Mia's English · Lesson 38

The night of the storm

Say what was happening: past continuous.

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Warm-up 🔁

Before the new story, let's bring back your words from Lessons 1 and 2. The ones ready to review are waiting here — a little today, a little in a few days.

When the lights went out 📖

Read it slowly. Say the words out loud.

A storm over the town at night: rain lashing the streets, one warm candle-lit café window glowing.

One evening, a big storm comes. The wind is loud. The rain is heavy. ⛈️

Mia and her friends are in the café. They were talking and laughing.

Then — click! The lights go out! The power is gone. Everything is dark.

"What were you doing?" laughs Tom. "I was making coffee!" says Rosa.

Inside the café during the power cut: Mia, Tom and Rosa playing cards by candlelight.

Rosa finds candles. Soon the café is warm and golden. 🕯️

They play cards by candlelight while the storm shakes the windows.

"This is nice," smiles Mia. "A storm outside, and friends inside." ❤️

Notice: the past continuous (was/were + -ing) says what was happening at a moment in the past.

Your new words 🗂️

Tap a card to see its meaning. These eight join your review deck — next to the words from Lessons 1 and 2.

The pattern: past continuous 🧩

Look at the pattern, then use it.

I was making coffee.
They were playing cards.
What were you doing when the lights went out?
In the middle of a past action? was/were + -ing. I was sleeping at ten.
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Now you 🗣️

Think about yesterday. Fill the gaps, then say them out loud.

At eight o'clock last night, I was .

My family were .

Practise today's words

Tap to check yourself, then rate how well you knew each one.

Before you go

See you next time. Today's words join your Warm-up. Little by little, they become yours forever. 🔁

Act it out 🎭

Now YOU are in the story. Tell the tale of the big storm!

🎬 The scene: The next morning. Your neighbour stops you in the street — she wants to hear everything about last night.

Round 1 — you are Mia

Your teacher is your neighbour. Speak your lines — don't write them.

Neighbour: "What a storm last night! Where were you when it came?"

You: (say where you were, who was with you, and what you were all doing)

Neighbour: "The power went out at my house too! What were you doing at that moment?"

You: (say what Rosa was doing when the lights went out — and how the café looked)

Neighbour: "How terrible! A whole evening with no light!"

You: (say it was not terrible — say what you were all playing, and what gave the light)

Round 2 — swap!

Now YOU are the neighbour, and your teacher is Mia. But this time it is YOUR story: you were at home alone with your dog when the power went out.

Stuck? Look at your Words again, then come back and try once more.