Part II Past Continuous

Exercise 2.1

Denis did a lot of things last Saturday. Look at the pictures and complete the sentences.

1.00 – 1.30 2.00 – 2.30 3.00 – 4.00

4.30 – 5.30 6.00 – 7.00 8.00 – 9.00

1. At 1.10 p.m. Denis was watching TV .

2. At 2.20 … .

3. At 3.45 … .

4. At 5.00 … .

5. At 6.30 … .

6. At 8.15 … .

Exercise 2.2

Look at the picture. You saw Ann yesterday afternoon. Write positive and negative sentences about what she was doing at that moment.

1. sit on the grass She was sitting on the grass.

2. fish

3. talk on the mobile phone

4. wear high boots

5. wear a hat

6. carry a bag

7. look at the water

8. eat ice-cream

Exercise 2.3

Complete the questions. Use Past Continuous + what, where, why if necessary. Match the questions with the correct answers.

( you / stay) … last weekend? (you / do) … last Sunday night? (it / get dark) … when you returned home? (he / climb a tree) … when they noticed him? (he / drive fast) … when the accident happened? (she / dream about) … while she was sleeping? (he / go) … when he met his aunt? (they / jog) … when they saw him? (you / make so much noise) … when your neighbours called the police? (you / speak so loudly) … when I saw you? (strong wind / blow) … when you went out?

Yes, it was about 9 p.m. Yes, too fast. I was at a party. Yes, he was picking apples in the tree. At my friend’s. About her future husband. No, they were riding bikes. Yes, we were listening to loud music at night. He was going to the station. Yes, and it was very cold. Because I was a bit angry.

1. Where were you staying last weekend? – At my friend’s.

Part III Past Simple and Past Continuous

Exercise 3.1

Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. They decided / were deciding to go abroad last year.

2. I worked / was working on my project when I had / was having a brilliant idea.

3. When the guests arrived / were arriving, she still cooked / was still cooking dinner.

4. When his car broke down / was breaking down, he phoned / was phoning the garage.

5. Kate showed / was showing me her photos, and then went / was going to the kitchen for some drinks.

6. Did you hear / Were you hearing the wind? It blew / was blowing very strongly.

7. They didn’t need / weren’t needing our help yesterday.

8. I thought / was thinking he was right.

9. Someone knocked / was knocking at the door while I had / was having a shower.

10. At five o’clock this morning I had / was having a wonderful dream, but then the alarm went off / was going off.

11. I didn’t understand / wasn’t understanding what went on / was going on. Several people shouted / were shouting at me at the same time.

12. Was Val busy when you came / were coming to see her? – Yes, she helped / was helping her son with his homework.

Exercise 3.2

Make sentences using the Past Simple or Past Continuous + when or while.

1. I (stand) near the road – the accident (happen)

I was standing near the road when the accident happened.

2. We (wait) at the bus stop – we (see) the car

3. Jack (listen) to his car radio – he (drive) home

4. He (hear) about the accident – he (listen) to the news

5. Two men (cross) on a red light – the car (hit) them

6. The driver (not stop) – he (see) the men

7. It (rain) – Jack (drive) to the police station

8. He (think) about his article in the newspaper – he (talk) to the police officer

9. It (stop) raining – Jack (drive) back home

10. A TV programme about road accidents (begin) – Jack (write) his article

Exercise 3.3

Give short answers to the following questions.

1. Did you have a nice holiday last year? Yes, I did.

2. Were they travelling by boat when you saw them? No, … .

3. Was the party great last Saturday? Yes, … .

4. Did Mike tell you a funny joke? Yes, … .

5. Did you go to the bank yesterday morning? No, … .

6. Weren’t they waiting for you? No, … .

Exercise 3.4

Put the verbs in the correct form, Past Simple or Past Continuous.

1. Gary (break) his leg last month. It (happen) when he (climb) a mountain. He (fall) off a rock.

2. The plane (land) at the airport, and Katie (get off). Her parents (wait) to meet her.

3. Sarah and Bill (have) a party when I (come) to see them. The guests (dance) and (drink) champagne. They (ask) me to join them.

4. What you (do) when they (cut) off the electricity? – I (work) on my computer.

5. What time the noise (wake) you up? – It (start) while I still (sleep).

6. Was Brian at university today? – No, he (not go) to university. He is ill.

7. How high the plane (fly) when it (hit) the rock? – It (not fly) very high.

8. Your neighbour (borrow) any money from you yesterday? – No, he was busy, so he (not come).

9. How Newton (discover) the law of gravity? – He (sit) under a tree, and an apple (fall) on his head.

10. You (meet) Pete last night? – Yes, he (walk) his dog in the park.

11. What you (do) at 9 o’clock this morning? – I (water) the flowers.

12. The police (put) cameras on all the houses and (catch) the robber the next week.

Exercise 3.5

Read the text and put the verbs in the correct form.

Last Saturday I (1) .. (invite) my parents for dinner. I (2) … (decide) to make some delicious things, including grilled pork sausages. At about 5 o’clock I (3) … (cook) in the kitchen. My favourite CD (4) … (play) in the living room and my dog Jumpy (5) … (sleep) there quietly. Then the door bell (6) … (ring), so I (7) … (go) to open the door. When I (8) … (come) back, I (9) … (not can) see any grilled sausages. They (10) … (not be) on the table. Jumpy? I (11) … (go) to the living room. Jumpy (12) … (sit) under the chair and he (13) … (eat) my sausages! He (14) … (enjoy) the sausages so much that he (15) … (not hear) me. As he (16) … (not look) in my direction, I (17) … (take) a newspaper and (18) … (start) to walk up to him very quietly. I (19) … (want) to hit him with the newspaper, but at the last moment Jumpy (20) … (see) me, (21) … (catch) the sausages and (22) … (escape) under the sofa. I (23) … (return) to the kitchen to cook some chicken.

Exercise 3.6

Read the dialogue and use the correct form of the verbs, Past Simple or Past Continuous.

A: I (1) … (lose) my house keys last night and (2) … (not want) to disturb my parents.

B: How (3) … (you/get) into the house?

A: I (4) … (climb) in through a window.

B: (5) … (you/frighten) your parents?

A: Sure. While I (6) … (enter) the house through the window they (7) … (think) it (8) … (be) a thief.

B: How (9) … (they/recognize) you?

A: Fortunately, I (10) … (manage) to switch on the light and they (11) … (see) my face.

B: (12) … (they/be) angry? (13) … (they/forgive) you for that?

A: Yes, and they even (14) … (not punish) me. They only (15) … (ask) me never to do such things again.