THE SIMPLE PAST & THE PAST CONTINUOUS

Part A: Complete these sentences using the past continuous or the past simple tense of the
verbs in brackets.

1. She (see) __________________ the robbers as they (run out) __________________of the bank.
2. He (sleep) __________________ when the door bell (ring) __________________
3. The post officer (come) __________________while she (have a bath) __________________
4. She (walk) __________________ home when it (start) __________________ to rain.
5. John __________________ (wait) for me when I __________________ (get home)
6. When I was a child I __________________ (want) to be a vet.
7. I __________________ (cook) dinner when the phone __________________ (ring).
8. He __________________ (run) down the road when the accident __________________ (happen)
9. We __________________ (have) an argument when you __________________(arrive)
10. I _____________ (drive) to Ağva this morning when I (run over) __________________ a duck.
11. When I last ________________ (see) John he _______________ (hope) to get a job in a library.
12. Denise ______________ (take) a shower when he ____________ (give) her a call this morning.

Part B: Have a look at Peter’s diary then complete the exercise below. This gives an account
of Peter’s day.
Time Activities
9.00-10.00 Go for morning run
10.00-11 .00 Shop for food

11.00-1.00 Do the accounts

1.00-2.00 Have lunch
2.00-5.00 Have a meeting

5.00-6.00 Travel home

6.00-8.00 Watch television
8.00-9.00 Prepare supper

Now answer the following questions. What was Peter doing at these times yesterday?.
1. What was Peter doing at 6.15? He was watching television.
2. What was Peter doing at 10.30? ________________________________________
3. What was Peter doing at 2.45? ________________________________________
4. What was Peter doing at 8.20? ________________________________________
5. What was Peter doing at 11.05? ________________________________________
6. What was Peter doing at 5.15? ________________________________________

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Part C: Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or the past continuous
A. Police officer: What (1) ________________ (you/do) when the accident (2)
_______________ (happen)?
Colin: I (3) ________________ (be) at the bus stop. I (4) ________________ (wait) for a bus.
Police officer: (5)________________(you / see) the accident?
Colin: No because I (6)________________ (read) the newspaper.

B. Nicola: I (7) ____________ (telephone) you at 9 o’clock last night but you were not at home.
Martin: 9 o’clock? I (8)________________ (sit) in a cafe, (9) ________________ (drink) hot
chocolate.
Nicola: (10) ________________ (be) Jane with you?
Martin: No, she (11) ________________ (work) in the library.
Nicola: Where (12) ________________ (you/go) after the cafe?
Martin: I (13) ________________ (go) home.

C. Mum: Oh no! My beautiful new plate! What happened?

Angela: I’m really sorry, Mum. I (14) ________________(break) it while I (15) ____________
(wash) it.
Mum: How?
Angela: My hands (16) ________________ (be) wet and I (17) ________________ (drop) it on
the floor.

D. Last week while I (18) ________________ (shop) at the mall, I had a funny experience. I (19)
___________ (browse) in a bookstore for a present for my father. A young boy (20)
________________ (enter) the store and started looking at the magazines. I (21)
________________ ( watch) as the boy (22) ________________ (put) a magazine under his jacket.
The store manager (23) ________________ (wait) on a customer and the other clerk (24)
________________ (arrange) books on the shelves in the back of the store. While the boy (25)
________________ (step) out of the store I (26) ________________ (scream) “Hey! You! Come
back here.” The boy turned around and …

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Part D: Write questions for the answers below.
1) _______________________________________ (do) at midnight last night?
I was talking on the telephone.
2) ________________________________________ (do) when the phone rang?
I was sleeping.
3) _________________________________________ (feel) angry when you woke up?
No, I didn’t.
4) ____________________________________ (go) back to sleep after your phone call?
Yes, I did.

PART A:
1. saw / were running out 7. was cooking/ rang
2. was sleeping / rang 8. was running / happened
3. came / was having 9. were having / arrived
4. was walking / started 10. was driving/ ran over
5. was waiting / got home 11. saw / was hoping
6. wanted 12. was taking / gave

PART B:
2. He was shopping for food.
3. He was having a meeting.
4. He was preparing supper.
5. He was doing the accounts
6. He was travelling home.

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PART C:
A. B. 7. telephoned
1. were you doing 8. was sitting
2. happened 9. drinking
3. was 10. was
4. was waiting 11. was working
5. did you see 12. did you go
6. was reading 13. went
C.
14. broke
15. was washing
16. were
17. dropped
D. 22. was putting
18. was shopping 23. was waiting
19. was browsing 24. was arranging
20. entered 25. was stepping
21. was watching 26. screamed

PART D:
1. What were you doing...?
2. What were you doing...?
3. Did you feel angry …?
4. Did you go …?