answer: who

More lessons in Unit 9: All Kinds of People

• Unit 9 Vocabulary: Personality & Character
• Reading & Real Talk: Simple Ideas, Big Results
• Unit 9 Test