Choose which verb tense (simple past or past continuous) fits better.

1. I ________ - I didn't hear you come in.

a) was sleeping b) slept

2. I ________ to see her twice, but she wasn't home.

a) was coming b) came

3. What ________? I was watching TV.

a) did you do b) were you doing

4. Robin Hood was a character who ________ from the rich and gave to the poor.
a) stole b) was stealing

5. Hey, did you talk to her? Yes, I ________ to her

a) was talking b) talked

6. I ________ home very late last night.

a) came b) was coming

7. How long ________ the flu?

a) did you have b) were you having

8. ________ a good time in Brazil? Yes, I had a blast!

a) Were you having b) Did you have

9. We ________ breakfast when she walked into the room.

a) had b) were having

10. Last month I decided to buy a new car, and today I finally ________ it.
a) bought b) was buying
Read the story and answer the following questions.

A DISASTROUS DINNER

Last Friday, Mrs. Anderson planned to have a delicious dinner. She bought a T-bone steak and some cream and
apples for an apple pie. When she came home from the shops she put her shopping on the table. While she was
setting the table, her two pets sat underneath it and watched her. Then she went to the kitchen to make the pastry
for the pie. She was a little forgetful so she didn’t realize the steak, cream and apples were still on the table.
While she was making the pastry, the dog jumped on a chair and looked longingly at the steak. At last it took
the steak in its mouth and jumped off the chair, just as Mrs. Anderson was coming back into the dining room.
Mrs. Anderson screamed, but the dog ran into the garden. She ran after the dog. While she was chasing the dog,
the cat jumped on the table and started drinking the cream. Mrs. Anderson didn’t manage to catch the dog, and
she came back into the dining room. When she saw the cat, she shrieked, and the cat got such a fright that it
jumped a meter into the air, and leapt out the window. Mrs. Anderson threw her broom at the cat, but she
missed, and broke the window. At the same time she overbalanced and put her hand in the cream, spilling it all
over the tablecloth. Poor Mrs. Anderson - she had no dinner, only a dirty tablecloth and a broken window.

Glossary: set the table - put knives and forks, plates, salt etc. on the table., underneath - under it., longingly - e.g. the dog wanted it
but knew it couldn’t have it., shriek - louder than scream., get a fright - suddenly (not the same as be frightened)., overbalance - to
lose your balance and fall.

Answer these questions about the story. Answer in complete sentences.

1. What did Mrs. Anderson plan?

2. Why did she buy cream and apples?
3. When did her pets watch her?
4. Where did she leave the steak?
5. When did the dog jump on the chair?
6. How did the dog look at the steak?
7. When did the dog jump off the chair?
8. Where did the dog go?
9. What was she doing when the cat jumped on the table?
10. What did Mrs. Anderson do when she saw the cat?

Complete the following sentences with the correct form (Past Simple or Past Continuous).
1. A: What (you, do) ___________________ when you heard that noise?
B: I (try) ___________________ to change a light bulb that had burnt out.

2. After I (find) ___________________ the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately)___________________ to

the police and (turn)
___________________ it in.

3. The doctor (say) ___________________ that Brian (be) _________________ too weak to go to work and
that he (need) ___________________ to stay at home for a couple of days.

4. My best friend (arrive) ___________________ at my house a little before 9:00 pm, but I (be, not)
___________________ there. I (study) ___________________ at the library for my final examination in
Italian.

5. John is in the living room working on his computer. At this time yesterday, he (work, also)
___________________ on his computer. That's all he ever does!

6. I (call) ___________________ you last night after dinner, but you (be, not)___________________ there.
Where were you?
B: I (work) ___________________ out at the gym.

7. When I (walk) ___________________ into the busy office, the secretaries (talk)___________________ on
the phone with customers, a clerk (work, busily)___________________ at his desk, and two managers
(discuss, quietly) ___________________ methods to improve customer service.

8. I (watch) ___________________ a thriller on T.V. when the electricity went out. Now I am never going to
find out how the film ends.

9. Samantha (be) ___________________ in the room when Bob (tell)

___________________ me what happened, but she didn't hear anything because she (be, listen)
___________________ to music.

10. It's strange that you (call) ___________________ because I (think, just) ___________________ about
you.
Find the Past Simple of the following verbs:

Work ____________________ come __________________

Walk ____________________ speak __________________
Talk _____________________ see ____________________
Clean ___________________ do _____________________
Live _____________________ go _____________________
Wash ___________________ sing ____________________

Complete what Jenny says using the following verbs in the Past Continuous:

Jenny is telling her teacher why she couldn't study for an exam.

watch listen sing clean cook play lie

It was impossible for me to concentrate! I went to my bedroom and my mother _________________________

the carpet with the vacuum cleaner. Then I went to the living room but my brother Paul
_______________________ on the sofa. He ____________ his guitar. After that I decided to go to the kitchen.
There, my grandmother _________________________ and she ___________ also ____________________
TV. Finally, I went out to the garden where I found my sister. She __________________ to her Walkman and
she ___________________ at the top of her voice.
Write the correct form of the verb, using the Past Simple or the Past Continuous tense.

A: I __________________________ (see) Peter and John in the park on Sunday.

B: _________________________________ (they/play) football?
They always play football on Sundays.
A: No, they ______________________ (not/be).
They _______________________ (talk) with some girls.
B: ____________________________ (you/say) hello to them?
A. Although I _______________________ (call) their names, they _______________ (not/hear) me.
B: Maybe they _______________________ (not/notice) you ________________ (be) there

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

1) Frank _______________ (finish) his lunch and ____________ (ring) his friend Jason.

2) Jason ____________ (watch) TV when Fran______________ (phone) him.

3) He ____________ (turn off) the TV when he ____________ (hear) the phone ringing.

4) They _________________________ (decide) what to do when Jason _____________________ (suggest)

going to the club.

5) Frank _______________ Jason ____________ (pick up) and _________________ (drive) to the club.

6) Two other people _______________________(use) their tennis court when they

_________________________ (arrive).

7) They ______________________ (drink) a soda and ____________________ (eat) a sandwich while they
_____________________(wait) to play.

8) While they __________________________ (play), it ________ (start) to rain so they

______________________ (have) to stop playing.
Put the verbs into the correct form (past progressive).

1. When I phoned my friends, they (play) ___________________ Monopoly.

2. Yesterday at six I (prepare) ___________________________ dinner.

3. The kids (play) ____________________ in the garden when it suddenly began to rain.

4. I (practice) ___________________- the guitar when he came home.

5. We (not / cycle) ____________ all day.

6. While Aaron (work) __________ in his room, his friends

(swim)______________ in the pool.

7. I tried to tell them the truth but they (listen / not) _______________.

8. What (you / do) _______________ yesterday?

9. Most of the time we (sit) ________________ in the park.