Past Simple and Past Continuous Tenses

Exercise 56. Explain the use of the Past Continuous and the Past Simple in the following sentences:

1. Little Jerry was enjoying Mary’s Bday (birthday) party and didn’t want to go home.

2. It was getting dark at 6 a.m.

3. It was raining heavily as the sun was disappearing.

4. I looked at my husband. Then I took my suitcase and went out.

5. Lunch was over. Theo was smoking a cigarette. Barbara was sitting on the window seat with a book in her hands.

6. In my childhood I often stayed with my aunt when my parents had a business trip abroad.

7. My father was no longer working as I entered the room.

8. We went shopping two days ago.

9. John noticed that he was standing upon a letter which lay on the mat.

10. I was driving along a country road when I spotted a telephone box.

Exercise 57. Imagine that you were present when these things happened, then, in pairs, ask and answer questions, as in the example.

SA: What were you doing when the burglar broke in?

SB: I was watching TV.

SA- What did you do?

SB: I called for help.

1. The burglar broke in.

2. The storm broke.

3. The lights went out.

4. The boat overturned.

5. The earthquake hit.

6. The building caught fire.

Exercise 58. A) Look at the notes below and say what Rick did yesterday, using the linking words from the list.

first, then, next, after that, finally

S1: First, Rick got up at seven.

S2: Then, he had breakfast.

7 am get up

7:15-8:15 am have breakfast

8.30 - 9 am drive to work

11 am - 1 pm talk to some clients

1:30 - 2 pm have a lunch break

4 - 5 pm prepare a speech

5:30 - 6:30 drive home

B) Now, in pairs, ask and answer questions about what Rick was doing at the times in the list below .

SA: What was he doing at half past seven in the morning?

SB: He was having breakfast.

7:30 am 11:30 am 4:30 pm

8:45 am 1:45 pm 6 pm

 when/while/as + past continuous (longer action)

when + past simple (shorter action)

Exercise 59. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or the Past Continuous. Which was the longer action in each sentence?

1. They ...were cleaning... (clean) the windows when it ...started... (start) to rain.

Cleaning the windows was the longer action.

2. As he … (drive) to work, he … (remember) that his briefcase was still at home.

3. Melanie … (cook) dinner when her husband … (come) home.

4. I … (hear) a loud crash as I … (sit) in the garden.

5. She … (type) a letter when her boss … (arrive).

6. While the dog … (dig) in the garden, it … (find) a bone.

7. Mary … (ride) her bicycle when she … (notice) the tiny kitten.

8. While I … (do) my homework, the phone … (ring).

Exercise 60. A policeman is asking Mrs Hutchinson about a car accident she happened to see yesterday. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple or the Past Continuous.

P: What 1) ...were you doing... (you/do) when you 2) … (see) the accident, madam?

H: I 3) … (walk) down the street.

P: What exactly 4) … (you/see)?

H: Well, the driver of the car 5) … (drive) down the road when suddenly the old man just 6) … (step) in front of him! It 7) … (be) terrible!

P: 8) … (the driver/speed)?

H: No, not really, but the old man 9) … (not/look) both ways before he 10) … (try) to cross the road.

P: 11) … (anyone else/see) the accident?

H: Yes, the lady in the post office.

P: Thank you very much.

Exercise 61. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Continuous or the Past Simple.

It 1) ...was... (be) a beautiful spring morning when Emma and her father 2) … (decide) to visit Seaton Castle. The sun 3) … (shine) and the birds 4) … (sing). Emma 5) … (feel) very excited. The castle 6) … (be) very old and made of stone. The 7) … (climb) the steps to the top of the tower. While they 8) …. (admire) the view, they 9) …. (hear) some noises. They 10) … (look) around but they 11) … (not/see) anybody. That's funny,' said Emma. 'I 12) …. (think) I 13) … (see) someone standing over there. After a while they 14) … (decide) to visit the cellar of the castle. Emma 15) … (examine) an old barrel when she 16) … (hear) the door of the cellar close behind them. 'Dad,' she 17) … (say), 'don't close the door!' 'But, I 18) … (not/close) it, dear,' her father said. Emma 19) … (turn) around and 20) … (see) a shadow on the wall. She 21) … (know) then that the ghost of Seaton Castle 22) … (watch) them!

Exercise 62. Correct the mistakes.

1. Philip was washing the car while the fire started.

2. Neil was studying when his sister was listening to music.

3. Harriet was opening the door and walked into the house.

4. We were having lunch at a lovely restaurant ever day when we were on holiday.

5. Brian drank tea at five o'clock yesterday afternoon.

6. Dad was repairing the TV while Mum cooked dinner.

7. I was going to the cinema last Saturday.

8. I was buying a new dress for my party yesterday.

9. While Jeff built the garden shed, he hurt himself.

10. While the teacher were speaking, the students were listening to him.

Exercise 63. Translate into English.

1. Я чекав на Вас о 7 годині вчора. '2. Мій брат робив домашнє завдання, коли до нього завітав товариш. '3. Що ви робили, коли я прийшов? 4. Вони не будуть грати у шахи у неділю о пів на другу. Вони будуть гуляти в парку. 5. Студент щось читав, у той час як викладач пояснював завдання. 6. Чи мандрували ви у цей же час минулого року? 7. Де Ви були о дванадцятій годині? Я дзвонив, а Вас не було вдома. – Я катався на лижах. 8. Він читав газету, коли я його побачив. 9. Сто років тому країною керувала королева. 10. Він багато читав, коли був студентом. 11. Коли збори закінчилися й ми пішли додому, була сильна злива.