Past Continuous (I was doing)

Study this example situation:

Yesterday Karen and Joe played tennis. They started at

10:00 and finished at 11:30.
So, at 10:30 they were playing tennis.

they were playing =

they were in the middle of playing, they had not finished

was/were + -ing is the past continuous:

he/she/it was playing

doing
we/you/they were working, etc.

I was doing something = I was in the middle of doing it at a certain time. The action or
situation started before this time but had not finished:
I started doing I was doing I finished doing
X I \ I I
past past now

□ This time last year I was living in Hong Kong.

□ What were you doing at 10:00 last night?
O I waved to Hannah, but she wasn’t looking.

Compare I was doing (past continuous) and I did (simple past):

► I was doing (- in the middle of an action) I did (- complete action)

□ We were walking home when we met O We walked home after the party last
Dan. (in the middle of walking home) night. (= all the way, completely)
□ Kate was watching TV when we arrived. □ Kate watched TV a lot when she was sick
last year.

D You can say that something happened (simple past) in the middle of something else (past continuous):
O Matt called while we were having dinner.
► O It was raining when I got up.
□ I saw you in the park yesterday. You were sitting on the grass and reading a book.
□ I hurt my back while I was working in the yard.

But we use the simple past to say that one thing happened after another:
O I was walking along the road when I saw Dan. So I stopped, and we talked for a while.

Compare:

O When Karen arrived, we were having O When Karen arrived, we had dinner.
dinner. (= we had already started before (= Karen arrived, and then we had
she arrived) dinner)

E Some verbs (for example, know and want) are not normally used in continuous forms (is + -ing,
was + -ing, etc.). See Unit 4A for a list of these verbs.
► O We were good friends. We knew each other well, (not we were knowing)
□ I was enjoying the party, but Chris wanted to go home, (not was wanting)

[ Simple Past (I did) UnitT )

4
6
6.1 , Complete the sentences. Choose from:

was looking was wearing wasn’t listening weren't looking

was snowing was working were sitting were you going

1 Today Hannah is wearing a skirt. Yesterday she was wearing pants.

2 "What did he say?" "I don't know. I
3 We in the back of the theater. We couldn't hear very well,
4 This time last year John on a farm.
5 They didn't see me. They .. in my direction.
6 The weather was bad. It was very cold, and it
7 I saw you in your car. Where ?
8 I saw Kate a few minutes ago. She for you.
J
6.2 I Which goes with which?

1 When I got to the cafe, a when she was living in Rome. 1 f

2 We fell asleep b she was working in a clothing store, 2
3 Amy learned Italian c when I was driving home. 3
4 Tom didn't come out with us d but nobody was watching it. 4
5 The car began to make a strange noise e while we were watching a movie. 5
6 The TV was on, f my friends were waiting for me. 6
7 When I first met Jessica, g because he wasn't feeling well. 7

6.3 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or simple past.

fi 2

SUE

I saw (see) Sue downtown yesterday, (ride) my bike home

but she . (not/see) me. yesterday when a man (step)
She (look) the other way. out into the road in front of me.
I (go) pretty fast, but luckily
I (manage) to stop in time,
and I (not/hit) him.
4
6.4 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or simple past.
1 Jen .^s waiting (wait) for me when I arrived (arrive).
2 "What (you/do) at this time yesterday?" "I was asleep."
3 " (you/go) out last night?" "No, I was too tired."
4 How fast (you/drive) when the accident (happen)?
5 Sam (take) a picture of me while I (not/look).
6 We were in a very difficult position. We (not/know) what to do,
so we (do) nothing.
7 I haven’t seen Josh for ages. When I last (see) him, he
.....(try) to find a job.
8 I (walk) along the street when suddenly I
(hear) something behind me. Somebody (follow) me. I was
scared, and I (start) to run.
9 When I was young, I (want) to be a pilot. Later I
(change) my mind.
10 Last night I (drop) a plate when I (do) the dishes.
Fortunately, it (not/break).
“♦ Additional Exercise 1
SECTION 4 past tenses
cCD
GRAMMAR SUMMARY
<Z)
SIMPLE pas t : / worked, she worked, he didn't work etc
pas t PROGRESSIVE (o r 'pas t c o n t in u o u s '): / was working, she was working, he wasn't working etc

English has two 'past'tenses.

• We use the simple past for complete finished actions. We often use it in stories.
I sent ten emails yesterday. A man walked into the library and asked...
• We use the past progressive to talk about actions which were unfinished at a past time.
'What were you doing at 10.00 last night?' 'I was writing letters.'
=ast tenses can make requests, questions and suggestions less direct, and so more polite.
I wondered ifyou were free this evening.
How much did you want to spend, sir?
I was wondering if I could use your phone.

Where did we come from?

A Tost scientists now believe that our South Poles). As these populations grew, they
-LV-Lancestors - the earliest Homo Sapiens - settled further and further along the sea coasts
originated in Africa around 200,000 years ago. into South Asia and South-East Asia, reaching
Perhaps between 80,000 and 60,000 years ago Australia perhaps 45,000 years ago. Other
- dates are uncertain - these people gradually groups colonised Central Asia, Europe and East
started migrating into the rest of the world. Asia, with some populations finding their way
Some groups crossed the Red Sea (sea levels across the Bering Strait, perhaps around 15,000
were much lower then because water was years ago, into North and South America. ♦
locked up in large ice caps at the North and

15,000

hOOO YA

Chauvet
Cave

:'<A "']■ Clovl

F 80,000 to < j comj
I. 60,000 YA U

% Or

YA - Years ago

PAST TENSES 39
<u
revise the basics: simple past forms
O DO ITYOURSELF Look at the examples and complete the table.

enjoyed helped hoped liked planned played rained replied seemed

stopped tried waited wanted worked

TO MAKE REGULAR SIMPLE Add -ed Just add -d Double the last Change the-yto
PAST FORMS letter and add ed and add-ed
most verbs /
verbs ending in -e
verbs ending in vowel + -y
(-ay, -oy)
verbs ending in consonant

short verbs ending in one

vowel and one consonant

@ Write the simple past.

annoy arrive carry change cook
cry fit hate hurry jump live
pass pray .. ... rain ... .. rob shave ...
shop shout slim slip .. start ..
stay . study . turn .... walk ...... . .. watch

NOTE: We only double letters in STRESSED syllables.

preFER —*■ preferred BUT WONder —*■ wondered

Write the simple past.

