Past Simple vs Past Continuous - Multiple Choice Practice
1. While I ___ TV, my brother ___ his homework.
A. watched / did
B. was watching / was doing
C. watched / was doing
D. was watching / did
2. They ___ dinner when the lights ___ out.
A. ate / went
B. were eating / went
C. ate / were going
D. were eating / were going
3. I ___ my keys while I ___ for the bus.
A. lost / waited
B. lost / was waiting
C. was losing / waited
D. was losing / was waiting
4. She ___ to music and ___ her nails.
A. listened / painted
B. was listening / painted
C. listened / was painting
D. was listening / was painting
5. We ___ soccer when it suddenly ___ to rain.
A. played / started
B. were playing / started
C. played / was starting
D. were playing / was starting
6. He ___ when the phone ___ ringing.
A. slept / started
B. was sleeping / started
C. slept / was starting
D. was sleeping / was starting
7. While they ___ a movie, someone ___ at the door.
A. watched / knocked
B. were watching / knocked
C. watched / was knocking
D. were watching / was knocking
8. I ___ a book when the fire alarm ___ off.
A. read / went
B. was reading / went
C. read / was going
D. was reading / was going
9. They ___ TV and ___ popcorn last night.
A. watched / ate
B. were watching / ate
C. watched / were eating
D. were watching / were eating
10. She ___ a cake while her kids ___ a nap.
A. baked / took
B. was baking / took
C. baked / were taking
D. was baking / were taking
11. We ___ to music when the teacher ___ in.
A. listened / came
B. were listening / came
C. listened / was coming
D. were listening / was coming
12. I ___ a call while I ___ to work.
A. got / drove
B. was getting / was driving
C. got / was driving
D. was getting / drove
13. He ___ his leg while he ___ football.
A. broke / played
B. was breaking / was playing
C. broke / was playing
D. was breaking / played
14. They ___ in the park when it ___ to snow.
A. walked / started
B. were walking / started
C. walked / was starting
D. were walking / was starting
15. I ___ a shower when someone ___ the door.
A. took / rang
B. was taking / rang
C. took / was ringing
D. was taking / was ringing
16. She ___ her keys while she ___ her bag.
A. found / looked
B. was finding / looked
C. found / was looking
D. was finding / was looking
17. We ___ for the bus when it suddenly ___.
A. waited / arrived
B. were waiting / arrived
C. waited / was arriving
D. were waiting / was arriving
18. He ___ his homework while I ___ dinner.
A. did / cooked
B. was doing / cooked
C. did / was cooking
D. was doing / was cooking
19. I ___ tired because I ___ all night.
A. was / studied
B. was / was studying
C. were / studied
D. were / was studying
20. She ___ the report while her boss ___ in.
A. wrote / walked
B. was writing / walked
C. wrote / was walking
D. was writing / was walking
21. They ___ loudly when the teacher ___ in.
A. talked / came
B. were talking / came
C. talked / was coming
D. were talking / was coming
22. We ___ to the news when the power ___ out.
A. listened / went
B. were listening / went
C. listened / was going
D. were listening / was going
23. I ___ the dishes while my brother ___ the floor.
A. washed / swept
B. was washing / swept
C. washed / was sweeping
D. was washing / was sweeping
24. He ___ the car when it suddenly ___ to rain.
A. washed / started
B. was washing / started
C. washed / was starting
D. was washing / was starting
25. They ___ at the restaurant when we ___ them.
A. ate / saw
B. were eating / saw
C. ate / were seeing
D. were eating / were seeing
26. While I ___, my phone ___ with notifications.
A. worked / buzzed
B. was working / buzzed
C. worked / was buzzing
D. was working / was buzzing
27. She ___ on the phone while she ___.
A. talked / drove
B. was talking / drove
C. talked / was driving
D. was talking / was driving
28. He ___ when I ___ him.
A. cried / hugged
B. was crying / hugged
C. cried / was hugging
D. was crying / was hugging
29. They ___ home while the others ___.
A. walked / talked
B. were walking / talked
C. walked / were talking
D. were walking / were talking
30. I ___ up when the alarm ___.
A. woke / rang
B. was waking / rang
C. woke / was ringing
D. was waking / was ringing
