1 I was talking to a neighbour at the time. (говорил именно в тот момент)
2 How did the hikers get lost in the desert?
While they were walking there, a dust storm started. (длительное действие было "прервано" кратким действием)
3 Why didn't you use your mobile phone to call for help?
It didn't have any battery.
4 We had just reached the cave when it started to rain. (одно действие в предшествовало другому)
You're so lucky! We hadn't come down from the mountain yet, so we got really wet.
5 How did you manage to light a fire so quickly?
Quickly? I had been trying for half an hour before I finally succeeded! (Present Perfect Continuous показывает, как долго длилось действие, прежде чем произошло другое действие, выраженное формой Past Simple)
1. I saw the new production of Midsummer Night's Dream last night; it was really funny.
2. John is really interested in a career in acting.
3. The director won an academy award for his latest film.
4. The latest Bond film had a fantastic effect.
5. We want to see a play on Saturday night at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
6. Her performance in the film was not convincing.
7. The foyer of the theatre was very crowded on the first night of the show.
8. A new cinema complex has been built in the area.
9. The actress fell off the stage during the acting.