Visit reGRET . deVElop GALlop OPen
ANswer reFER

With irregular verbs, you have to learn the simple past forms one by one (see page 317).
go went see —> saw buy —+■ bought pay —>■ paid

Write as many of the simple past forms as you can. Check them on page 317, and
learn the ones that you don't know.
become begin break bring catch
come drink ... .... eat fall .... feel ...
forget get. • give hear .... hold .
keep . know ... learn .... .. leave ... let
make • pay . put........ read say ..
shut . sit ... speak stand ... take
tell ... think . write .

-> For the spelling of -ing forms, see page 16.

40 PAST TENSES
revise the basics: which past tense? 0>

(X

SIMPLE PAST_________ PAST PROGRESSIVE _____

l/you etc worked I was, you were etc working

a did l/you etc work? was I, were you etc working?
H l/you etc did not work I was not, you were not etc working

We use the simple past to talk about a complete action (long or short).
We use the past progressive for actions which were not complete at a past time.
Joe got up at 7.00 and worked from 9.00 to 4.00. At 5.00, when Joe came home, I was reading.

work
► PAST 7.00 9.00 4.00 NOW PAST 5.00 NOW

Sore the difference when we use the past progressive and the simple past together.
Past progressive: longer action or situation.
S mple past: complete shorter action that happened while the longer action was happening.
While I was cooking supper, As I was walking down the road,

' PAST NOW ► PAST NOW

Ellie phoned. I saw Bill.

Q Put in the correct tenses.

► At 6.00 this morning I .. was, hay/iwo) a wonderful dream, but then the alarm
..YY.fi.YYk off. (have;go)
► This time yesterday I ..Y ..YY/??. Ay YYY5. on the beach, (lie)
1 When 1 walked in they . ....................................... about babies, (all talk)
2 I.................................... .. in Paris for a long time, (live)
3 I saw Sid when I ........................... to work. He (come; shop)
4 She ...... Jim while she . (meet; travel)
5 While I ............ to Mrs Singleton, somebody into
my office and ........................ the computer, (talk; walk; steal)
6 When Jake.................... .............. in everybody talking, (come; stop)
7 I.................................... .. out of the window and that we
over the mountains, (look; see; fly)
8 I up to find that water through the
bedroom ceiling, (wake; pour)
9 He his leg while he football, (break; play)

Q What were they all doing at midday yesterday? Put sentences together from the boxes.
Can you make another sentence yourself?
► Edward ..YY”?..^YYYS.?.0.0^.YYy..^^.e.t/.... have buy fry eat / steal
► Louise wc,s Learwivcg Lntltv iw a Lau.uvclerette. ride play learn /
1 Fred
2 Harry Latin / books eggs / a haircut
3 Barbara fish poker socks racehorses
4 Steve
Rome Folkestone a supermarket
5 Ruth
Exeter / Paris Hamburg
6 Pete
7 Birmingham a launderette /

r some answers, both contracted forms (for example I'm, don't) and full PAST TENSES 41
•crms (for example /am, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.
■n more about past tenses
I
We can use when in different ways with past tenses.
When Amy came home, John was cooking supper. (Amy came home during the cooking.)
When Amy came home, John cooked supper. (First Amy came home; then John cooked supper.)

Put in the correct tense (simple past or past progressive).

► When I went out, it (rain)
► When Mary got home, she pwnde .................................. tea. (make)
1 When I saw Lucas, he (shop)
2 When Ben saw me, he .............................. (stop)
3 When we asked them, they 'No', (say)
4 When I walked in, they (talk)
5 When I dropped the glass, it (break)
6 When I phoned William, he (work)
7 When the music stopped, everybody (sit down)
8 When I arrived at the station, I a taxi, (take)
9 When the police stopped her, she .... ...a gun. (carry)

Progressive forms are used mostly for temporary actions and situations. For longer, more
permanent situations we prefer the simple past. Compare:
When I walked in I found that water was running down the walls.
Explorers believed that the river ran into the Atlantic.
We do not normally use the past progressive to talk about past habits, or to say how often
something happened.
I played a lot of tennis when I was younger. (NOT / was playing...)
She rang the bell three times. (NOT She was ringing...)

@ Circle the correct form.

► When I was at university I (went)/ was going to a lot of parties.
► The Marlborough family tpra/J/ was living in the same house for 400 years.
1 I looked out of the window. A strange man stood / was standing in the garden.
2 We took the road that went / was going along the river.
3 My sister took / was taking the driving test twelve times before she passed.
4 When I got there everybody danced I was dancing in the garden.
5 At my school we played I were playing rugby in winter and cricket in summer.
6 We started to hurry because it got I was getting late.
7 Where I grew up, most people worked / were working for the local farmer.
8 She got / was getting married four times - twice to the same man.
9 People used to believe that the sun went I was going round the earth.
10 When I saw Annie she went / was going round the corner to the church.

