Name __________________________________________________ Number ______

Simple Past X Past Continuous (Progressive)

A) Complete the sentences with Simple Past or Past Continuous.I was watching (watch) TV when she called (call).2.When the phone rang (ring) , she was writing (write) a letter.3.While we were having (have) the picnic, it started (start) to rain.4.What were you doing(do) when the earthquake started (start)? 5.I was listening (listen) to my iPod, so I didn’t hear (not / hear) the fire alarm. 6.You didn’t listen (not / listen) to me when I told (tell) you to turn the oven off.7.While John was sleeping (sleep) last night, someone stole (steal) his car.8.Sammy was waiting (wait) for us when we got (get) off the plane. 9.While I was writing (write) the email, the computer suddenly went (go) off.10 .A: What were you doing (do) when you broke (break) your leg? B: I was snowboarding (snowboard).11.Last night at 6 PM, I was eating (eat) dinner.12.At midnight, we were still driving (drive) through the desert.13.Yesterday at this time, I was sitting (sit) at my desk at work. 14.I was studying (study) while he was making (make) dinner.15 Were you listening (listen) while he was talking (talk)? 16.I wasn’t paying (not / pay) attention while I was writing (write) the letter, so I made (make) several mistakes. 17.What were you doing (do) while you were waiting (wait)?

B) Complete the text using Simple Past or Past Continuous.It (rain) was raining very hard when the bus (leave) left the school. When we got (get) home, my Aunt Carol and Uncle Arthur were waiting (wait) for us. They told (tell) us to run into their basement. When I looked (look) up the road, I saw (see) that a tornado was coming (come) towards our house. We all ran (run) towards the shelter. But it was too late. The tornado passed (pass) over us while we were trying (try) to get down the stairs. We were closing (close) the door when the wind suddenly pulled (pull) it off. The noise was as loud as a train, and it was very dark. My uncle held (hold) me down when suddenly the tornado lifted (lift) him and threw him against a wall. Everybody was screaming (scream) for help while the tornado threw. (throw) things on top of us. Suddenly the wind stopped (stop). It became (become) very quiet. My uncle and sister were hurt, but we all survived. (survive).

C) Are these sentences Right or Wrong. Correct the wrong ones. 1. Paul read the newspaper while Sarah was serving breakfast. was reading3. While we painted the living room, the dog stepped in the bucket of paint and made a mess. were painting4. We were waiting for the bus, when two cars were crashing in front of the bus stop. crashed5. Lucy and Kevin were walking in Central Park. They hold hands and were making plans for their wedding. They spoke very enthusiastically about it all. were speaking6. Joyce was always talk about herself. She was a very self-centered person as a teenager. was always talking7. I was working on a project last month. worked

D) Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past progressive).

1.When I was doing (do) the washing-up, I broke (break) a plate.

2.While Tom was playing (play)the piano, his mother was doing (do) the washing-up.

3.He was drinking (drink) some juice and then he ate. (eat) a few chips.

4.I was having (have) dinner when I suddenly heard (hear) a loud bang.

5.When my father was working (work) in the garden, an old friend passed (pass) by to see him.

6.She was going (go) to school, took (take) out her textbook and began (begin) to learn.

7.When it started (start) to rain, our dog wanted (want) to come inside.

8.When Jane was doing (do) a language course in Ireland, she visited (visit) Blarney Castle.

E) Ask questions for the answers given.1. What were you doing when the doorbell rang?We were sitting at the breakfast table when the doorbell rang.

2. When did he meet a lot of friendly people? He met a lot of friendly people while he was working in California.

3. What were the students doing when the teacher came in?The students were playing cards when the teacher came in.

4. When did it start to rain?It started to rain while she was watering the flowers in her garden.

5. When did he hear a loud bang? He heard a loud bang while he was talking to his friend.

F) Put the verb into the past continuous or past simple.1.A: What were you doing(you/do) when the phone rang (ring)? B: I was watching (watch) television.

2. A: Was Jane busy when you went to see her? B: Yes, she was studying(study).

3. A: What time did the post arrive(the post / arrive) this morning? B: It came (come) while I was having (have) breakfast.

4. A: Was Margaret at work today? B: No, she didn’t go (not/go) to work. She was ill.

5. A: How fast were you driving (you/drive) when the police stopped (stop) you? B: I don't know exactly but I wasn’t driving (not/drive) very fast.

6. A: Did you team win (your team / win) the football match yesterday? B: No, the weather was very bad, so we didn’t play (not/play).

7. A: How did you break the window (you/break) the window? B: We were playing (play) football. I kicked(kick) the ball and it hit (hit) the window.

8 A: Did you see (you/see) Jenny last night? B: Yes, she was wearing (wear) a very nice jacket.

9. A: What were you doing (you/do) at 2 o'clock this morning? B: I was asleep.

10. A: I lost (lose) my key last night. B: How did you get (you/get) into your room? A: I climbed (climb) in through a window.

G) Complete the sentences. Use one of these forms: the present simple / the present continuous / the past simple / the past continuous

1 Last night Jenny fell (fall) asleep while she was reading (read).2 Listen! Somebody is playing (play) the piano.3 David is very lazy. He doesn’t like (not/like) hard work .4 Where did your parents go (your parents/go) for their holidays last year?5 I saw (see) Diane yesterday. She was driving (drive) her new car.6 A: Do you watch (you/watch) television very often? B: No, I don’t have a television set.9 A: What were you doing (you/do) at 6 o'clock last Sunday morning? B: I was in bed asleep.