Past simple or Past continuous ④

They _____ (a) to the beach, but it _____ (b) raining.

• went, was

• were going, was

• went, started

• were going, started

I _____ (a) the book, but I _____ (b) it because it was boring.

• read, wasn't liking

• was reading, didn't like

• was reading, wasn't liking

• read, didn't like

Answer explanation

The simple past tense is used to describe a completed action in the past and in this sentence, the action of "reading the book" is a completed action in the past. The phrase "didn't like" is in the simple past tense as well, as it describes the speaker's past feeling towards the book they read.

The past continuous tense is used to describe an action in progress at a specific time in the past and to emphasize that the action was ongoing or temporary. In this sentence, the phrase "was reading" would not fit as well as "read," as the action of reading the book is a completed action.

We _____ (a) to the park, but it _____ (b) too cold to play.

• went, was

• were going, was

• went, became

• were going, became

The children _____ (a) at the playground when they _____ (b) the ice cream truck.

• were playing, heard

• played, heard

• were playing, were hearing

• played, were hearing

She _____ (a) to the store when she _____ (b) her friend.

• went, saw

• was going, saw

• was going, was seeing

• went, was seeing

I _____ (a) a nap when my phone _____ (b) ringing.

• was taking, was

• took, was

• was taking, started

• took, started

Answer explanation

"I took a nap when my phone was ringing" means the speaker had finished taking the nap and the phone started ringing at that moment.

Depending on the emphasis the speaker wants to place on the timing of the two events. If the speaker wants to emphasize that they were in the process of taking a nap when their phone started ringing, then answer (was taking, started) would be a good choice.

They _____ (a) the game, but they _____ (b) losing.

• played, were

• were playing, were

• played, started

• were playing, started

I _____ (a) the car when I _____ (b) the gas station.

• drove, was seeing

• drove, saw

• was driving, saw

• was driving, was seeing

John and Emily _______ (walk) in the park yesterday when they ______ (see) a beautiful bird.

• walked, saw

• were walking, were seeing

• walked, were seeing

• were walking, saw

Last night, I ______ (watch) TV when my friend ______ (call) me.

• watched, called

• was watching, was calling

• was watching, called

• watched, was calling