Remember that some verbs are not used in progressive forms (see page 20).
/ tried the cake to see how it tasted. (NOT... how it was tasting.)

42 PAST TENSES
 past tenses in requests etc I wondered if you were free.
I
Past tenses can make requests, questions and suggestions more polite. (They sound less direct
than present tenses.) Simple past forms are common.
I wondered ifyou were free this evening. How much did you want to spend, sir?
"he past modal forms would, could and might are often used in this way.
thought it would be nice to have a picnic. Could I ask you to translate this for me?
You might see if the consulate can help you.

Make these sentences less direct.

► We wonder if you feel like coming out with us.
. W?.If C0M4,LAg out with us.
► I think you will like to see my holiday photos.
I thought tjou. would Lifee to see wuj holiday photos.
1 How many days do you intend to stay?

2 Can you give me a hand?

3 We can ask Peter to help us.

4 I think it will be a good idea to invite Simon.

5 I wonder if you need any help.

6 We hope you will stay for dinner.

7 Are you planning to be here next week?

8 Do you want to pay now?

9 Will you tell Annie to come to my office?

10 It may be a good idea to apologise.

Past progressives can be used in the same way.

I was wondering if I could use your phone.

0 Change the verbs in italics to make these sentences less direct.

► I hope ..was hP.P.^0..... you«H ............... lend me £10.
1 We wonder if you have two single rooms.
2 Are you looking for anything special?
3 I wonder if I can ask you a small favour.
4 We think ....................... it's time for you to look for a job.
5 I hope you don't need the car this afternoon.

p»5cme answers, both contracted forms (for example I'm, don't) and full PAST TENSES 43
Ifar-^s (for example/am, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.
past tenses: more practice
Q GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY: crimes. At 8.30 yesterday evening a crime was committed.
The police asked eight known criminals what they were doing at that time.
They all told lies. Study the pictures and complete the sentences, using the past
progressive with expressions from the box.

burgle house feed pigeons fish forge banknotes hold up security van
mug old lady paint play chess poison husband pray read poetry
rob bank sell stolen property shoplift sing study French

► th.'?!-. .h?. he was •.

i
2
3
4
5 .........................................................................................................................................................................................
6 .......................................................................................................................................................................
7 .......................................................................................................................................................................

TOLD THE POLICE:

ACTUALLY*:

Fred Mrs Allen Pete

TOLD THE POLICE:

■.

ACTUALLY:

Mrs Oliver Miss Fry Jim Mr Lucas

‘Note: actually means 'really'.

44 PAST TENSES
0 Past tenses: mixed uses. Complete the sentences with the correct tenses.
► That summer, the river that .//?!?. through the town dried up. {run)
1 When I home, Bill
Bill the washing machine, {get; repair)
2 We had a lovely room that out over the sea. {look)
3 On holiday I tennis every day. {play)
4 When I phoned Laurence he round straight away, {come)
5 I until I was thirty, {smoke)
6 Nobody why she married him. {understand)
7 I went upstairs and found that a bird round the bedroom, {fly)
8 The castle the road that from Carlisle to Edinburgh.
{protect, go)
9 When I Jane she alone in the darkness, {find; sit)
10 When Carl was in China he to Maggie every week, {write)
11 When I walked in I the music that they , so 1
out again, {not like; play; walk)

0 Polite past tenses.(Circle)the most polite forms.

1 We hoped / were hoping you can / could come to dinner tomorrow.
2 1 wonder / wondered if you feel I felt like playing something for us.
3 We think I thought you will I would like to hear all about our holiday.
4 How much were I are you thinking of paying?
5 Would I Will you give my best wishes to Sarah if you see her?
6 You're tired. It might / may be best if I drove / drive.
7 We wondered I were wondering if you were free on Saturday.
8 Were / Are you planning to use the car?

0 Grammar in a text. Complete the text with the verbs in the box (there is one verb too many).
You will need five past progressives and three simple pasts. Use a dictionary if necessary.

ask come dance grin hold not dance order play throw

On the dance floor half a dozen couples 1 themselves around. Most of them
2 cheek to cheek, if dancing is the word. The men wore white tuxedos and the
girls wore bright eyes, ruby lips, and tennis or golf muscles. One couple3................................ cheek
to cheek. Mitchell's mouth was open, he 4 , his face was red and shiny, and his
eyes had that glazed look. Betty 5 her head as far as she could get away from him
without breaking her neck. It was very obvious that she had had about all of Mr Larry Mitchell that
she could take. A Mexican waiter in a short green jacket and white pants with a green stripe down
the side 6 up and I 7 a double Gibson and
* if I could have a club sandwich.
Raymond Chandler: Playback (adapted)

0 Internet exercise. Use a search engine (e.g. Google) to find simple sentences on the
internet containing the expressions "he robbed", "he burgled", "they mugged", "hepoisoned",
‘was shoplifting". Write the sentences.
1
2
3
4
5

^enunciation for grammar PAST TENSES 45

past tenses: revision test
O Write the simple past forms,
accept agree . ... answer . ........ arrive
become begin believe carry
develop................... drop .... enjoy .. ...... fit
gallop hope .. .. leave..... .... open
plan prefer .... . regret..... ... reply
rob seem sleep slim
slip start stay stop
study visit .... write

Q Look at the picture, and choose the correct caption.

A Somebody was stealing his wallet
while he was having lunch.
B Somebody was stealing his wallet
while he had lunch.
C Somebody stole his wallet while
he had lunch.
D Somebody stole his wallet while
he was having lunch.

(£) Correct or not? Correct the sentences, or write'Correct'.

