Read the email and write the verbs in the past simple or past continuous form.
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for your email. I was happy to hear your news. Well done! You
(1)_________________________ (pass) all your exams. That’s great!
Here’s my news. Do you remember John? He (2)_______________________ (be) in
our class last year. Well, he (3)_________________________ (send) me an email
yesterday and (4)_________________________ (ask) to meet at the new café in our
street. While we (5)__________________________ (sit) in the café, we
(6)________________________ (see) Sue sitting at the other table. We
(7)________________________ (not/talk) to her because she
(8)________________________ (read) a book and (9)________________________
(take) notes at the same time. She looked busy.
Then I took John to my house. We chatted about old times, of course, and while we
(10)_________________________ (talk), my mum (11)________________________
(listen) and laughing at us.
Why don’t you join us next time?
All the best,
Nick.
Past simple vs past continuous
Jenny: I saw you in town yesterday morning while I 1____________________ (get) into the bus.
Rob: Really? What ( I/ do ) 2_____________________________ when you saw me?
Jenny: You 3__________________________ (go ) into the sports shop when I saw you.
4
Rob: Oh yes, I __________________________ (buy) a new tennis racket yesterday.
Jenny: ( You / watch ) 5____________________________ the tennis match at Wimbledon last night?
Rob: No, I didn’t. I 6_____________________________ (help) my sister with her homework at that
time. It 7________________________ (not be) very difficult for me at all.
Jenny: By the way, why ( the teacher / shout ) 8_____________________________at you in the
English lesson this morning? We9______________________ (hear) her voice from outside.
Rob: Because I and Mike 10_______________________ ( not / listen) to her and we got a minus.
Jenny: Oh, I’m so sorry for you. Then you don’t talk in the lesson next time.
Choose the correct options.
1 I listened / was listening to the radio when I heard / was hearing this fantastic song.
2 When the teacher said / was saying ‘Stop!’, I still tried / was still trying to finish the last question.
3 I feel really silly! While I danced / was dancing, I fell / was falling and broke / was breaking my
elbow.
4 Tim played / was playing a computer game when his mum called / was calling him for lunch.
5 I looked / was looking for a file on my memory stick when I noticed / was noticing there was a
virus.
6 Ron found / was finding a really interesting website about dance music while he surfed / was
surfing the internet.
7 When you saw / were seeing me yesterday, I didn’t go / wasn’t going to school, I went / was
going to the doctor’s – I felt terrible.
Some any a an
1. They don't have _______ children.
2. I'd like _______ orange, please.
3. Would you like _______ coffee?
4. Do you have _______ pets?
5. He's got _______ dog and some mice.
6. There are _______ chairs in his room.
7. Are there _______ cupboards?
8. Can I have _______ more dessert, please?
9. I'd like to read _______ good book.
10. There's _______ supermarket next to our school.
Underline the correct words to complete the conversation. (Sometimes
there is more than one possible answer.)
NICK We can make (1) any / a /some sandwiches for lunch.
HELEN Good idea. Have we got (2) any / some / a nice bread?
NICK Yes, we have. We’ve got (3) any / some / a really fresh bread – it’s still
warm!
HELEN OK. Have we got (4) any / some / a meat or chicken to put in them?
NICK Um, let me see. We haven’t got (5) some / a / any meat but we’ve got
(6) some / a / any chicken.
HELEN Never mind. Have we got (7) a / some / any cheese in the fridge?
NICK Yes, we’ve got (8) some / a / any French cheese and (9) any / a /
some Swiss cheese.
HELEN OK. And what about vegetables? Have we got (10) a / any / some?
NICK Yes, we’ve got (11) a / some / any mushrooms and there’s (12) a / any /
some big tomato. But I’m afraid we haven’t got (13) a / some / any onions.
HELEN OK. I can make (14) some / a / any cheese and tomato sandwich for me
and (15) a / any / some chicken sandwich for you.
Fill in the gaps with some, any, a or an
1. There are .......... potatoes on the table
a) some b) any c) a d) an
2. Are there ....... books on your desk?
a) some b) any c) a d) an
3. Is there ........ coffee left?
a) some b) any c) a d) an
4. Have you got ....... brothers or sisters?
a) some b) any c) a d) an
5. He hasn't got ........ money
a) some b) any c) a d) an
6. He never wears .......... uniform
a) some b) any c) a d) an
7. There aren't ........ tickets for the concert left
a) some b) any c) a d) an
Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets with SHOULD or
SHOULDN’T.
1. We ………………………………… now if we want to get to the station on time.
(leave)
2. He ………………………………… to the doctor. He’s been coughing for over a
week. (go)
3. You ………………………………… so much. It’s bad for your health. (smoke)
4. People ………………………………… married unless they really love each other.
(get)
5. Peter hates cold weather. He ………………………………… somewhere warmer.
(move)
6. You ………………………………… your phone in class. The teacher will get angry.
(use)
7. If they want to save money, they ………………………………… fewer holidays.
(take)
8. You ………………………………… children at home alone until they’re at least ten
years old. (leave)
9. It’s a very unsafe area. You ………………………………… alone there at night.
(not / walk)
10. Their dog looks really unhappy. They ………………………………… it more often.
(walk)
11. I _______________ it was about time. (think)
12. Every one _____________ respect to the law. (pay)
13. It was inevitable that she _____________ him. (see)
14. But for this I ______________ no fear. (have)
15. ______________________ their true nature? (how/you/know/?)
16. She had decided that they ______________. (wait)
17. But, yet, you ___________________. (not/worry)
