LESSON 3

The Simple Past Tense and The Past Continuous Tense

Exercise 1

Here is part of a website about the singer Elvis Presley. Complete the text with the verbs from the
box. Use the past simple, positive or negative.

be be be come die go have have leave make

marry meet sing spend study teach wear win

Elvis - The King of Rock and Roll

Elvis Presley was born in 1935 in Mississippi, USA. He lived with his parents, Gladys and Vernon. Elvis
(1) came from a large family - lots of aunts, uncles and cousins - but he (2) ___any brothers or sisters.
He loved singing, and in 1945 he (3) ___a school singing competition. He also (4) ___ himself to play the
guitar. When Elvis (5) ___13 years old, he and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee because they
wanted a better life. He (6) ___school in 1953 and worked as a truck driver. In the evenings, he (7) ___at
night school because he wanted to be an electrician. In the same year, he made his first record, but it (8)
___for sale in the shops - it was a present for his mother. In 1954 he made his first public record and it
was a success. People loved his music. They also loved the clothes he (9) ___and the way he moved
when he (10) ___during his life, he also (11) ___33 movies. Elvis (12) ___into the US army for two years
and (13) ___most of his time in Germany. It was in Germany that he (14) ___Priscilla Beaulieu, and they
(15) ___ in 1967. They (16) ___a daughter, Lisa Marie. The last years of Elvis's life (17) ___happy – he
divorced Priscilla and he had an eating problem. He (18) ___ in 1977 at the age of 42, but he still has
many millions of fans all over the world.

Exercise 2
Complete the conversations. Use was/were, the past simple (did etc.) or the past continuous (was
doing etc.).
1. POLICE OFFICER: What were you doing (you / do) when the accident happened
(happen)?
COLIN: I was at the bus stop. I was waiting (wait) for a bus.
POLICE OFFICER: ___ (you / see) the accident?
COLIN: No, because I ___ (read) the newspaper.

2. NICOLA: I ___ (telephone) you at 9 o'clock last night, but you

were not at home.
MARTIN: 9 o'clock? I ___ (sit) in a cafe, ___
(drink) hot chocolate.
NICOLA: Jane with you?
MARTIN: No, she ___ (work) in the library.
NICOLA: Where ___ (you / go) after the cafe?
MARTIN: I ___ (go) home.

3. MUM : Oh no! My beautiful cup! What happened?

 ANGIE: I'm really sorry, M u m. I ___ (break) it when
I___ (wash) it.
MUM : How?
ANGIE: My hands ___ wet and I ___ (drop) it on the
floor.

4. SOPHIE: ___ (you / think) yesterday's exam___difficult?

EDDIE : No, not really, but I ___ (not / write) very much.
SOPHIE: Why not?
EDDIE : Because I ___ (dream) about my holidays.

5. ANDREW: There ___ a crash outside my house yesterday.

MAGGIE : What ___ (happen)?
ANDREW: I don't know. It ___ (rain), but the two drivers___
(not / go) too fast.
MAGGIE : ___ they hurt?
ANDREW: One man ___ (break) his arm and the other man___
(cut) his hand.

6. TRACEY: Pardon? I didn't hear you. Could you say that again, please?
DAVE: I ___ (not / talk) to you.
TRACEY: Who ___ (you / talk) to?
DAVE: Sarah.
TRACEY: Oh, sorry.