EXERCISE 87 : THE PAST CONTINUOUS (COMPLEX SENTENCE)

Answer the following questions in the "Affirmative" and "Negative".

Example: Were you listening to the radio when I came in?
a. Yes, I was listening to the radio when you came in.
b. I was not listening to the radio when you came in.
1. Were you helping your mother in the kitchen when the lights went out?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
2. Was the man standing by the side of the road when the accident happened?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
3. Were the men talking about the accident when you got there?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
4. Was your brother studying politics when he was in Paris?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
5. Was your girlfriend behaving very strangely when she was at the party last night?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
6. Were many people living in luxury when there was an economic crisis in Turkey?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
7. Were the police looking for the escaped prisoner when you were there?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
8. Were your friends always criticizing you when you were talking about foreign
policy?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
9. Was your sister doing the dishes when you woke up this morning?

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 a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................
10. Was your brother playing the piano while you were dancing with your girlfriend?
a. Yes,...........................................................................................................................
b. No,............................................................................................................................

EXERCISE 88 : THE PAST CONTINUOUS

Complete the sentences in "The Past Simple" or "The Past Continuous" using the correct forms
of the "verbs" on the list below:
STAND, BE, SLEEP, GET, DO, LOSE, FAIL, RIDE, MEET, COOK
1. I _________________ very badly last night.
2. Harry _________________out of bed the other night when his wife got sick.
3. While he was chatting on the phone, he _________________his homework.
4. Melissa _________________fish when I first asked her to marry me.
5. I was so amazed by what I heard that I_________________ there speechless.
6. I _________________a bicycle when I had an accident.
7. I could play the guitar when I _________________ten.
8. As I was going home, I _________________an old friend of mine.
9. Orhan _________________his job because of his honesty.
10. He was a great disappointment for Helen when she _________________to get into
university.
STUDY, TAKE, LEAVE, TALK, RECOGNIZE, TELL, COME, FEEL, RISE, PULL DOWN
1. They_________________ the old houses when I was there.
2. Mary _________________ very nervous before she took the exam.
3. The doctor _________the patient that drinking tea every day wouldn't do him any harm.
4. The doorbell rang while I _________________on the phone.
5. We _________________in the library when the fire alarm went off.
6. The sun _________________behind the mountains when the baby was born.
7. The students _________________a good time when I saw them at the party.
8. The idea _________________to me while I was driving to work this morning.
9. I _________________his face, but I didn't remember his name.

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 10. I _________________an aspirin when I developed a terrible headache.
HAVE, DROP, SPEND, BLOW, BREAK DOWN, LIVE, RUN, HAPPEN, ARRIVE, BREAK
IN
1. He _________________in London when the war started.
2. My car _________________while I was going to the supermarket.
3. The wind _________________hard when I went out this morning.
4. The man _________________his suitcase when he was walking on the pavement.
5. We _________________our vacations in the mountains last year.
6. I was watching the TV when the burglar _________________our house.
7. I _________________to the phone after the accident happened.
8. The taxi _________________while I was having breakfast with my wife.
9. The students were waiting at the bus-stop when the accident _________________I
couldn't answer the phone because I _________________a shower.
EXERCISE 89 :THE PAST CONTINUOUS (ASKING FOR INFORMATION)
Write questions for the bold typed words in the following sentences,
A: What was Gloria telling the little girl?
B: Gloria was telling the little girl a lovely story.
1. A: ,............................................................................................................................?
B; Melissa was sleeping on the sofa at nine o’clock
2.A: ,............................................................................................................................?
B; The teacher was explaining the subject to the students an hour ago
3. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: My mother was making a cake when the lights went out.
4. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: The police were taking Gila to (the) hospital when we arrived there.
5- A; ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: Rebecca was driving slowly when the accident took place
6. A; ,............................................................................................................................ ?
R: My father was working in the garden when a storm broke out.
A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: The students were studying in the library when the clock struck ten.

