TENSE STRUCTURE USES

PAST SIMPLE -Actions and events that

started and FINISHED in
a SPECIFIC moment in
the past.
-Past habits or routines
(used to)
-Past facts
PAST CONTINUOUS -Parallel action.
-Actions that were
interrupted by another
action.
-Emphasis in negative
past habits.
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE -Action or event that
started and FINISHED
BEFORE another action
in the past.
PAST PERFECT -Action or event that
CONTINUOUS started and CONTINUE
for a long time BEFORE
another action in the past.

INSTRUCTIONS: Put the verb into the correct form (past simple or past
continuous).

1. Last night, I _____was reading_____ (read) in bed when suddenly I

______heard____ (hear) a scream.
2. ____Were you watching______ (you/watch) television when I phoned you?
3. Ann _____was waiting_____ (wait) for me when I ____arrived______
(arrive).
 4. I _____wasn´t driving_____ (not drive) very fast when the accident
_____happened_____ (happen).
5. I _____broke_____ (break) a plate last night. I _____was doing_____ (do)
the washing-up when it _____slipped_____ (slip) out of my hand.

6. Yesterday, Tom and Janice _____went_____ (go) to the zoo around one o
´clock. They ____saw______ (see) many kinds of animals. While they
_____were walking_____ (walk) by the elephant, it _____began_____
(begin) to squirt water at them, so they _____ran_____ (run) behind a rock
and _____dried_____ (dry) themselves. Later, while they _____were
passing_____ (pass) the giraffe area, one of the tall animals
____lowered______ (lower) its head toward Tom and _____started_____
(start) to nibble on his green hat. Janice said: “Shoo!” At this point, the
giraffe _____stretched_____ (stretch) its head toward Janice and
____tried______ (try) to eat her ice cream cone. Janice ____didn´t
let______ (not let) the giraffe have the ice cream because she ____was
standing______ (stand) right in front of a sign that said: “DO NOT FEED
THE ANIMALS”.

INSTRUCTIONS: Put the verb into the correct form (past simple, past perfect or
past continuous).

1. A: _____Did you enjoy_____ (you/enjoy) the concert last night?

B: Very much, I ___hadn´t gone______ (go not) to a concert in a long time.

2. A: _____Did you see_____ (you/see) John yesterday?

B: Yes, I did. It _____was____ (be) good to see him again. I _____hadn´t

seen_____ (see not) him since the end of last semester.

3. A: ____Did you get______ (you/get) to class on time yesterday morning?

 B: No. By the time I _____got_____ (get) there, it _____had already

begun_____ (begin/already).

4. A: ___Did you go______ (you/go) out to eat last night?

B: No. By the time I _____got_____ (get) home, my husband _____had

already made_____ (make/already) dinner for us.

A: How ____was______ (be) it?

B: Terrific. We _____had_____ (have) chicken, rice and a salad. While we

_____were eating_____ (eat), George Drake ____stopped______ (stop) by

to visit us, so we _____invited_____ (invite) him to join us for dinner. But he

_____had already eaten_____ (eat/already) his dinner, so he ___was

not_______ (be not) hungry.

A: What _____did you do_____ (you/do) after dinner?

B: I wanted to watch the movie “Galaxy Invaders”. But George and my

husband _____had already seent_____ (see/already) it, so we

____watched______ (watch) “Ghost Ship” instead. It _____was_____ (be)

pretty good.