Complete the sentences with the correct past form.

By the time we got (get) to the theatre, the play had already started (already,
start).
an action that happened at Last night I dreamt (dream) about going to the Moon.
When Ginny saw (see) me yesterday, I was crossing (cross) the street.
a definite time in the past
My dad had been painting (paint) the living room for two hours before my
Last year we bought a dog. brother came (come) to help him.
Nora was lying (lie) in a hammock while Phil was weeding (weed) the
actions that happened garden.
immediately one after the other Before the Smiths bought (buy) their new house, they
in the past had been looking (look) for a suitable one for a year.
Lou took a shower, brushed his teeth and Laura sent (send) us a postcard from her holiday in Italy.
went to bed. As Claire was dusting (dust) the furniture, she broke (break) her mum’s vase.
My sister had never been (never, be) to the circus before last week.
10. Pam and I were studying (study) for the history exam when
the lights went (go) off.
11. The alarm clock didn’t ring (not, ring) yesterday morning
and I was (be) late for work.
12. Mr. Roberts had been working (work) in the company for six
an action that was in progress
years before it went (go) bankrupt.
at a stated time in the past
13. You were not sleeping (not, sleep) when I returned (return)
Yesterday at 4 I was talking to Meg
last night.
on the phone.
14. When did they visit (they, visit) you last time?
15. Yesterday at this time, Karen was writing (write) a letter
two actions that were
of application to the manager of L’Oréal.
happening at the same time 16. I was not paying (not, pay) attention to the teacher and my
Liz was vacuuming while her friends were not paying (not, pay) attention, either.
sons were tidying their room. 17. When we went (go) out for a walk last Sunday
morning, the sun was shining (shine) and it was
an action that was in progress (be) quite warm.
(longer action) when another 18. We had never seen (never, see) the Pyramids before our trip to Egypt in
action interrupted it 2005.
When I came in, Sue was reading. 19. Did Simon and Alice get (Simon and Alice, get) married last summer?
20. They had been waiting (wait) for more than an hour before Lady Gaga
appeared (appear) on the stage.
21. Michael and Robert were rollerblading (rollerblade) in the
backyard when Sally phoned (phone).
22. I met (meet) Harry at Brenda’s birthday party last
month.
23. Where did you spend (you, spend) your last winter holidays?
an action that happened 24. My cousin and I were sitting (sit) at a
before another action in the past park
Before we left, we had booked a bench when we heard
hotel room. (hear) a thunder.
25. By six o’clock Ted had packed (pack) all
complete past action that had his staff
visible results in the past in his backpack.
26. I had been sunbathing (sunbathe)
We felt relieved after they had arrived safely.
for two hours before it
_ _ _started (start) to rain.

an action continuing over a period up to a specific time in

the past
Pete had been working as a doctor for 25 years before he retired last year.

action of certain duration that had visible results in the past

Mark had been studying Spanish for five years before he moved to Toledo.