EXTRA EXERCISES – STEP 3

Choose between the simple past or the past progressive to

complete the following sentences:

1. I _____ work at 9 a.m. this morning.

started
was starting

2. This time last year I _____ at university.

studied
was studying

3. Sarah hurt her ankle while she _____.

ran
was running

4. I _____ your call because I was working.

missed
was missing

5. While I was walking home, I _____ a new shop in the high

street.

noticed
was noticing

6. When we saw the crime, we _____ the police.

called
were calling

7. Where _____ at around 8 a.m. this morning?

 did you go
were you going

8. He didn't hear the phone ring. He _____ to really loud music.

listened
was listening

9. I didn't buy anything. They _____ the shop when I got there.

already closed
were already closing

10. I _____ my new job yesterday.

started
was starting

Complete the sentences below with the simple past or the past
progressive according to the verbs in parentheses:

1. Example: When I (do) WAS DOING the washing-up, I

(break) BROKE a plate.
2. While Tom (play) WAS PLAYING the piano, his mother (do)
DID the washing-up.
3. He (drink) DRANK some juice and then he (eat) ATE a few
chips.
4. I (have) WAS HAVING dinner when I suddenly (hear) HEARD a
loud bang.
5. When my father (work) WAS WORKING in the garden, an old
friend (pass) PASSED by to see him.
6. She (go) WENT to school, (take) TOOK out her textbook and
(begin) BEGAN to learn.
 7. When it (start) STARTED to rain, our dog (want) WANTED to
come inside.

8. When Jane (do) WAS DOING a language course in Ireland,

she (visit) VISITED Blarney Castle.

9. When I (be) WAS on my way home, I (see) SAW an accident.

10. I (not / understand) DIDN’T UNDERSTAND what they

(talk) WERE TALKING about.

Describe what the people are/were doing in the picture using the
present continuous and the past continuous.

1. Present continuous: He is watching TV.

Past continuous: He was…

2. Present continuous: The cat is sleeping on the floor.

Past continuous: The cat was sleeping…

3. Present continuous: She is listening to music.

Past continuous: She was listening to music.
 4. Present continuous: The dog is eating a sandwich.
Past continuous: The dog was eating…

5. Present continuous: She is reading the newspaper on the

sofa.
Past continuous: she was reading…

Complete the sentences personally (negative or positive) with

the present perfect:

1. I (travel) HAVE/HAVEN’T TRAVELLED by plane.

2. I (eat) HAVE/HAVEN’T EATEN crocodile.

3. I (sing) HAVE/HAVEN’T SUNG on stage.

4. We (donate) HAVE/HAVEN’T DONATED blood.

5. She (meet) HAS/HASN’T MET a famous person.

6. I (visit) HAVE/HAVEN’T VISITED a safari park.

7. I (learn) HAVE LEARNED another language.

8. I (witness) HAVE/HAVEN’T WITNESSED a crime.

9. He (break) HAS/HASN’T BROKEN a bone.

10. They (hold) HAVE/HAVEN’T HELD a snake.

11. She (swim) HAS/HASN’T SWUM in the ocean.

12. I (cry) HAVE/HAVEN’T CRIED in the cinema.

13. Have you (win) ever WON a trophy?

15. I (tell) HAVE TOLD someone a lie.