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 8. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: Yes, Helena was listening to the news at seven o’clock this morning.
9. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: Rose was playing the guitar outside the house when it began to rain.
10. A; ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B; the sun was shining brightly when I woke up this morning.
11. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: Eileen was reading an exciting story when someone knocked at the door.
12. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: Natalie was asking the teacher a lot of difficult questions.
13. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: I paid the bill while Lisa was dancing with that man.
14. A; ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: The students were doing their homework when I entered the classroom.
15. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: Linda was crying because she didn't know the answer to the question.
16. A: ,............................................................................................................................ ?
B: I got wet while I was waiting for the bus.
EXERCISE 90: THE PAST CONTINUOUS (CONJUNCTIONS)
Combine the following pairs of sentences with the conjunctions "WHEN" or "WHILE" using
"The Past Simple" or "The Past Continuous".
Example: I (hear) a strange noise. I (read) the newspaper.
I was reading the newspaper when I heard a strange noise.
I heard a strange noise while I was reading the newspaper.
1. I (eat) my breakfast. I (receive) a phone call.
. ............ .... .. ....... ............................................ ... ... .... ........................................
.... ...
....................................... .... ... ... ....................... ... ... .... .... ......................
2. I (see) an accident. I (drive) home from work.
... .......................................................................................... .... ... ..... ..... ... .... .. ....
..... ..

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 ............................................................................................... .... ... ..... ..... ........ .... ...
3. The students (quarrel) with each other. The teacher (enter) the room.
................................................................................................................ .......... .... ... .........
. ................. ... .. .... .... ...................................................................................................... ..
4. Sandra (walk) along the street. She (run into) an old friend of hers.
.................. ... ... .... ...................................................................................
.... ..... .. .... .. ........ ... ... ... ..... ... ........ ................................................
5. My sister (take) a walk in the park. She (lose) her wallet.
...... ........ ..... ... .. .. ... .... .... ....... ...... ..... .... .. ......
..............................................................................................................
6. The girl (jump off) the bus. It (move) very fast along the street.
..... ..........................................................................................................................
................................................................................................. ......... ..... ......... ....
7. I (play) cards with my friends. My father (come) home.
......................................................................... ........ ..... .... ..... ... .... ....
. ... ............................................................................................ ..... .................
8. Susan (play) in the garden. It (start) to rain.
....... ......... ....... ............................................................................. .. .... ........... ..
.... ........ ... .... ... .......................................................................................................
9. My sister (live) in Paris. The Second World War (break oul) in 1939.
.......... ... .......... .. .............................................................................................................
....................................... ............................................. ................................................ ...
10. The inspector (open) the door. The teacher (do) English with the students.
......
..........................................................................................................................................................
....
.........................................................................................................................................................
EXERCISE 91 :THE PAST CONTINUOUS
Put the "verbs" in brackets either into "The Past Simple" or "The Past Continuous".
Example: I (have).................................... breakfast when the phone (ring)
I was having breakfast when the phone rang.

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1. I (slip)………………………………..on the ice while I (cross).………
………………….the street.
2. Carol (talk) ............................ on the phone when I (wake up)…… ……………….this
morning.
3. My father (have) ........................... a bath while we (play) ....................................
backgammon.
4. It (begin).................................. to rain while the children (have)... ... ........................... a
party
5. As I (walk)................................................ home, t (meet)...................................... a tourist.
6. Janet………………………. (go) to school by bus, because it……………………. (rain)
hard.
7. I…………………………. (drink) a glass of milk before I ..................................... (go) to
bed.
8. Laura................................. (play) the piano when we ..................................... (enter) the
room.
9. After the accident, the driver of the bus (get out) ............................ .. of the bus and (run
away)
10. When Alice (see) ………………….me, she (stop).................................the car to have a
chat with me.
11. He (sit) .................................. in a cafe when I (see) ..................... ...................... him.
12. When I (be).. .... a student, I (play).............. the guitar in the streets to earn money for my
education.
13. My father (live)...................... in Samsun when the Second World War (break
out)................. in 1939.
14. While I (watch)............................................ the 7 o’clock news, the lights (go out)
…………………
15. What (happen)................................. while Nermin (walk).... ..... .......................in the park
last night?
16. Who (come)........................ into the room while you (listen to) ........................ the radio
last night?
17. Everyone (wait for)................................ the singer when they (hear)............................. the

