📝 Created by: El Arby Ameur | 📅 August 2026 | 🌐 lesson.tn
📖 Estimated reading time: 8 minutes | Word count: ~1000 words
🗣️ Past Continuous Speaking Game: Alibi Activity
Level: A2-B1 | Activity Type: Pair work, Group investigation, Role-play
GrammarTensespast continuousspeakinggame
🎲 How to Play the Alibi Game
A crime has been committed! Some students are suspects, and others are police officers. The suspects must work together to create a believable alibi using the past continuous tense.
Scenario: The Museum Theft
A valuable painting was stolen from the city museum last night between 8 PM and 10 PM. Two suspects (students) claim they were together during that time. The police (other students) will interview them separately to check if their stories match!
📝 Step 1: Suspects - Create Your Alibi
Work with your partner. Create a detailed alibi using past continuous. Answer these questions:
• Where were you between 8 PM and 10 PM?
• What were you doing?
• Who were you with?
• What were you wearing?
• What were you talking about?
• What were you eating or drinking?
• What time did you arrive?
• What time did you leave?
• Did you see anyone you know?
🔍 Step 2: Police - Prepare Your Questions
• Where were you at 8:30 PM?
• What were you doing at that moment?
• Were you alone?
• What was your partner doing?
• What were you wearing?
• What were you talking about?
• Was anyone else there?
• What did you do after 10 PM?
🎭 Step 3: The Interview
Police officers interview each suspect separately in different rooms. Take notes! Compare answers after both interviews.
Sample Alibi Dialogue:
Police: "Where were you last night between 8 and 10 PM?"
Suspect: "I was at the cinema with my friend."
Police: "What were you watching?"
Suspect: "We were watching a comedy movie."
Police: "What were you doing before the movie started?"
Suspect: "We were buying popcorn and drinks."
📊 Step 4: Compare and Decide
After interviewing both suspects, compare their answers. If their stories match perfectly, they are innocent. If there are contradictions, they are guilty!
💡 Alternative Crime Scenarios
The Missing Phone: A phone was stolen from the classroom.
The Broken Window: A window was broken during recess.
The Empty Wallet: Money was taken from a wallet at lunch.