Past Simple Past Continuous

We use the past simple:

• for an action which happened at a definite time in the past, the time is
stated, already known or implied.
e.g. Sheila arrived in Tokyo last week.
• for actions which happened immediately ONE AFTER THE OTHER in the
past. (SEQUENCES OF EVENTS)
e.g. He got out of bed, went to the kitchen and turned on the
coffee machine.
• for past habits or states which are now finished. In such cases we can
also use the expression used to.
l lived/used to live in France five years ago.
Time expressions we use with the past simple:
yesterday, then, when, How long ago ... ,
last night/week/month/year/Thursday, etc.,
three nights/weeks/months/years/days/ weeks, ago,
In 1997, etc.
Put the verbs in brackets in the Past Simple or Past Continuous.
We use the past continuous:
• for an action which was in progress AT A STATED TIME (specific) in the past.
We do not mention when the action started or finished.
e.g. I was watching the football game on TV at 8 o'clock last night.
• for an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it.
Then, we use the past continuous for the action in progress (longer action)
and past simple for the action which interrupted it (shorter action).
e.g.We were playing Scrabble (longer) when the lights went out. (shorter)
• for two or more simultaneous actions.
e.g. Natalie was flying her kite while her sister was riding her bicycle.
Time expressions we use with the past continuous:
while, when, as, all morning/evening/day/night, etc.

1 As I __ was doing___________ (do) my homework last night I

____heard_________ (hear) a strange noise which
______came_________ (come) from the garden. I
____went___________ (go) out to see what __was
happening____________ (happen), only to find my cat chasing a rat.
2 In 1972, we were ___watching___________ (watch) Elvis a NBA
match, while we___were traveling___________ (travel) in the USA.
3 It ___snowed____________ (snow) heavily on that cold, dark night
when George Bailey ____left________(leave) his office and
_____began________ (begin) his long journey home.
4 She ____tidied____________ (tidy) her room when suddenly the
lights _____went out_________ (go out).
5 Jasper __was sleeping_____________ (sleep) and his father ___was
watching____________ (watch) TV when the earthquake
_____stroked_____________ (strike).
6 As Mary_____ feeded__________ (feed) the dogs, a small boy
____rushed_____________ (rush) up to her and
_____grabbed______________ (grab) her arm
7 He ____was__________ (be) unable to sleep because the wind
____were whistling_____________ (whistle) through the trees in the
forest outside.
8 I ___came across_____________ (come across) Mary as I
____walked___________ (walk) through the park with my dog.
9 Sharon ___didn´t see___________ (not/see) the car coming towards
her because she ___was looking_____________ (look) in the other
direction.
10 The old lady ____was getting________ (get) onto the bus when she
_____fell_____________ (fall) and _____broke______________
(break) her leg.
Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or Past
Continuous.

1. Charles Lindberg __was working__ (work) as a pilot for the

Chicago St Louis airline company when he
___made_______________(make) the first non-stop flight
around the world in 1927.

2. Mahatma Gandhi _____died____________ (die) in 1948

after a terrorist _____shooted______________ (shoot) him

3. Alexander Fleming _discovered_ (discover) penicillin by

accident while he __was working__ (work) at St Mary's
Hospital in London.

4. After the painter, Degas, __went__(go) blind in the late

1890s, he ___gave up___ (give up) painting.
 5. Ernest Hemingway ____got___ (get) many of his ideas for
“For Whom the Bell Tolls while he __ was living _(live) in
Spain during the Spanish Civil War.

6. Ferdinand von Zeppelin ___didn´t build___(not/build) his

famous airship until 1899 when he ____was____ (be)
sixty-one.

Underline the correct word(s).

1 I arrived/was arriving at the airport on time.

2. He swept/was sweeping the veranda when the doorbell rang.
3. He was having/had coffee with some friends when he heard the
news.
4. He cut his finger as he was slicing/had sliced the bread.
5. I was fixing the car when I heard/had heard someone calling for
help.