► When you woke me I had a wonderful dream. was Inaviwg
► This time yesterday I was playing tennis. Correct
1 When I got to the party everybody had a great time ........
2 When Columbus left Europe, he thought he sailed to India
3 Everybody was knowing that she was unhappy
4 We lived in New York when I was small
5 Did you want to pay now? .........
6 1 was learning the violin at school
7 Where I grew up, nobody was having a car
8 We were on the wrong road. It went to Birmingham, not Manchester.
9 When I was seeing Joe, he was talking to Angela
10 I broke my leg while I was skiing
11 When the music started, everybody stood up
12 I wondered if you were free this evening
13 I was smoking when I was younger.
14 The Moreton family was living in that house for 300 years
15 When the police were stopping him, he carried two guns

0 Change the verbs in italics to make these sentences less direct.

► I hope was. hoplizvcj .... you . could ..... help me.
1 I think....................... .... it is best to say nothing to her.
2 I wonder................... if I can speak to you for a moment.
3 Are ........................ you looking for somebody?
4 Do you want to speak to Professor Austin?
5 I wonder................... if you have a special price for students.

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example I'm, don't) and full
46 PAST TENSES
forms (for example I am, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.
 Past Continuous
<03
1 Introduction
The Past Continuous means that at a time in the
past we were in the middle of an action.

s I had a wonderful
dream last night. I was sitting
in a park. The sun was shining,
and the birds were singing.
Children were playing and
laughing. It was very peaceful.
'v I didn’t want to
wakeup.

2 Form
The Past Continuous is the past tense of be + an -ing form.
POSITIVE
I/he/she/it was playing
you/we/they were playing
NEGATIVE QUESTION

I/he/she/it wasn’t playing was I/he/she/it playing?

you/we/they weren’t playing were you/we/they playing?

Soft music was playing. People were walking in the park.

I wasn’t dreaming. I really was in New York City.
Why did you give our secret away? What were you thinking of?
Was Matthew already waiting for you when you got there?

3 Use
Read this conversation.
Melanie: I rang at about three yesterday afternoon, but you weren’t in. I didn’t know where you were.
David: Oh, I was helping Mike. We were repairing his car. It took ages. We were working on it all
afternoon.
Melanie: It was raining. I hope you weren’t doing it outside.
David: No, we were in the garage. So I didn’t get wet. But I’m afraid I got oil all over my new trousers.
Melanie: Why were you wearing your new trousers to repair a car?
David: I don’t know. I forgot I had them on.
It was raining at three o’clock means that at three o’clock we were in the middle of a period of rain. The rain
began before three and stopped some time after three. We were working all afternoon means that the action
went on for the whole period. David is stressing the length of time that the work went on.
We use the continuous with actions. We do not normally use it with state verbs (see Unit 7). For states we
use the Past Simple.
I didn’t know where you were, n o t I wasn’t know-mg ...

> 10 Past Continuous or Past Simple?

PAGE 20 • VERBS
 Practice
A Form (2)
Today is the first of January, the start of a new year. Most people are feeling a bit tired.
What were they doing at midnight last night?
Use these verbs: dance, drive, listen, watch, write
Use these phrases after the verb: an essay, his taxi, in the street, television, to a band

rwt
I

Claire w a s jisteAiM To a bAryd.

1 Trevor and Laura
2 Vicky and Rachel
3 Tom
4 Andrew

B Form (2)
Complete the conversation. Put in the Past Continuous forms.

Jessica: (►) I w a $ lookiM (I / look) for you, Vicky. I’m afraid I’ve broken this dish.
Vicky: Oh no! What (1).................... (you / do)?
Jessica: (2)........................................... (I / take) it into the kitchen. I bumped into
Emma. (3)............................. (she / come) out just as
(4)........................................... (I / go) in.
Vicky: I expect it was your fault. (5) (you / not / look)
where (6) (you / go).
Jessica: Sorry. I’ll buy you another one as soon as I have some money.

C Use (3)
What can you say in these situations? Add a sentence with the Past Continuous
to say that an action lasted a long time.

You had to work yesterday. The work went on all day.

I w as .worfciA^ a II dAy..........................................................
1 You had to make phone calls. The calls went on all evening.

2 You had to wait in the rain. The wait lasted for half an hour.

3 You had to make sandwiches. This went on all afternoon.

4 You had to sit in a traffic jam. You were there for two hours.

5 Your neighbour played loud music. This went on all night.

VERBS • PAGE 21
 Past Continuous or Past Simple?
1 Introduction
A reporter is interviewing Mike and Harriet.
Reporter: Mike and Harriet, tell me what you saw.
Harriet: Well, when we were driving home last night, we saw a strange object in the sky.
Mike: As we were coming down the hill into town, it just suddenly appeared in front of us.
We stopped the car and got out.
Harriet: It was a very clear night. The stars were twinkling.
Mike: It was a spaceship. It seemed quite big. It had some strange writing on the side. And a light
was flashing on the top.
Harriet: As we were watching it, it suddenly flew away and disappeared.
Pa s t Co n t in u o u s Pa s t Sim pl e
We use the Past Continuous for an action that we We use the Past Simple for a complete action in
were in the middle of. the past.
We were driving home. We drove home.
(We were in the middle of our journey.) (We finished our journey.)
A light was flashing. The spaceship flew away.
We do not normally use the Past Continuous for We also use the Past Simple (not normally the
states. See Unit 7. Continuous) for states. See Unit 7.
NOT Thespaceship was-seeming ... The spaceship seemed quite big.
n o t It-was having writing . - It had writing on the side.
n o t I wasn’tknowmg ... I didn’t know what it was.

