PAST TENSES EXTRA PRACTICE (1) Complete the sentences with the correct past tense of the verb

in brackets 1) Helena __________ (receive) hospital treatment for a year before the doctors finally ___________ (tell) her their diagnosis. 2) The party chairman only __________ (make) a statement after there __________ (be) a lot of speculation in the press. 3) Julia __________ (try) several online dating agencies by the time she __________ (meet) and __________ (fall in love) with George. 4) Sharon eventually __________ (find) the job she __________ (want) last year, although she __________ (graduate) the year before. 5) The official I __________ (ask) to speak to __________ (not be) there. Apparently he __________ (go) abroad on business. 6) When the doctor __________ (arrive) at the scene of the accident, he __________ (realize) the victim __________ (still breathe). 7) The workmen __________ (spend) all morning digging the trench, and by lunch time they __________ (finish) it. 8) When the ship __________ (hit) the reef, most of the crew __________ (play) cards, and the passengers __________ (have) dinner. 9) It __________ (rain) and __________ (begin) to get very cold as I __________ (set out) on my long walk home. 10) When she __________ (be) a child, she always __________ (want) to do the most dangerous things. (2) In the following sentences put the verbs in brackets in either past simple or past continuous tense. Put any other words in the brackets in the correct place. 1) While the teacher ___________(explain) the sum on the blackboard, the children ___________(throw) paper aeroplanes around the classroom. 2) Eve ___________(live) in Athens when she ___________(meet) the man who was to become her husband. 3) __________________________(you not work) at McDonalds when they ___________(have) that terrible fire?

4) As it ________________ (get) foggier it ________________ (become) almost impossible to steer the boat along the marrow canal. 5) I ________________ (hear) a strange noise just as I ________________ (go) to sleep. 6) When the fire alarm ________________ (go) off, we ________________ (leave) the building as quickly as possible 7) At the place where we ________________ (live) before, our neighbours ________________ (always/have) violent arguments late at night. 8) I ________________ (hope) youd come round for tea one afternoon next week. 9) Fiona __________ (live) in New York when her first novel __________ (publish). 10) On looking out of the window, Dick __________ (see) it was another dreary day. The wind __________ (blow) hard and big black clouds __________ (gather) on the horizon.