Past Tenses

I ... over the phone when they brought me the letter.

• talked

• had talked

• had been talking

• was talking

She quickly forgot everything she ... at school.

• learnt

• had learnt

• had been learning

• was learning

They ... in the room when the taxi arrived.

• was sitting

• sat

• had been sitting

• were sitting

I visited Brazil in April. I ... at a nice hotel for a fortnight.

• stayed

• had been staying

• was staying

• had stayed

I ... at the hotel for already a fortnight when I received your letter.

• had stayed

• stayed

• had been staying

• was staying

I hardly ... speaking with a porter when the phone rang again.

• had finished

• finished

• had been finishing

• was finishing

First I ... the phone, and then I read your letter.

• answered

• had answered

• was answering

• didn't answer

The workers…… (to be) on a strike for three weeks when the agreement on pay ….(to be reached).

Answer explanation

had been, was reached

Yesterday afternoon it…. (still to rain) when I…. (to get) home.

Answer explanation

was still raining, got

He….. (to drive) to work for half an hour when suddenly his car….. (to break) down.

Answer explanation

had been driving, broke