Camila Rodriguez Atuesta

ENGLISH 1.2

PAST SIMPLE Vs PAST PROGRESSIVE

PRACTICE

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

w as doing dropped
1. When I (do)   the washing-up, I (break)   a plate.
w as playing WAS DOING
2. While Tom (play)   the piano, his mother (do)   the washing-up.
drank ate
3. He (drink)   some juice and then he (eat)   a few chips.
w as having heard
4. I (have)   dinner when I suddenly (hear)   a loud bang.
w as w orking passed
5. When my father (work)   in the garden, an old friend (pass)   by to
see him.
WENT TOOK
6. She (go)   to school, (take)   out her textbook
BEGAN
and (begin)   to learn.
STARTED WANTED
7. When it (start)   to rain, our dog (want)   to come inside.
WAS DOING VISITED
8. When Jane (do)   a language course in Ireland, she (visit)   
Blarney Castle.
WAS SAW
9. When I (be)   on my way home, I (see)   an accident.
DID NOT UNDE WERE TALKIN
10. I (not / understand)   what they (talk)   about.

B. Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
 GOT WAS SHINING
1. When I (get)   up yesterday, the sun (shine)  .
WAS
2. It (is)   a beautiful morning.
DECIDED
3. So I (decide)   to cycle around a little.
WENT TOOK
4. I (go)   to the shed and (take)   out my bike.
WAS CYCLING SAW
5. While I (cycle)   past some villages, I (see)   some people in their
gardens.
WAS MOWING WAS PICKING
6. One man (mow)   the grass while his wife (pick)   strawberries.
APPEARED
7. After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly (appear)   
STARTED
and it (start)   to rain.
NOTICED TOLD
8. Luckily, a farmer (notice)   me and (tell)   me to come in.
WAS RAINING WAS SITTING
9. While it (rain)   outside, I (sit)   in the farmer's house.
CAME
10. After a while, the sun (come)   out again.
THANKED MOVED
11. I (thank)   the farmer for his hospitality and (move)   on.

Choose the correct verb forms. Use Simple Past or the Past Progressive.

w ere sitting
1. We          at the breakfast table when the doorbell        
rang
.
met w as w orking
2. He          a lot of friendly people while he          in
California.
left w as shining
3. When they          the museum, the sun         .
w ere playing came
4. The students          cards when the teacher          in.
w as sleeping w ere w atching
5. While the children         , their parents          TV.
started w as w atering
6. It          to rain while she          the flowers in her
garden.
opened w as raining
7. When I          the door, it         .
w as having w as sw imming
8. While Henry          a drink at the bar, his wife          
in the sea.
heard w as talking
9. He          a loud bang while he          to his friend.
w as taking w ere eating
10. While he          a shower, his dogs          his steaks.