I 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
II Complete the sentences with the correct past simple or past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1. She (surf) _______when the shark (attack) _______her.
2. He (dance) _______at a party when he (meet) _______his girlfriend.
3. I (have) _______a picnic when I (see) _______my sister.
4. When they (see) _______the shark they (swim) _______in the sea.
5. Susan (arrive) _______while I (have) _______dinner.
6. He (play) _______football, when he (break) _______his leg.
7. I (wait) _______for my friend when the bus (arrive) _______.
8. When I (get back) _______my mum (cook) _______dinner.
III Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentences.
1. She was seeing the shark while she was surfing.
2. What was you doing last night at 8.00pm?
3. I was reading a book when my brother was getting back.
4. He didn’t liked the film very much.
5. What did he see while he swam?
6. You can turn off the TV, I not was watching it.
7. I was talking to Stephen while the phone rang.
8. I went to the cinema last night but I wasn’t liking the film.
IV Simple Past or Past Continuous
1. When I (do)_____________the washing-up, I (break) _____________ a plate.
2. While Tom (play) _____________the piano, his mother (do) _____________ the washing-up.
3. He (drink) _____________some juice and then he (eat) _____________a few chips.
4. I (have) _____________dinner when I suddenly (hear) _____________a loud bang.
5. When my father (work) _____________in the garden, an old friend (pass) _____________by to see him.
6. She (go) _____________to school, (take) _____________out her textbook and (begin) _____________to read.
7. When it (start) _____________to rain, our dog (want) _____________to come inside.
8. When Jane (do) _____________a language course in Ireland, she (visit) _____________Blarney Castle.
9. When I (be) _____________on my way home, I (see) _____________an accident.
10. I (not / understand) _____________what they (talk) _____________about.
KEY
I Choose which verb tense (simple past or past continuous) fits better.
1. a) was sleeping 2. b) came 3. b) were you doing 4. a) stole 5. b) talked 6. a) came
7. a) did you have 8. b) Did you have 9. b) were having 10. a) bought
II Complete the sentences with the correct past simple or past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1. was surfing/attacked 2. was dancing/met 3. was having/saw 4. saw/were swimming
5.arrived/was having 6. was playing/broke 7.was waiting/arrived 8. got back/was cooking
III Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentences.
1. She saw the shark while she was surfing.
2. What were you doing last night at 8.00pm?
3. I was reading a book when my brother got back.
4. He didn’t like the film very much.
5. What did he see while he was swimming?
6. You can turn off the TV, I was not watching it.
7. I was talking to Stephen when the phone rang.
8. I went to the cinema last night but I didn't like the film.
IV Simple Past or Past Continuous
1. was doing/broke 2. was playing/was doing 3. drank/ate 4. was having/heard 5. was working/passed
6. went/took/began 7. started/wanted 8. was doing/visited 9. was/saw 10. don't understand/are talking
