1. Which sentence is correct/makes more sense?

A: I had a bath when the phone rang last night. B: The students were stopping talking when the teacher
B: I was having a bath when the phone rang last night. walked into the room.
A: How fast did he drive when the accident happened? A: We had a picnic when it began to rain.
B: How fast was he driving when the accident happened? B: We were having a picnic when it began to rain.
A: The students stopped talking when the teacher walked A: When you called last night I did my homework.
into the room. B: When you called last night I was doing my homework.

2. Fill in the gaps with the Past Simple or Past Continuous form!
1. While Tom (read)_______________,
Amelie (watch) _____________ a documentary on TV.
2. The thief (sneak) _____________ into the
house, (steal) _____________ the jewels
and (leave) ______________ without a trace.
3. Nobody (listen) ______________ while the
teacher (explain) _____________ the tenses.
4. The car (break) _____________ down and
we (have) _______________ to walk home.
10. Yesterday, Sherlock Holmes (arrive) _______________
at the crime scene to investigate.
11. He (ask) _____________ one of the tenants in the house.
12. »What (do / you) ______________ yesterday at seven?«
»I (watch) _______________ a football match on TV.«
» (be) _______________ you alone?«
»Yes, I (be) _______________.«
» (hear / you) _______________ anything suspicious?«

5. The boys (swim) _______________ while the
girls (sunbathe) _______________.
6. My father (come)
_____________ in, (look) _____________ around
and (tell) _____________ me to tidy up my room.
7. Martha (turn) _____________ off the lights
and (go) _______________ to bed.
8. Two days ago, a murder (happen) _______________ in
Market Street at about 7 pm.
9. I (not / understand) _______________ what
they (talk) _______________ about.
»Yes, at about seven o'clock, two people
(argue) _______________ in the hallway. But the
football match (be) ______________ so interesting. So I
just (turn) ______________ up the telly and then (hear /
not) ______________ anything anymore.«
13. I (have) _______________ dinner when I
suddenly (hear) _______________ a loud bang.
14. When it (start) _______________ to rain, our
dog (want) _______________ to come inside.
15. When Jane (do) _______________ a language course in
Ireland, she (visit) _______________Blarney Castle.

3. Fill in the gaps with the information provided in the chart. Use Past Simple or Past Continuous.
Shirley Kevin
1970-76 lived in New York 1972-80 lived in Washington DC
1973-76 studied at university 1973-75 did a course in computing
1976 left university 1975-80 worked as a computer operator
1976-80 worked as a translator 1979 met Shirley
1979 met Kevin 1980-85 ran his own company
1982 married Kevin 1982 married Shirley

1. In 1972, Shirley was living in New York.

2. In 1974, Kevin _____________ in Washington DC.
3. In 1974, Kevin _____________ a course in computing
4. When Shirley ____________ university in 1976, Kevin ________________ as a computer operator.
5. When Kevin ______________ Shirley, she ________________ as a translator.
6. While Shirley _____________ as a translator, she _____________ Kevin.
7. In 1982, Kevin ______________ his own company.
8. While he ________________ his own company, Kevin ________________ Shirley.