2 It happened as I was driving

We often use the Past Continuous and Past Simple together when one (shorter) action
comes in the middle of another (longer) one.
As we were driving down the hill, a strange object appeared in the sky.
While Laura was sitting in the garden, it suddenly began to rain.
You drove right past me when I was waiting for the bus.
The appearance of the strange object comes in the middle of the longer action, the drive down the hill.
Longer action: We were driving down the hill.
Shorter action: An object appeared.
In the three sentences above, the Past Continuous comes after as, while or when
(As we were driving ...). We can also use when before the Past Simple.
We were driving down the hill when a strange object appeared in the sky.
David was making lunch when the phone rang.
But we use two Past Simple verbs for one action after another.
When we saw the spaceship, we stopped the car. (= We saw it and then we stopped.)

3 The sun was shining

Pa s t Co n t in u o u s Pa s t Sim pl e
We often use the Past Continuous to describe the We use the Past Simple for actions in a story.
background.
The sun was shining. We arrived at the beach.
The stars were twinkling. The aliens landed quietly.

PAGE 22 • VERBS
 Practice
A Past Continuous or Past Simple? (1-2)
David is always having accidents. His girlfriend Melanie is talking about some of the accidents.
Write her sentences from these notes. Each sentence has one verb in the Past Continuous and
one in the Past Simple.
► when / he / carry I a suitcase / he / drop / it / on his foot
Whe*. he w a s .CAcryir^.. a . . SwitCASe,. he dropped.. it. q a . .hi S.. -foot...
► he / break I his leg / when / he / ski
.He. broke his.. le^ wheis.. he. w a s . SkuA^
1 he / sit down / on a chair / while / I / paint / it

2 as / he / run / for a bus / he / collide / with a lamppost

3 his hair / catch / fire / when / he / cook / chips

4 when / he / hold / a beautiful vase / he / suddenly / drop / it

5 he / sit / in the garden / when / a wasp / sting / him / on the nose

B Past Continuous or Past Simple? (1-2)

Put in the correct form of the verb.
Rita: I hear the lights (►) .weryt (go) out in your flats last night.
Emma: Yes, (►) ..I.w a s ..wAtchi*^. ..... (I / watch) a documentary on TV when suddenly
(1) (we I lose) all the power. But
(2) (it I come) on again after about ten minutes.
Vicky: Rachel (3)........................ (come) down the stairs when the lights
(4) (go) out. She almost (5)
(fall) over.
Daniel: Matthew and I (6) (play) table tennis at the time.
Andrew: (7) (I / work) on the computer. (8).
(I / lose) a whole hour’s wo
(I / get) up early and (10)
(do) it again.

C Past Continuous or Pasy Simple? (1-3)

Find the second part of each sentence. Put each verb into the correct form.
Vicky (have) a beautiful dream when she (touch) the wire,
When Andrew (see) the question, when I (find) a £10 note in it.
1 The train (wait) when the alarm clock (ring),
2 I (read) a library book the crowd (rush) in.
3 Sarah (have) an electric shock he (know) the answer immediately,
4 When the doors (open), they (see) that the sun (shine).
5 When the campers (wake), when we (arrive) at the station.
Vicky. w as . hAviA^. a beAiAtifiAl.. dre.AM. wherv the..a Ia o m. clock.. c a a ^... ...
WheA Andrew s a w . the^westioA, he kAew. the.. Answer iMMediAte.ly.
1
2
3
4
5

VERBS • pa g e 23
Test B: Past Simple and Past Continuous
A
Put in the Past Simple of the verbs in brackets.

► The car fto^ed (stop) at the lights.

1 We.............. (leave) the cinema before the end of the film.
2 The streets........ (be) crowded with people.
3 My grandmother (die) last year.
4 Everyone.......... (have) a marvellous time.
5 We..................... (not / like) the food they gave us.
6 Claire................. (go) to Egypt last month.
7 The accident.... (happen) last weekend.
8 It........................ (not I be) a very comfortable journey.
9 I (know) that ages ago.

B
Write a second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the word in brackets.

There were lights on the spacecraft, (had)

The. Sp.ACecr~A-ft. tiAd. lights oiy it.
1 I had my old coat on. (wearing)

2 I was on holiday, and you were on holiday, too. (we)

3 It isn’t true that I made a mistake, (didn’t)

4 The boys were in the middle of a game of cards, (playing)

5 No one told me about the change of plan, (know)

6 My friend was the winner of the competition, (won)

7 Is it a fact that the Romans built this wall? (did)

c
Lorna Bright is a long-distance walker. Look at this part of her diary describing a morning’s walk
along the coast. Write the missing words. Use one word only in each space.
It was a fine day (►) .w.he-A I started out on the last part of my walk around the coast of Britain. The
sun was (1) , and a light wind (2)
blowing from the south-west. I was pleased that it (3) raining. I knew
by now that I (4) like rain. In fact I (5) it.
I (6) along the cliff top and then down into the lovely little fishing
village of Wellburn, past a cafe where people (7) having morning
coffee. Three miles past Wellburn I (8) ............. down for five minutes and
(9) a drink. Now it (10) getting warmer,
so I (11) off one of my sweaters. I (12)
stop for long because I (13) to reach Seabury by lunch-time.
(14) I finally got there, it (15) just after
half past twelve.

PAGE 24 • VERBS
D
Each of these sentences has a mistake in it. Write the correct sentence.
The-hotel were-very quiet.
Hie... ko±e.l.. w a s . . very.. cjui e.±......................................................................
1 It was peaceful, and the birds were sing.

2 I washed my-hair when the phone rang.

3 You came-not to the club last night.

4 It taked ages to get home.

5 We- triedto keep quiet because the baby sleeping.

6 As I was-watching-him, the man was suddenly running-away.

7 We-pass a petrol-stationtwo minutes ago.

8 Everything was seeming 014

9 Where bought you that bag?

10 When I heard the alarm, I was leaving the-room immediately.

E
Complete the sentences. Put in the correct form of each verb. Use the Past Continuous or Past
Simple.

