PAST CONTINUOUS AND PAST SIMPLE
Look at the pictures. Where were these people at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon? And what were
they doing? Write two sentences for each picture.
1. Ann was at home. She was watching TV. 2. Carol and Jack __________. They ________.
3. Tom __________. He __________. 4. Catherine __________. She __________.
5. Mr. and Mrs. Hall __________. They ________.
Sarah did a lot of things yesterday morning. Look at the pictures and complete the sentences.
1. At 9.45 she was washing her car. 2. At 11.45 she __________.
3. At 9 o’clock __________. 4. At 12.50 __________.
5. At 8.15 __________. 6. At 10.30 __________.
Complete the questions. Use was/were -ing. Use what/where/why if necessary.
1. (you/live) Where were you living in 1990? In London.
2. (you/do) __________ at 2 o’clock? I was asleep.
3. (it/rain) __________ when you got up? No, it was sunny.
4. (Ann/drive) __________ so fast? Because she was in a hurry.
5. (Tim/wear) __________ a suit yesterday? No, a T-shirt and jeans.
Look at the picture. You saw Joe in the street yesterday afternoon. What was he doing? Write
positive or negative sentences.
(wear / a jacket) He wasn’t wearing a jacket.
(carry / a bag) __________.
(go / to the dentist) __________.
(eat / an ice-cream) __________.
(carry / an umbrella) __________.
(go / home) __________.
(wear / a hat) __________.
(ride / a bicycle) __________.
Put the verb into the past continuous or past simple.
1. A: What were you doing (you/do) when the phone rang (ring)?
B: I was watching (watch) television.
2. A: Was Jane busy when you went to see her?
B: Yes, she (study).
3. A: What time (the post/arrive) this morning?
B: It (come) while I (have) breakfast.
4. A: Was Margaret at work today?
B: No, she (not/go) to work. She was ill.
5. A: How fast (you/drive) when the police (stop) you?
B: I don’t know exactly but I (not/drive) very fast.
6. A: (your team/win) the football match yesterday?
B: No, the weather was very bad, so we (not/play).
7. A: How (you/break) the window?
B: We (play) football. I (hit) the window.
8. A: (you/see) Jenny last night?
B: Yes, she (wear) a very nice jacket.
9. A: What (you/do) at 2 o'clock this morning?
B: I was asleep.
10. A: I (lose) my key last night.
B: How (you/get) into your room?
A: I (climb) in through a window.
What were you doing at these times? Write sentences as in the examples. The past continuous is
not always necessary.
1. (at 8 o’clock yesterday evening) I was having dinner.
2. (at 5 o’clock last Monday) I was on a bus on my way home.
3. (at 10.15 yesterday morning) __________. 4. (at 4.30 this morning) __________.
5. (at 7.45 yesterday evening) __________. 6. (half an hour ago) __________.
Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
1. I saw (see) Sue in town yesterday, but she (not/see) me. She (look) the
other way.
2. Tom and Jane (meet) at the airport a few weeks ago. They (go) to Paris and
I (go) to Rome. We (have) a chat while we (wait) for our
flights.
3. I (cycle) home yesterday when a man (step) out into the road in front of
me. I (go) quite fast, but luckily I (manage) to stop in time and (not/hit)
him.
Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
1. Jenny (wait) for me when I (arrive).
2. ‘What (you/do) at this time yesterday?’ ‘I was asleep (be 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.
7. I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last (see) him, he (try) to find a job.
8. I (walk) along the street when suddenly I (hear) footsteps behind me.
Somebody (start) to run.
9. When I was young, I (want) to be a pilot.
10. Last night I (drop) a plate when I (do) the washing-up. Fortunately,
it (not/break)
Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the past simple in one space and the past
continuous in the other.
come – show get – go hope – give live – spend look – see play – break start – check in
1. Just as I was getting into the bath all the lights went off.
2. I to go away this weekend, but my boss me some work that I have to finish
by Monday.
3. When I in Paris, I three hours a day travelling to and from work.
4. A friendly American couple chatting to him as he in at the hotel reception.
5. I bumped into Mary last week. She a lot better than when I last her.
6. My boss into the office just as I everyone my holiday photos.
7. I badminton four times a week before I my ankle.
This time, use the same tense in both spaces.
add – taste go off – light not – watch listen – explain push – run dream
8. The smoke alarm when he a cigarette underneath it.
9. I can’t remember how to answer this question. I must confess that I while the teacher
it to us.
10. She more salt to the soup, and then it much better.
11. Although the television was on, I it. Instead I about my holidays.
12. She the door and into the room.
Complete this text with either the past simple or the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
Where alternatives are possible, think about any difference in meaning.
I (1.buy) a new alarm clock the other day in Taylor’s the jewellers, when I actually
(2.see) somebody shoplifting. I’d just finished paying for my clock and as I (3.turn)
round, an elderly woman (4.slowly put) a silver plate into a bag that she
(5.carry) . Then she (6.walk) over to another part of the shop and (7.pick up)
an expensive – looking watch a number of times. When she (8.think) that
nobody (9.look) , she (10.drop) it into the bag. Before I (11.(have)
a chance to tell the staff in the shop, she (12) (notice) that I (13.watch) her
and (14.hurry) out.
Unfortunately for her, two police officers (15.walk) past just at that moment and she
(16.run) straight into them.
