Present and past simple, present and past continuous

When Maria got home, her sister __________ (study).

Answer explanation

Maria's sister studying is an action that started before Maria got home, and continued after (past continuous). Maria getting home is an action that starts and ends in one short time period (past simple).

Mary ___________ (arrive) home when Jim ____________ (cook).

• arrived, was cooking

• was arriving, was cooking

• was arriving, cooked

• arrived, cooked

Answer explanation

Mary arriving home is something that happens momentarily, and Jim cooking is a continuous action that started before her arrival (arrival - saabumine).

Regina was hungry, so she _____________ (decide) to get cheese fries.

If I were you, I __________ (will) tell him the truth. - Mina sinu asemel räägiksin talle tõtt.

Answer explanation

Would is the past tense form of will and you use it in imaginary situations.

They __________ (notice) that we __________ (watch) them.

• noticed, were watching

• were noticing, were watching

• noticed, watched

• were noticing, watched

Answer explanation

Noticing is an action that doesn't last long (märkama, see tegevus juhtub korraks), while watching is an action that usually lasts for a longer time (jälgima, see tegevus kestab kauem).

I ____________ (read) a book when the phone _____________ (ring).

• was reading, rang

• was reading, was ringing

• read, rang

• read, was ringing

When mum came home, the boys ___________ (not play) football because it ___________ (rain).

• weren't playing, was raining

• didn't play, rained

• weren't playing, rained

Answer explanation

Mum coming home is a brief action, it ends quickly. The others are both continuous actions. Not playing - eitav voorm jääb samuti kestvasse minevikku (past continuous). Kui jääb segaseks, proovige jaatavas vormis sõnastada, ja tuleb ikkagi kasutada kestvat minevikku: When mum came home, the boys were playing football because it was raining (äkki neile meeldib vihmas jalkat mängida :).

Stop interrupting me, I ____________ (study).

• study

• am studying

• studied

I ________ (not hear) you, the children ______________ (yell) too loudly!

• can't hear, are yelling

• can't hear, yell

• am not hearing, are yelling

• am not hearing, yell

I ________ (leave) very early because I ________ (have) an exam tomorrow.

• left, have

• left, had

• leave, had

• was leaving, have