► When Martin .ACdy^. (arrive) home, Anna WA? (talk) to someone on the phone,
Martin /t.A.Cte.d. (start) to get the tea.
1 I........................ .......... (lie) in the bath when the phone
(ring). It............ (stop) after a few rings.
2 It....................... (be) cold when we (leave) the
house that day, and a light snow (fall).
3 Your friend who (come) here the other day
(seem) very nice. I ........................
her.
4 When I ........... (see) the man, he ....................... (stand)
outside the bank. He (have) a black baseball cap on.
5 When I ........... (open) the cupboard door, a pile of books
(fall) out.
6 I . (walk) along the street when I suddenly
(feel) something hit me in the back. I
(not / know) what it was.
7 We (go) to London yesterday, but on the way we
(hear) about a bomb scare in Oxford Street. So we
(drive) back home straightaway.
8 Something very strange (happen) to me on my way home from
work yesterday afternoon. I (drive) along the bypass at the time.
Suddenly I ............... (see) my mother in the seat beside me. But she died
three years ago.

VERBS • PAGE 25
► Practice 6. Regular and irregular verbs. (Charts 2-4 and 2-5)
Read the passage about Sputnik.
History changed on October 4th, 1957 when the Soviet Union
successfully launched* Sputnik I. The world’s first artificial satellite
was about the size of a beach ball (58 cm., or 22.8 in.), weighed
only 83.6 kg., or 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit
the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in** new
political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While
the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the
space age and the U.S.-Soviet Union space race.

Part I. Circle the eight past tense verbs in the passage.

Part II. Answer the questions according to the information in the passage, Circle “T ” if the
statement is true. Circle “F ” if the statement is false.
1. The Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite. T F
2. The first satellite was about the size of a golf ball. T F
3. The first orbit around the Earth took about an hour and a half. T F
4. Sputnik went into space several times. T F
5. This first launch was the beginning of the space age and the space race T F

► Practice 7. Regular and irregular verbs. (Charts 2-4 and 2-5)

Complete the sentences. Write the simple past tense of the verbs in bold.
Part I. Regular verbs: The simple past and past participle end in -ed.

1. Sandy works at a bakery. She worked___________ there last Saturday.

2. Burt often listens to old Beatles songs. He ____ listened__________ to some last night too.
3. Ana and Juan study English in a group on Saturday mornings. Last Saturday, they
_____________________ the irregular past tense verbs.
4. It rains every afternoon in the summer. Yesterday it _____________________ all afternoon
and all night too.

Part II. Irregular verbs: The simple past and past participle do not end in -ed.
5. Watch out! Those glasses break easily. Uh-oh . . . one glass ju s t_________________
6. Nowadays, I occasionally swim for exercise when I have time, but I _________________
every day when I was a child.
7. Lightning sometimes hits trees in this area. In the last storm, a lightning bolt
_________________my neighbor’s tree and caused it to fall on his house.

*laiaich = to start something, usually something big or important.

**usher in = to introduce.

Present and Past; Simple and Progressive 15

 ► Practice8. Irregular verbs. (Chart 2-5)
Complete the sentences. Write the simple past tense of the verbs in bold.
Group 1.
1. This year corn costs a lot more than it _________________last year.
2. Gail generally shuts the door very quietly, but tonight she _________________it with a loud
bang because she was very angry.
3. I usually cut my daughter’s hair myself, but last week I was sick and she went to a hairdresser.
He _________________it too short, and she wasn’t happy.
4. Andrew moves from job to job. Normally, he works for about a year and then quits, but on
this last job, he _________________after only one month.

Group 2.
5. Sometimes I forget things. Yesterday I _________________to take my keys with me, and
when I got home, I couldn’t get into my house.
6. Presidents choose their assistants and their cabinet officers. Last week the president
_________________the chief financial officer of a major bank to be the secretary of the
treasury.
7. I am a history major. I take a lot of history courses. Last semester I _________________
Medieval European History and Modern African History.
8. Jenny always gives generous presents. Last year she _________________me a beautiful silver
picture frame from Mexico.

► Practice 9. Irregular verbs. (Chart 2 5)

Complete the sentences. Write the simple past tense of the verbs in bold.
Group 3.
1. The concert usually begins on time, but tonight it _________________ten minutes late.
2. The opera star generally sings beautifully, but last night he _________________poorly
because he was getting a cold.
3. Joe runs in marathons. Last year he _________________in the New York Marathon.
4. Keisha usually drinks green tea. At our house, we didn’t have any green tea, so she
_________________decaffeinated coffee.

Group 4.
5. I always buy fresh vegetables on the weekend. Last Saturday I _____________________
fresh asparagus.
6. Mr. Joseph teaches Spanish in high school. He _____________________ my mother
Spanish in the same high school 25 years ago.
7. Our basketball team doesn’t win many games, but we _________________last Friday night.

16 CHAPTER 2
 8. The other team is an excellent team, and they rarely lose a game. But they
_________________the game last Friday night.
9. A: Isn’t Helen still here? She usually leaves after six, doesn’t she?
B: Not today. She _________________early for a dentist’s appointment.
10. A: Don’t tell this to Grandma. Bad news about the family always upsets her.
B: I told her already. And it’s true — the bad news _________________her. She cried.

► Practice 10. Irregular verbs. (Chart 2-5)

Complete the sentences. Write the simple past tense of the verbs in bold.
G rou p 5.

