Revision of Tenses

Past Simple and Past Continuous

Answers
1. Complete with one missing word.
e.g. I ______was_____ doing my homework ____when_______ Dad got home.
1. Miriam and Jill were having lunch, when they heard a loud knock on the door.
2. What were you doing when the storm broke?
3. The situation was getting better. It was getting worse.
4. Where were you going? I was going to the chemist’s.
5. What was he __________ when the storm began?
6. Why __________ they crying?
7. It was __________ raining. It was snowing.
8. __________ the plane was taking off, one of the engines caught fire.

2. Put the verbs in the correct tense: Past Simple or Past Continuous.
e.g. What _were you reading___ when the class began? (you / read)
1. What was he doing when you entered the room? (he / do)
2. What were you talking to him when I called you? (you / talk)
3. Brian fell on the ice and broke his leg. (fall / break)
4. When did you take up tennis? Three years ago. (you / take up)
5. I was going roller skating every day when I was a child. (go)
6. They were driving down a country road when suddenly a car crashed
into them. (drive / crash)
7. The cakes tasted good, so he ordered two more. (taste / order)
8. When did they get married? Two months ago. (they / get)
9. Luigi put the shopping in the trolley, paid for it and left the supermarket in a hurry. (put / pay)
10. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. (be / shine / sing)

3. Complete the sentences with did / was / were or when / while. (Past Simple or Past
Continuous)
e.g. ___Did___ you find the ring? Yes, I found it on the floor.
1. When __________ people arrest the thief?
2. __________ they were looking for the necklace, they found Grandma’s silver ring.
3. What __________ you doing at the time of the accident?
4. __________ you receive the invitation to the party?
5. I __________ slicing the cake, when I cut my finger with the knife.
6. People __________ not travel very much in the past.
7. __________ the Browns got home, they had dinner and went to bed.
8. The ship __________ sinking slowly, while the people __________ watching in horror.
9. I noticed him __________ I was having a walk on the beach.
10. The cats were fighting for the mouse, __________ a wolf appeared from behind the bush.
4. Complete the sentences with the verbs below. Use Past Simple or Past Continuous.
go, buy, be, have, not find, read, not answer, run, cut, write, snow

e.g. I ____was going___ to the market, when I suddenly remembered his name.
1. “Did you read the announcement?” “Yes. It was interesting.”
2. He was having a shower, that’s why he didn’t answer the phone.
3. He run to the nearest store and bought some soda.
4. While I ____________________ up the pizza, I realized it was my birthday.
5. When I was younger I ____________________ in my diary every day, but now I don’t.
6. I didn’t find the rain coat, so I took the umbrella.
7. It was early in the morning. The wind was blowing and it was snowing.

5. Correct the mistakes.

e.g. Where were you spending your last summer holiday? → did you spend
1. While the girls was dancing, all the people were watching them. →
2. It was very hot, so I was took off my coat. →
3. “When were they arrest the burglar?” “Yesterday.” →
4. I was having dinner at the restaurant every day when I was in Italy. →
5. Michael was desperately looking for his bracelet, while he found it under the bed. →
6. The Browns made plans for their vacation at 11 p.m. last night.