9/5/2020 Past Simple and Past Continuous Exercise 1

Courses Explanations Exercises

Past Simple and Past Continuous Exercise 1

Here's an exercise to practise the verb tenses. Choose the past simple or past continuous
tense.
You can review how to use the past simple here and how to use the past continuous
here.
Finally, click here to download this exercise in PDF with answers.

Choose Past Simple or Past Continuous 1

Make the past simple or past continuous

1) I was sitting (sit) in a cafe when you

Check
called (call) . Show
[ . ][ . ]
2) When you arrived (arrive) at the party, who
Check
was (be) there? Show
[ . ][ . ]
3) Susie was watching (watch) a film when she
Check
heard (hear) the noise. Show
[ . ][ . ]
4) Yesterday I went (go) to the library, next I

had (have) a swim, later I met Check

Show
(meet) Julie for coffee.
[ . ][ . ][ . ]
5) We were playing (play) tennis when John
Check
hurt (hurt) his ankle. Show
[ . ][ . ]
6) What were they doing (they/do) at 10pm last night - it was
Check
really noisy? Show
[.]
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9/5/2020 Past Simple and Past Continuous Exercise 1

7) He was taking (take) a shower when the telephone Check

Show
rang (ring).
[ . ][ . ]
8) He was (be) in the shower when the telephone
Check
rang (ring). Show
[ . ][ . ]
9) When I walked (walk) into the room, everyone
Check
was working (work). Show
[ . ][ . ]
10) It was (be) a day last September. The sun

was shining (shine) and the birds were singing

Check
(sing) . I was walking (walk) along the street when I Show
met (meet) an old friend.
[ . ][ . ][ . ][ . ][ . ]
11) He was living (live) in Russia when the Revolution
Check
started (start). Show
[ . ][ . ]
12) When her train got (get) to the station, we
Check
were waiting (wait) on the platform. Show
[ . ][ . ]
13) He was (be) so annoying! He
Check
was always leaving (always leave) his things everywhere. Show
[ . ][ . ]
14) On holiday we visited (visit) Rome,

saw (see) the Vatican, and spend Check

Show
(spend) a few days at the beach.
[ . ][ . ][ . ]
15) Why were you standing (stand) on a chair when I
Check
came (come) into the room? Show
[ . ][ . ]

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9/5/2020 Past Simple and Past Continuous Exercise 1

16) They lived (live) in Germany when they Check

Show
were (be) young.
[ . ][ . ]
17) At 7pm yesterday, we were listening (listen) to music. Check
[.] Show

18) When I left (leave) the house, it

Check
was snowing (snow). Show
[ . ][ . ]
19) He was working (work) in a bank when he
Check
met (meet) his wife. Show
[ . ][ . ]
20) What were you doing (you/do) when I
Check
called (call) you last night? Show
[ . ][ . ]

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9/5/2020 Past Simple and Past Continuous Exercise 1

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9/5/2020 Past Simple and Past Continuous Exercise 1

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