Past Simple | Past Continuous

1 Complete the table below by putting the verbs in the past simple and continuous.

Past Simple Past Continuous

travel
speak
buy
study
pay
choose
go
eat
drink

2 Complete the sentences below by circling the right verb forms.

a. While I __________ the flute yesterday evening, my friend Julia __________ to invite me to see the
new play at the playhouse.
1. had practised, had rung 2. was practising, rang 3. practised, was ringing

b. In 2010, I __________ schools and __________ my best friend Mike.

1. was changing, meeting 2. had changed, had met 3. changed, met

c. Yes, I __________ to Janey fifteen minutes ago and __________ her to get some bread.
1. talked, asked 2. had talked to, had asked 3. was talking, was asking

d. As I __________ around our house, I the changing colours of __________ the leaves and the intense
blue of the sky.
1. had cycled, had noticed 2. cycled, noticed 3. was cycling, noticed

e. Do you have the skirt you __________ from me last night? I need it back, Josh is taking me out
tonight.
1. were borrowing 2. borrowed 3. had borrowed

3 A TV interviewer asked a family what they were doing on September 11th, 2001. Order the words
provided and put the verbs in the appropriate tense to create an answer for each family member.
Interviewer: So, could you tell our viewers what you were doing when the terrorist attack happened?

a. Rita: be / kitchen / spaghetti / a big pot of / cook / and / cat / talk to / I

b. Marty: be / laugh / with my friends / school playground / I / and / talk
c. Grandpa: sit / armchair / my living-room / my pipe / the most comfortable / and / smoke / I / be
d. Grandma: I / for Marty / a sweater / magazine / look / and / at a / knit / be
e. Hank: not be / TV / in front of / work / in the garage / try to / Ford Fiesta / fix / be / I / I
f. Little Daisy: be / have / dolls / my / with / tea party / I /
kindergarten
g. Mark: be / actually / watch / TV / I