Past simple:
She bought some books. (+)
She did not (didn’t) buy some books. (-)
Did she buy some books? Yes, she did / No, she
didn’t
What did she buy? Some books
Who bought some books? She did
Past continuous
She was studying in her room when her father
called.
He broke his arm when he fell.
We were watching TV while he was cooking.
Exercise 1
1. I …… movie at that time.
a. was watching
b. watched
c. is watching
d. watch
2. I ….. in USA last year.
a. living
b. lives
c. live
d. lived
3. My mother …….. in the office in 2004.
a. worked
b. working
c. works
d. was working
4. She ……… to continue her study but she
didn’t have a chance to do it.
a. plan
b. planned
c. planning
d. was planning
5. The teacher was explaining in front of the
class when someone ……the door.
a. knock
b. is knocked
c. was knocking
d. knocked
6. My mother ……. me when I was watching
TV in my room.
a. called
b. calling
c. is calling
d. calls
7. Sylvia … when she … the DVDs.
a. was running / dropped
b. ran / dropped
c. was running / was dropping
d. ran / was dropping
8. While Steve … a documentary, he …
asleep.
a. was watched / fell
b. was watching / fell -> fall
c. watched / was falling
d. was watching / felt -> feel
9. They … when you … for remote control.
a. aren't listening / were asking
b. weren't listening / were asking
c. weren't listening / asked
d. listened / asked
10. Were you doing anything when I called
you?
a. Are / doing / called
b. Were / doing / calling
c. Did / do / was calling
d. Were / doing / called
11. … you … my friends while you … to
school?
a. Are / see / went
b. Did / see / were going
c. Did / saw / were going
d. Were / see / went
12. We … home when the accident ….
a. were driving / happened
b. drove / happened
c. drove / was happening
d. were drive / happened
13. I … a novel while my mother ….
a. was read / was cooking
b. read / cooked
c. was reading / was cooking
d. was reading / cooks
14. I … out of the window when the
accident happened.
a. was looked
b. looked
c. looking
d. was looking
15. You … while I ….
a. played / study
b. were playing / studying
c. were playing / was studying
d. were played / was studying
Exercise 2
1. Mom was cutting up vegetables in the
kitchen when I heard music.
2. Why were you laughing all through the
history lesson yesterday?
3. We were listening carefully all the time,
they were explaining the plan to us.
4. Steve was driving his car when a bird flew
into his windscreen.
5. She burst into tears when she recognized
her name as the winner.
Exercise 3
1. George ________________ off the
ladder while he ________________ the
ceiling. (fall, paint)
2. Last night I ________________ in bed
when I suddenly ________________ a
scream. (read, hear)
3. ________________ TV when I
________________ you? (you watch,
phone)
4. Ann ________________ for me when I
________________ . (wait, arrive)
5. Maisie ________________ up the
kitchen when John ________________ her
to marry him.
(clean, ask)
6. The house ________________ £ 150,000
in 2003. (cost)
7. The fire _______________________ at
six in the morning. (still burn)
8. My brother ________________ a new
job a week ago (get).
9. Columbus ________________ America
over 500 years ago (discover)
10. She ________________ not interested
in the book because she ________________
it (be ,not
understand)
11. ________________ at school
yesterday? (you be)
12. We ________________ in a house near
the sea last summer (live)
13. She ________________ the piano very
well when she ________________ young
(can play, be)
14. She ________________ the office very
early last night (leave).
15. I ________________ a friend while I
________________ the shopping (meet,
do)
16. I ________________ for my things
when I ________________ someone call
my name (pay, hear)
17. I ________________ around and
________________ Judy. (turn, see)
18. She ________________ a bright yellow
dress when I ________________ her last
(wear, see)
19. We ________________ to have a cup
of tea. (decide)
20. While the waiter ________________ up
the pieces of glass he ________________
his finger (pick,
cut)