1. I know the whole Grant family. I know their aunts, uncles, and cousins, and I ____________
their grandparents long ago.
2. Tom is a pilot. He flies across the Atlantic Ocean regularly. Last month he ____________
to Australia for the first time.
3. I rarely do all of my homework. Last night I ____________ about half of it before I went to
bed for the night.
4. My friends and I usually see a movie on Friday nights. Last Friday night we ____________
the new science-fiction movie, Robot Planet.

Group 6.

5. Joanna is an excellent runner. She runs in the Olympic Games. She ____________ in the
Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008.
6. Aunt Jessie rarely comes to our house. But last year she ____________ for my brother’s
wedding.
7. When you mix red paint and yellow paint, it becomes orange paint. Yesterday I mixed yellow
paint with blue paint, and it ________________ green.

Group 7.

8. A: Your mother is an English teacher, right?

B: Well, she ____________ an English teacher until she retired. Now she writes books to
teach people English.
9. A: You go to the math review sessions on Monday nights, don’t you?
B: Yes, I do. I ____________ to the review session last night.

Group 8.

10. Some children dream of becoming astronauts. I didn’t. I always_________________of

becoming a famous writer.
11. Musicians learn to play instruments when they are very young. My cousin
_________________to play the violin when she was only four years old.

Present and Past; Simple and Progressive 17

 12. Fires burn quickly in this dry weather. Last month a fire ________________ out of control
for a week in the national park.
13. Be careful! The milk is going to spill! Uh-oh. Too late. It ________________ all over the
rug.

► Practice 11. Irregular verbs. (Chart 2-5)

Write the simple past and the past participle forms of the verbs.

Simple Form Simple Past Past Participle

1. sell sold sold

2. buy
3. begin

4. have

5. catch
6. quit

7. find

8. make

9. take
10. break

11. come
12. lose

13. sleep

14. build
15. fight

18 CHAPTER 2
► Practice 12. Irregular verbs. (Chart 2 5)
Complete the verb chart. Write the missing simple present, simple past, or past participle forms.

Simple Form Simple Past Past Participle

1. understand understood understood

2. spent
3. let
4. seen
5. teach

6. spoke
7. gone
8. pay
9. forgotten
10. wrote
11. fall
12. felt
13. left
14. upset
15. flown

Present and Past; Simple and Progressive 19

 ► Practice 14. Simple past ot irregular verbs. (Chart 2 5)
Complete the sentences. Write the simple past of the irregular verbs in the list. Pay special
attention to spelling. Use each verb only once.

/ bite catch hold pay sting

blow feel mean quit swim

1. I broke a tooth when I bit into a piece of hard candy.

__________his mother’s hand as they walked toward the school bus.
2 . The little boy ______
3. Maria promised to help us. I hope she ____________ what she said.
4. A rth u r____________ out all of the
candles on his birthday cake.
We both ____________ eating fried foods three
months ago, and we already feel much better.
Douglas ____________ the outside of his pocket to
make sure his wallet was still there.
7. A bee ____________ me on the hand while I was working in the garden.
8 . Matthew Webb was the first person who ____________ across the English Channel.
9. Paul ____________ much more for his bike than I spent for mine.
10 . Rita threw the ball high in the air. Daniel ____________ it when it came down.

20 CHAPTER 2
► Practice 15. Simple past ot irregular verbs. (Chart 2-5)
Complete the sentences. Write the simple past form of the irregular verbs in the list. Pay special
attention to spelling. Use each verb only once.

bet freeze* sink split

choose lead / spend upset
fly ring spin weep

1 . Dr. Perez epemt . ten hours in the operating room performing delicate surgerv.
2 . On my first day at the university, my English teacher____________ the class to our
classroom. We all followed him.
3. Sally and I made a friendly bet. I ____________ her that my grade on the math test would
be higher than hers.
4. I ____________ when I heard the tragic news. Everyone else cried too.
5. As she got up, Lina ____________ the table, and everything
on top of it fell to the floor.
6 . Paul wanted to make a fire, but the logs were too big. So
he ____________ them with his axe.
7. When I threw a piece of wood from the shore, it floated on
top of the water. When I threw a rock, it ____________
immediately to the bottom of the lake.
8. In 1927, Charles Lindbergh ____________ from New York to Paris in 33 hours and 30
minutes.
9. When the children ____________ around and around, they became dizzy.
10 . The telephone ____________ several times and then stopped before I could answer it.
11 . William had trouble deciding which sweater he liked best, but he finally ____________ the
blue one.
12. The cold temperatures ____________ the water in the pond, so we can go ice-skating today.

► Practice 16. The simple past and the past progressive. (Charts 2-7 and 2-8)
Complete the sentences. Write the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
1. Maria (call) ________________ me as soon as she got the good news.
2. Last night at about nine o’clock we (zvatch) _____________________ TV when someone
knocked at the door.
3. During the study period in class yesterday, it was hard for me to concentrate because the
student next to me (hum ) _____________________
4. When Harry (meet) ________________ Jenny, he immediately fell in love with her.
5. Jack was rushing to catch the bus when I (see) _________________him.

* f r e e z e = s t o p m o v in g c o m p le t e ly .

Present and Past; Simple and Progressive 21

 6. Last Saturday while Sandy {clean) _____________________ out the attic, she found her
grandmother’s wedding dress.
7. It started to rain while I (drive) _____________________ to work this morning. I didn’t have
an umbrella with me. I (get) _________________very wet when I stepped out of my car.
8. When we looked outside during the storm, we saw that the wind (blow) _________________
very hard, and the trees (bend) _____________________ over in the wind.
9. When the teacher came into the room, most of the children (play) _____________________
together nicely. But over in the corner, Bobby (pull) _____________________ Annie’s hair.
The teacher quickly ran over and pulled Bobby away from Annie.

