XVII - EXERCISES Simple past & past continuous

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SIMPLE PAST & PAST CONTINUOUS

Exercise one:

Choose the correct verb forms. Use Simple Past or the Past Continuous.

1- We ……………………… (to sit) at the breakfast table when the doorbell ………………………….. (to ring).
2- He……………………… (to meet) a lot of friendly people while he……………………… (to work) in California.
3- When they……………………… (to leave) the museum, the sun………………………. (to shine).
4- The students……………………… (to play) cards when the teacher……………………… (to come) in.
5- While the children……………………… (to sleep), their parents ……………………… (to watch) TV.
6- It……………………… (to start) to rain while she……………………… (to water) the flowers in her garden.
7- When I……………………… (to open) the door, it………………………. (to rain).
8- While Henry……………………… (to have) a drink at the bar, his wife ……………………… (to swim) in the sea.
9- He……………………… (to hear) a loud bang while he ……………………… (to talk) to his friend.
10- While he ……………………… (to take) a shower, his dogs ……………………… (to eat) his steaks.

Exercise two:

Put in the verbs in brackets in the Simple Past or the Past Continuous into the gaps.

Example: I ________ my keys while I ________ to school. (to lose) (to walk)

Answer: I lost my keys while I was walking to school.

1) While I…………………………. , the school bus …………………………. (to text) (to arrive)

2) Cindy …………………………. her leg while she…………………………. . (to break) (to snowboard)

3) He …………………………. to the radio while he …………………………. breakfast. (to listen) (to prepare)

4) My father …………………………. at 70 km/h when a policeman …………………………. him. (to drive) (to stop)

5) The girl …………………………. that the boy …………………………. her. (to notice) (to watch)

6) My dad …………………………. the ladder while he …………………………. the carport. (to fall off) (to paint)

7) While we …………………………., we …………………………. crossword puzzles. (to wait) (to do)

8) Nick …………………………. sick while he …………………………. in Texas. (to become) (to travel)

9) What …………………………. when you …………………………. about 9/11? (to do) (to hear)

10) She said that she …………………………. happy, so I …………………………. to her. (not/to feel) (to talk)

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Exercise one:

1) We were sitting at the breakfast table when the doorbell rang.

2) He met a lot of friendly people while he was working in California.

3) When they left the museum, the sun was shining.

4) The students were playing cards when the teacher came in.

5) While the children were sleeping, their parents were watching TV.

6) It started to rain while she was watering the flowers in her garden.

7) When I opened the door, it was raining.

8) While Henry was having a drink at the bar, his wife was swimming in the sea.

9) He heard a loud bang while he was talking to his friend.

10) While he was taking a shower, his dogs were eating his steaks.

Exercise two:

1) While I was texting, the school bus arrived.
2) Cindy broke her leg while she was snowboarding.
3) He was listening to the radio while he was preparing breakfast.
4) My father was driving at 70 km/h when a policeman stopped him.
5) The girl noticed that the boy was watching her.
6) My dad fell off the ladder while he was painting the carport.
7) While we were waiting, we were doing crossword puzzles.
8) Nick became sick while he was travelling in Texas.
9) What were you doing when you heard about 9/11?
10) She said that she was not feeling happy, so I talked to her.