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WorksheetsSimple Past and Past Progressive
Total questions: 70
Worksheet time: 31mins
When I _______ the exercise, I _____ at the pictures.
was starting
started
was looking
looked
My dad _________ the piano when I __________ homework.
was playing
played
was doing
did
When the teacher ________________ (come) in class, students___________________ (study) English.
was coming
came
studied
were studying
We _______________ (play) volleyball with Mary when you __________________(call) me.
were playing
played
called
were calling
The baby _______________ (sleep) when the telephone _________________(ring).
slept
was sleeping
rang
was ringing
When my brother __________ (drink) milk , he was doing homework.
drink
drank
was drinking
were drinking
Harry _________________ (sing) a song when Jane came in.
sing
sang
were singing
was singing
What did he write?
He was writing a letter.
He writes a letter.
We ____________ (have) dinner when he ___________ (arrive).
had
were having
arrived
arrive
I ______________ (have) my bath when the telephone rang (ring)
was having
have
Lucy ...... her arm last week.
broke
was breaking
was broke
were breaking
When she ...... her room, she ......off the ladder.
was painting, fell
was painting, was falling
painted, fell
was painting, falled
The train ...... at the station and Paula ..... off.
arrived, got
was arriving, was getting
arrived, getting
arrived, was getting
John and Rachel ...... to meet her.
were waiting
was waiting
waiting
waited
Yesterday Sue ...... along the road when she ...... James.
was walking, met
was walking, was meeting
walked, was meeting
walked, met
James ...... to the station to catch a train and he ....... a bag.
was going, was carrying
went, was carrying
was going, carried
want, carrying
They ...... to talk for a few minutes.
stopped
stop
were stopping
was stopping
What ... you ... when the phone ...?
were_doing, rang
did_do, rang
did_do, was ringing
were_doing, rung
I ...... TV when my mother ...... home.
was watching, arrived
watched, was arriving
watched, arrived
watching, arrived
Was Jane busy when you went to see her?
Yes, she ...... .
was studying
studied
were studying
study
What time ...... the post ...... this morning?
did_arrive
was_arriving
were_arrived
was_arrived
It ...... while I ...... breakfast.
came, was having
was coming, had
was coming, was having
came, had
Was Julie at work today?
No, she ...... to work. She was ill.
didn't go
wasn't go
wasn't going
not went
How fast ...... you ...... when the police ...... you.
were_driving, stopped
were_driving, were stopping
drove, stopped
did_drive, stopped
How ...... you ...... the window?
did_break
did_broke
were_breaking
were_broke
We ...... football. I ...... the ball and it ...... the window.
were playing, kicked, hit
were playing, kicking, hitting
were playing, kicked, hitted
played, kicked, was hitting
...... you ...... Jane last night?
Yes, she ...... a very nice jacket.
Did_see, was wearing
Were_seeing, was wearing
Did_see, wore
Were_seeing, wore
What ...... you ......at 2 o'clock this morning?
I was asleep.
were_doing
did_do
did_doing
were_do
I ...... my keys last night.
lost
was losing
losed
was lost
It ...... when he ...... out.
was raining, went
was raining, go
rained, was going
rained, went
While they were watching TV, their kids ________(sleep)
sleeped
slept
was sleeping
were sleeping
I was listening to the radio when you ________(call) me.
called
call
were calling
was calling
When he opened the window, it __________ (snow).
was snowed
was snowing
were snowing
snowed
We use the past continuous
For a finished action that happened in a concrete moment of the past.
For an action that was happening during a time in the past.
For an action that will happen in the past
For routines in the past.
How many people ___________(stand) in front of the company when she arrived?
were standing
was standing
standed
stantsted
She missed the bus because she __________ (argue) with one of her friends.
were arguing
was arguing
argued
arguered
We use the past simple for....
an action that started and ended in a concrete moment of the past.
all actions in the past.
routines in the present.
an action that happened during a long time in the past
We ______________ in the mountains when we_________ a strange animal.
walked / were seeing
were walking / saw
walk / saw
was walking / saw
While he __________ his homework, I was reading a magazine.
was doing
done
did
were doing
While I was swimming in the river, I ___________(see) some frogs.
seen
saw
seed
was seeing
He ________ the train because he _________ with some friends
missed / was talking
was missing / talked
missed / talked
miss / was talking
I __________ my car when it __________ to rain.
was driving / started
drove / was starting
drove / started
was driving / was starting
He ________ at the supermarket when I ____________ him.
was buying / saw
were buying / seed
was buying / seed
bought / was seeing
I ________ my car while he ________ TV on the sofa.
was washing / was watching
washed / was watching
washed / watched
was washing / watched
Hello Anna, what _______ (you / do) when I called you last night?
do you do
did you do
didn't do
were you doing
She met them at the station while she _________ (wait) for her train.
was waiting
were waiting
waited
was waited
I accidentally _________ the door while I __________ in my room.
was hitting / danced
hit / was dancing
hit / danced
was hitting / was dancing
The auxiliary verb in the past continuous is...
was
were
the past simple of the verb to be
did
The auxiliary verb in the past simple is...
did
used in negative sentences
used in interrogative sentences
do / does
Click on the true sentences.
The past continuous interrupts an action in the past.
The past simple interrupts an action in progress in the past.
When one action happened after another action, we use the past simple in both.
When two actions were happening at the same time, we use the past continuous in both.
Elizabeth _____ when she _____ the plate.
was running / dropped
ran / dropped
was running / was dropping
ran / was dropping
While Jessi _____ a cartoon, he _____ asleep.
was watched / fell
was watching / felt
watched / was falling
was watching / fell
_____ you _____ anything when I _____ you?
Did / do / was calling
Are / doing / called
Were / doing / called
Were / doing / calling
Adrian _____ while his brother _____ .
were playing / studying
was playing / was studying
were played / was studying
played / study
He _____ his homework when his father came home.
were doing
did
was doing
did do
I _____ when a plate crashed.
were cooking
was cooking
cooked
cooking
From 10 to 10:30, I _____ pictures while I was taking my dog for a walk.
was taking
took
were taking
taking
When you _____ the door and saw the new TV, you felt surprised.
opened
was opening
were opening
opening
As they _____ down the road, they found a wallet.
was walking
were walking
walked
is walking
Máté _____ while Robi _____ .
was reading / were writing
was reading / was writing
read / was writing
was reading / read
While Vivi _____ , her brother _____ to music.
was working / was listening
were working / were listening
was working / listened
worked / was listening
When we went to London, we _____ in a lovely hotel.
stayed
were staying
was staying
was stayed
This time last week we _____ on the beach. Now look at the weather!
sitting
was sitting
were sitting
sat
I _____ a lot of interesting people when I lived in London.
was knowing
knew
were knowing
knowing
Lucy ____ on the beach at six o’clock yesterday.
sat
were sitting
was sitting
sitting
I _____ TV and my mum _____.
was watching / cooked
was watching / was cooking
was watching / were cooking
watched / was cooking
I ____ to the station when I ____ John.
walked / met
was walking / was meeting
were walking / met
was walking / met
First I ____ , then I ____ breakfast.
got up / was having
was getting up / was having
was getting up / had
got up / had
Which sentence makes more sense?
I read a book when she sent me a message.
I was reading a book when she sent me a message.
Which sentence makes more sense?
We had a picnic when it began to rain.
We were having a picnic when it began to rain.