► P r a c tic e 17. The s im p le p a s t a n d th e p a s t p ro g r e s s iv e . (Charts 2-7 and 2-8)

Write “ 1” before the action that started first. Write “2” before the action that started second.
1. When the alarm clock rang, I was sleeping.
2 The alarm clock rang.
1 I was sleeping.
2. When I saw Dr. Jarvis yesterday evening, he was waving at me.
__ I saw Dr. Jarvis yesterday evening.
__ He was waving at me.
3. When I saw Dr. Jarvis yesterday evening, he waved at me.
__ I saw Dr. Jarvis yesterday evening.
__ He waved at me.
4. I closed the windows when it was raining.
__ I closed the windows.
__ It was raining.
5. I was closing the windows when it began to rain.
__ I was closing the windows.
__ It began to rain.
6. The server brought the check when we were eating our desserts.
__ The server brought the check.
__ We were eating our desserts.
7. When the doorbell rang, Sam went to the door. “Who is it?” he asked.
__ The doorbell rang.
__ Sam went to the door.
8. Sam was going to the door when the doorbell rang. “I’m coming, Bob,” he said. “I saw you
walking up the sidewalk.”
__ The doorbell rang.
___ Sam was already going to the door.

22 CHAPTER 2
► Practice 18. The simple past and the past progressive. (Charts 2-7 and 2-8)
Circle the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
1. We (had / zvere having) a wonderful dinner last night to celebrate our 25th wedding
anniversary.
2. We (had / zvere having) a wonderful time when suddenly the electric power went out.
3. When Richard (stopped / zvas stopping) his car suddenly, the groceries (fell / zvere falling) out of
the grocery bags and (spilled l zvere spilling) all over the floor of the car.
4. When I was a child, my mother always (served ! zvas serving) cookies and milk to my friends
and me when they (came / zvere coming) home with me after school.
5. When we (looked / zvere looking) hi on our baby last night, he (slept / zvas sleeping). I think he
(dreamt / was dreaming) about something nice because he (smiled / zvas smiling).
6. A: Why is Henry in the hospital?
B: He (zvorked / zvas zvorking) on his car in the garage when the gas tank
(exploded / zvas exploding).
A: Oh! What (caused / zvas causing) the explosion?
B: Henry (dropped l zvas dropping) a match too near the gas tank.

► Practice 19. Sample present, present progressive, simple past, past

progressive. (Charts 2-1 -►2-4; 2-5, 2-7, and 2-8)
Underline the verbs. Decide which of the following phrases best describes the action of each
sentence. Write the appropriate number.
1. actions occurring now or today
2. habitual / everyday actions
3. actions completed in the past (non-progressive)
4. one action in progress when another occurred

1. 2 I take the bus to school when it rains.

2. 4 I was riding the bus when I heard the news on my radio.
3. __ I am riding the bus because my friend is repairing my bike.
4. __ I rode the bus home yesterday because you forgot to pick me up.
5. __ Dennis was having coffee this morning when a bird crashed into his kitchen window.
6. ___Dennis had a big breakfast, but his wife didn’t eat anything.
7. __ Dennis is having a big breakfast this morning.
8. __ Dennis generally has coffee with breakfast.
9. __ My mother and I celebrate our birthdays together because they are just a few days apart.
10. __ We were working when you called on our birthdays last week.
11. __ One year we celebrated our birthdays apart because my mom was away on business.

Present and Past; Simple and Progressive 23

 ► Practice 20. Using progressive verbs with always. (Chart 2-9)
Complete the dialogues. Write either the simple present or present progressive form of the verbs ir
the list and the given words in parentheses. If the speaker is expressing annoyance, use the present
progressive.

/ complain leave lose study

interrupt live play talk

1. A: Why won’t you go out with Carlo anymore?

B: He (always) ___ M always complaining_________ about something. It was really irritating
me to hear all those complaints!
2. A: How do you like your new roommate?
B: I don’t. He {always) ______________________________loudly on his phone. I can’t
have any peace and quiet in the room!
3. A: Why don’t you come to our Friday night get-togethers, Al?
B: I’d like to, but I _____________________ on the other side of town. It’s too far.
4. A: Why are you so upset with Lisa?
B: Oh, she ( forever) _________________________ the towels on the bathroom floor. She
never hangs them up.
5. A: What’s the matter now? Why are you angry at me?
B: Because you (alzvays) ______________________________ me! I never get a chance to
finish a sentence!
6. A: Uh-oh. I can’t find the keys to the car.
B: Again? You (alzvays) ______________________________them! You should tie them
around your neck on a string.
7. A: What radio station do you listen to when you’re in your car?
B: I don’t listen to the radio. I (usually) _____________________ my English lessons in the
car. It’s a good way to learn.
8. A: Sorry I can’t join you tonight. I have to prepare for a test tomorrow.
B: Oh, you (alzvays) ______________________________ Can’t you take a break?

24 CHAPTER 2
► Practice 21. Chapter review.
Complete the crossword puzzle. Use the clues under the puzzle. Write the correct form of the
verbs in parentheses.

2 3

5 6

Across
2. Shhh. I’m (listen) _ to die radio.
5. Good idea! I (think) _your suggestion is great.
7. What was that? I just (hear) _____
_______ a loud noise.
8. I am (think) ________ about going home early today.

Down
1. We (go) ________to Mexico last year.
3. I was in my room (study) ________ when you called.
4. I (eat) ________ lunch with friends yesterday.
6. This is fun. I’m (have) ________ a great time here.
7. I only (have) ________ a little money right now.

Present and Past; Simple and Progressive 25