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 news.
18. While he (water) ............................................... the flowers, it (start)
..................................... to rain.
19. Just as I (write)....... ......... a cheque, I(remember).. .......................... that I had nothing in
the bank.
20. Who (drive) ..... .................................. the car when the accident
(happen)................................?
21. While I (walk) ................................ to the library, I (find) ..... ......................... a gold
ring.
22. I (not, know) ....................... that you (live) ........................ in London when I
(be).................... there.
23. I wish I (be)........................................... in Paris now.
24. It is time you (leave) ............................. the party now if you really want to catch the
train.
25. Mine speaks Turkish as if she (be).......................... ... a Turkish citizen.
26. While Sonya (be)... ..................... busy in the kitchen, the children (lay)
.............................. the table.
27. My father's fever (drop)............................... after he (take).............. ..... ................. the
medicine.
28. Who (take) ................ ............................ care of you while you (be)
...................................... ... ill?
29. If I (have)........................................... a lot of money, I would go to Turkey.
30. As the man (approach).. ................. the house he (notice)................... that the chimney
(be) on fire.

EXERCISE 92 : THE PAST CONTINUOUS (COMPLEX SENTENCE)

Complete the following sentences using "The Past simple'1 or "The Past Continuous".
1. He broke his leg while ........ ........... .......... .. .. .................. .......................
..................... ..... .
2. She met her husband when.... ................ ..................... ............... .... .................. ..

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 .......
3. When the phone rang, ...... ................. ............... ................... ... ............... .... ..........
.
4. When the accident happened,.... .................... ............... ................... .... ... ............ ....
..........
5. It was raining cats and dogs while ............... ...... ............ ................. ... ......... . ....
6. We were playing backgammon when .......... ... ................ .................. .... .................
7. While I was studying English ... ............... ... ................. .... ............... ... .................
...... ......
8. When it began to rain,.. ..................... .. ......... .... .. ................... .... .............. ....
..
9. I was laughing when......... ........................... ..... ....................... ..... ... ....................... .......
.....
10. When the sun rose, .. ....................... ... ........................ .... ...
11. While we were travelling in France,............................... ........................ ..... ...
.......................
12. As Lora was running down the street, ....................... ............................. .. ... ................
... ....
13. Until she recovered from her illness, ........... .... ..... ................ .. ...................... ...
..... ........
14. Before my parents came to Istanbul, ..... ......................... .. ..................... .. ....
...................
15. After t finished the English course, ... ............................. ................... ..... ....
............................
16. While we were approaching the village,. ......................... ...... ..........................
......................
17. While we were in London, ............ .. .... ................... ........ ...
...........................................
18. Until the train arrived at the station,........ .. .... ........................ ......... ........................
.. ...........
19. As soon as it got dark, .. ...................... .... ........................... .. ....................... ....

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 20. The moment I saw that beautiful girl,....................................... ......... ...................... .....
..........
21. I apologized to her because .. .................. ... ........................... .. ... ................... ..
.. ....
22. Before I went to bed last night, ........ ..................................................... ..............................
.... ..
23. As we were dancing by the candle-light, ...... .... ..... .. ... ..................... ...
......................... .....
24. I was working there as a teacher when ........ ................................. ... ..... .....................
..........
25. The instant I broke her heart,................. .... ......................... .. ......................... .. ....
26. My father smoked a cigarette before ....................... ..... ............................. .... .
27. We were talking loudly in the library when..................................................... ....
............................
28. The prisoner ran away as soon as ..... ........................................................
....................................... .
29. Just as I was leaving the house,................................ ......... ............................... ...
I didn't go to school yesterday because ....