Past simple and continuous with exercises

1. To talk about a temporary situation that
existed at or around a particular time in
the past, we can use the past
continuous.

2. At the time of the robbery, we were staying
with my parents.
My head was aching again, so I went.

4. She was shaking with fear as she left the
hotel.
When she realised I was looking at her, she
turned away.
Susan dropped her bag while she was getting
into her car.

5. We often use the past simple to talk
about a completed past events and the
past continuous to describe the
situation that existed at the time. The
completed event might have interrupted
the situation, or just occurred while the
situation or event was in progress.

6. We don’t normally use the past continuous with
certain verbs describing states.
This house belonged to my granny.

7. When we talk about two past actions or
events that went on over the same
period of time, we can often use the
past continuous for both.

8. Sam was reading to the children while Kelly
was washing up.
Maria was working in a resturant when I was
living in London.

9. We can often use the past simple to express a
similar meaning:
Maria worked in a resturant while she lived in
London.

10. When we talk about two or more past
completed events that follow each
other, we use the past simple for both.
The first may have caused the second.

11. She got up when the alarm clock went off.
He jumped out of bed and ran to see who the
parcel was for.

12. When we talk about a permanent or long-
term situation that existed in the past, we
use the past simple rather than the past
continuous.
When I was a child I played basketball.

13. However, if the situation was temporary,
we can also use the past continuous.
I was working in a car factory during the
summer of 1976.
(or I worked....)
He worked hard all his life.

14. We use the past simple rather than the
past continuous when we are talking
about repeated actions or events in the
past.
We visited Monte Negro three times
last year.
I went past her house every day.
She slept very badly whenever she
stayed with her grandparents.

15. We often use while instead of when with the past
continuous because it stresses that the action
is longer. However, it is not wrong to use when
in sentences like this.
When I was having a shower. (is possible)
While I was having a shower. (is maybe better)

16. 1.While Ben ____(eat) his soup, the cat ___(jump) up on the
table.
2.She ___(unpack) the shopping when I ___(get) home.
3.When Nick ___(arrive) at school, the pupils ___(leave).
4.I ___(watch) TV while Joel ___(tell) her the news.
5.I ___(take) a photo when they ___(feed) the lions.
6.Mary ___(talk) to Ian when I ___(see) them.
7.He ____(live) with his mother when they ____(get)
married.
8.Amy ____(have) a bath while Maggie ____(cook) the
dinner.
9.While Joe ___(work) in London, Kevin ____(travel).
10.While I ____(talk) to the other driver, the police ____(turn
up).

17. I _____(walk) along Victoria Street last week and I
___(meet) Cheri – do you remember her? She ___(get)
engaged to Sid Evesham last month. Remember, he
____(work) at the hospital at the time.
Anyway, we ____(go) for a cup of tea in the Café Royale.
They have these delicious Danish pastries. Well, we
____(eat) them when Annie Ross ____(walk) in. I haven’t
seen her since she ___(leave) for Australia. Anyway, it
seems she ___(not get) there because while she
___(travel) through Malaysia she ___(meet) an English
guy called Chris and they ____(fall) in love. He ____(have
to) come back here because he was only on holiday ….

18. ….so she ___(come) back with him. Anyway, she ___(talk)
about Chris and I suddenly ____(realise) that it was the
same Chris who ____(break off) with Cheri six months
ago. Cheri ____(realise) this too, and she ____(get up)
and ____(leave). She ____(not finish) her Danish pastry –
I ____(still eat) mine at the time. So I ___(finish) hers as
well. Annie ____(still talk) – she ____(not notice) that
Cheri was upset – so we ___(go) and ____(have) lunch
together. Interesting morning – well, sort of.