Past simple vs continuous

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.
2. 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.
3. Unfortunately, as Mr Smith (cross) the field, his alarm clock (go) off. This (annoy) the bull, who
immediately (begin) to chase Mr Smith.
4. 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.
5. The bull (stop) and (decide) to attack the umbrella. While he (do) this Mr Smith (climb) over the
fence and (escape).
6. The children (be) afraid because it (get) dark.
7. When he (awake) she (sit) by the window. She (look) at something in the street, but when he (call)
her name she (turn) and (smile) at him.
8. 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 (run) to me.
9. He (say) he (not like) his present flat and (try) to find another.
10. 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.
11. He (play) the guitar outside her house when someone (open) the window and (throw) out a bucket
of water.
12. Why you (lend) him that book? I still (read) it. – I (not know) you still (read) it.
13. A: What (you, do) when the accident occurred?
B: I (try) to change a light bulb that had burnt out.
14. After I (find) the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately) to the police and (turn) it in.
15. The doctor (say) that Tom (be) too sick to go to work and that he (need) to stay at home for a
couple of days.
16. Sebastian (arrive) at Susan's house a little before 9:00 PM, but she (be, not) there. She (study, at
the library) for her final examination in French.
17. Sandy is in the living room watching television. At this time yesterday, she (watch, also) television.
That's all she ever does!
18. A: I (call) you last night after dinner, but you (be, not) there. Where were you?
B: I (work) out at the fitness centre.
19. When I (walk) into the busy office, the secretary (talk) on the phone with a customer, several clerks
(work, busily) at their desks, and two managers (discuss, quietly) methods to improve customer
service.
20. I (watch) a mystery movie on TV when the electricity went out. Now I am never going to find out
how the movie ends.
21. Sharon (be) in the room when John told me what happened, but she didn't hear anything because
she (listen, not).
22. It's strange that you (call) because I (think, just) about you.
23. The Titanic (cross) the Atlantic when it (strike) an iceberg.
24. When I entered the bazaar, a couple of merchants (bargain, busily) and (try) to sell their goods to
naive tourists who (hunt) for souvenirs. Some young boys (lead) their donkeys through the narrow
streets on their way home. A couple of men (argue) over the price of a leather belt. I (walk) over to
a man who (sell) fruit and (buy) a banana.
25. The firemen (rescue) the old woman who (be) trapped on the third floor of the burning building.
26. She was so annoying! She (leave, always) her dirty dishes in the sink. I think she (expect, actually)
me to do them for her.
27. Samantha (live) in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live) there when the Berlin Wall
came down.
28. The fire (start) when I (cook) an omelette.
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Past simple vs continuous

29. As they (fly) from Stockholm to Moscow, the starboard engine (burst) into flames.
30. The little boy (cry) because he (want) an ice cream.
31. He (listen) to the news while he (drive) home.
32. What (you/ do) when the fire (start)?
33. I (listen) to the radio while Mary (cook) dinner.
34. Last Friday Jill (go) home early because she (want) to see a film.
35. You (buy) this book yesterday?
36. When he (cycle) downhill, the brakes (fail) and he only (avoid) a serious accident by steering into a
friendly rhododendron bush.
37. A: What (you/ do) when these people arrived?
B: No, we (play) cards with Mr Wilson, the neighbour.
A: But the woman (tell) me you were watching television!
B: That's a lie! We (not watch) television! Ask Mr Wilson!
A: What (these people/ say) when they saw Mr Wilson?
B: 'We (walk) past your house when we saw the light', they said, but we (not believe) them.
A: What (they/ want) do you think?
B: We don't know. First they (sit) and watched us play but suddenly the woman (begin) to cry.
A: What about the man? (he/ do) anything to comfort his wife?
B: Nothing. He didn't even notice. He (watch) us play.
A: Do you think these people (wait for) some help?
B: Sorry, but we (not ask) them anything... so they left.
38. Last weekend Carmela (go) to the cinema to see "The Others". Carmela (not/ like) it because it (be)
about ghosts and she is afraid of them. When she (go) home with her friend Lola, she (feel) very
strange. There (be) a noise behind them, but they could not see anyone. It (rain) and there (not/
be) any taxis on the street, so they had to go home walking. The noise (be) still behind them and
while they (try) to see what or who it was, the lights on the street (go) out and they (cry) for five
minutes.
39. Last night, while I was doing my homework, Angela (call). She said she (call) me on her cell phone
from her biology classroom at UCLA. I asked her if she (wait) for class, but she said that the
professor (be) at the front of the hall lecturing while she (talk) to me. I couldn't believe she (make)
a phone call during the lecture. I asked what (go on). She said her biology professor was so boring
that several of the students (sleep, actually) in class. Some of the students (talk) about their plans
for the weekend and the student next to her (draw) a picture of a horse. When Angela (tell) me she
was not satisfied with the class, I (mention) that my biology professor was quite good and (suggest)
that she switch to my class. While we (talk), I (hear) her professor yell, "Miss, are you making a
phone call?" Suddenly, the line went dead. I (hang) up the phone and (go) to the kitchen to make
dinner. As I (cut) vegetables for a salad, the phone (ring) once again. It (be) Angela, but this time
she (not/ sit) in class.
40. Inside the police station, a sergeant (stand) at a desk, writing. He still (write) when the constable
(bring) Bert in, and he and the constable (stand) in front of the desk until the sergeant (finish).
Finally, he (look) up and (say) to the constable: "Where you (find) him?" "He (sleep) on a bench in
the park. It (be) not easy to wake him up. As I (stand) there, he just (go) on snoring. He (snore) so
loudly, he (frighten) the children." "(complain) anyone?" "Two little old ladies (come) up to me and
(tell) me that the snores (make) them nervous." The sergeant (say): "A man (telephone) here and
(tell) me that he (live) next to the park and the noise (cause) interference on his TV. He (ask) why
we not (do) anything about it." He (turn) to Bert and (ask) him if he (realise) he (be) Public Nuisance
Number One. Bert (reply) in a rush that he (be) a heavy sleeper, that he (work) at night, and that he
(be) unable to sleep at home because his neighbour (give) piano lessons, and the students always
(play) Bach preludes, and he (hate) Bach. The sergeant (scratch) his head and said he (wonder)
what the piano students (think) of Bert's trombone.