Past Simple vs Past Continuous

PAST SIMPLE

VS.

PAST

CONTINUOUS

TEST I.

1. It (to snow) heavily last night when we (to leave) the house.

2. I (to walk) to school when it (to begin) to rain.

3. Large crowds (to wait) at the airport when the Russian delegation (to arrive).

4. When Sara (to wake up) this morning, the sun (to shine) high in the sky.

5. As I (to go) to the beach, I (to meet) my friend.

6. He (to come) into the study where his brother (to work).

7. When we (to talk), I (to notice) that Jack (to roll) a little ball between his fingers.

8. Pam (to see) Nick’s picture in the morning newspaper while she (to have) coffee.

9. When her mother (to come) in, she (to sit) before a red tea - table, finishing a very good tea.

TEST II.

1. It (to get) dark and Martin (to suggest) going home.

2. I (to see) a light in her house as I (to pass) by.

3. -What (you both, to do) at 7o’clock yesterday?

– I (to play) computer games and my sister (to watch) TV.

1. Tom (to come) in, (to look) at the fire, (to stand) a moment, (to turn) and (to go) away.

2. Listen, this boy (to arrive) here on Friday.

3. Yesterday, as I (to walk) down Minaev Street, I (to meet) Ann, an old friend of mine. She (to recognize) me at once, though I (to wear) a scarf round my face as I (to suffer) from toothache.

4. He (to leave) the hotel, (to take) a taxi and (to drive) to the station.

5. He (to call) when I (to browse) on the Internet.

6. They (to live) in different cities so they (to go) online every night and (to chat).

7. Don (to go) to this website and (to download) antivirus software for free.

8. Sam (to work) in the garden while I (to cook) in the kitchen.

TEST III.

1. I (to speak) to him the other day.

2. It (to be) evening. My wife (to read) a book and I (to surf) the Internet. Suddenly the door (to open) and my sister (to come) in.

3. It (to be) 10 am when I (to enter) the office. Some visitors (to wait) for the manager. The secretary ( to speak) to someone on the telephone.

4. While I (to do) my homework, he (to upload) photos to his PC.

5. A thief (to try) to hack into the bank’s system and steal credit card numbers.

6. When they (to walk) up the street together, the (to begin) to talk about their holidays.

7. Cory (to lift) his eyes from the book and (to look) out of the window. It (still, to snow).

8. The rainforest (to be) full of sounds. Birds (to sing) in the trees and thousands of insects (to buzz) around.

9. My mother (to read) to me the whole evening yesterday.

10. When we (to arrive) at Sue’s house, she (to be) busy cooking in the kitchen.

TEST IV.

1. A burglar (to break) into the house while we (to watch) TV.

2. Paul (to buy) his motorbike in 2015.

3. She (to find) her pen while she (to look) for her keys.

4. When we (to go) to the new Italian restaurant, we (to eat) tasty pizza.

5. While Lucy (to wash up), she (to cut) her favourite cup.

6. They (to climb up) the mountain when the snowstorm (to begin).

7. When the lights (to go out), Tony (to lie) in bed reading.

8. The airport (to be) full of people. Some (to sleep) on benches, some (to shop), others (to read). Everyone (to wait) for news of the delayed plane.

9. We (to pick) mushrooms in the forest when it (to begin) raining and we (to become) completely wet.

10. When I (to see) Kim and Sam, they (to buy) souvenirs.