THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PAST CONTINUOUS
I. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past or the past continuous tense.
1. I lit the fire at 6.00 and it (bum) brightly when Tom came in at 7.00.
2. When I arrived the professor (write) on the blackboard.
3. I (make) a cake when the light went out. I had to finish it in the dark.
4. I didn't want to meet Paul so when he entered the room I (leave).
5. Unfortunately when I arrived Ann just (leave), so we only had time for a few words.
6. He (watch) TV when the phone rang. He (turn) down the sound and (go) to answer it.
7. He was very polite. Whenever his wife entered the room he (stand) up.
8. The admiral (play) cards when he received news of the invasion. He (insist) on finishing the game.
9. My dog (walk) along quietly when Mr Pitt's Pekinese attacked him.
10. When I arrived she (have) lunch. She apologized for starting without me but said that she always (lunch) at 12.30.
11. He always (wear) a raincoat and (carry) an umbrella when he walked to the office.
12. What you (think) of his last book? ~ I (like) it very much.
13. I (share) a flat with him when we were students. He always (complain) about my untidiness.
14. He suddenly (realize) that he (travel) in the wrong direction.
15. He (play) the guitar outside her house when someone opened the window and (throw) out a bucket of water.
16. I just (open) the letter when the wind (blow) it out of my hand.
17. The burglar (open) the safe when he (hear) footsteps. He immediately (put) out his torch and (crawl) under the bed.
18. When I (look) for my passport I (find) this old photograph.
19. You looked very busy when I (see) you last night. What you (do)?
20. The boys (play) cards when they (hear) their father's step.
21. He (clean) his gun when it accidentally (go) off and (kill) him.
22. He (not allow) us to go out in the boat yesterday as a strong wind (blow).
23. As I (cross) the road I (step) on a banana skin and (fall) heavily.
24. I still (lie) on the road when I (see) a lorry approaching.
25. Luckily the driver (see) me and (stop) the lorry in time.
26. How you (damage) your car so badly? ~ I (run) into a lamp-post yesterday. ~
27. As he (get) into the bus it (start) suddenly and he (fall) backwards on to the road.
28. I (call) Paul at 7.00 but it wasn't necessary because he already (get) up.
29. When he (mend) the fuse he (get) a very bad shock.
30. I (not recognize) him at first because I (not wear) my glasses.
31. When I came in they (sit) round the fire. Mrs Pitt (smile) at me and (say), 'Hello.'
32. While the guests (dance) thieves (break) into the house and (steal) a lot of fur coats.
33. The next day they (hide) the coats in a wood and (go) off in different directions.
34. She was very extravagant. She always (buy) herself new clothes.
35. Her mother often (tell) her that she (spend) too much money but she never (listen).
II. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past or past continuous tense.
1. Mr Smith never (wake) up in time in the mornings and always (get) into trouble for being late; so one day he (go) to town and (buy) an alarm clock. To get home he (have to) go through a field where a bad-tempered bull usually (graze). This bull normally (not chase) people unless something (make) him angry. Unfortunately, as Mr Smith (cross) the field, his alarm clock (go) off. This (annoy) the bull, who immediately (begin) to chase Mr Smith. Mr Smith (carry) an open umbrella as it (rain) slightly. He (throw) the umbrella to the ground and (run) away as fast as he could. The bull (stop) and (begin) to attack the umbrella. While he (do) this Mr Smith escaped.
2. When he (awake) she (sit) by the window. She (look) at something in the street, but when he (call) her she (turn) and (smile) at him.
3. Why you (interrupt) me just now? I (have) a very interesting conversation.
4. The murderer (carry) the corpse down the stairs when he (hear) a knock on the door.
5. When I (look) through your books I (notice) that you have a copy of Murder.
6. As they (walk) along the road they (hear) a car coming from behind them. Tom (turn) round and (hold) up his hand. The car (stop).
7. When I (arrive) at the station Mary (wait) for me. She (wear) a blue dress and (look) very pretty. As soon as she (see) me she (wave) and (shout) something, but I couldn't hear what she (say) because everybody (make) such a noise.
8. The prisoner (escape) by climbing the wall of the garden where he (work). He (wear) blue overalls and black shoes.
9. She said that the car (travel) at 40 k.p.h. when it (begin) to skid.
10. She said that she (not like) her present flat and (try) to find another.
11. While he (make) his speech the minister suddenly (feel) faint. But someone (bring) him a glass of water and after a few minutes he (be able) to continue.
12. When I (see) him he (paint) a portrait of his wife. ~
You (like) it? ~
He only just (start) when I (see) it, so I couldn't judge.
13. I (take) my friend to a murder trial the other day. ~
Who (be) tried?-
A man called Bill Sykes. ~
Was he acquitted? —
I don't know. They still (listen) to the evidence when we (leave).
14. I (be) sorry that I (have to) leave the party early, because I (enjoy) myself.
15. As we (come) here a policeman (stop) us. He (say) that he (look) for some stolen property and (ask) if he could search the car.
16. I (see) you yesterday from the bus. Why you (use) a stick? ~
I (use) a stick because I had hurt my leg that morning falling off a horse. ~
Whose horse you (ride)?
17. The floor was covered with balls of wool. Obviously Mrs Pitt (knit) something.
18. Ann said that she (be) on holiday. I (say) that I (hope) that she (enjoy) herself.
19. While he (water) the flowers it (begin) to rain. He (put) up his umbrella and (go) on watering.
20. I just (write) a cheque when I (remember) that I (have) nothing in the bank.
21. I (find) this ring as I (dig) in the garden. I wonder who it (belong) to?
22. When I last (see) her she (hurry) along the road to the station. I (ask) her where she (go) and she (say), 'London', but I don't think she (speak) the truth because there (not be) any train for London at that time.
23. The tailor said, 'Your suit will be ready on Monday.' But when I (call) on Monday he still (work) on it.
24. The teacher (come) into the classroom unusually early and one of the boys, who (smoke) a cigarette, (have) no time to put it out. So he (throw) it into the desk and (hope) for the best. A little later the teacher (notice) that smoke (rise) from this desk. 'You (smoke) when I (come) in?' he (ask).
25. While I (swim) someone (steal) my clothes and I (have to) walk home in my swimsuit.
26. The men (say) that they (work) on the road outside my house and that they (want) some water to make tea.
27. He (say) that he (build) himself a house and that he (think) it would be ready soon.
28. At 3 a.m. Mrs Pitt (wake) her husband and (say) that she (think) that someone (try) to get into the house.
29. Why you (lend) him that book? I still (read) it. ~ I'm sorry. I (not know) that.
30. I (come) in very late last night and unfortunately the dog (wake) up and (start) to bark. This (wake) my mother who (come) to the top of the stairs and (say), 'Who is there?' I (say). It is me,' but she (not hear) me because the dog (bark) so loudly, so she (go) back to her room and (telephone) the police.
8 412
5 531 
