Put the verbs into the correct form, Past Simple or Past Continuous

1. Dan (fall) off the tree while he (rescue) the cat.

2. Last night I (read) in the bed when suddenly I (hear) a voice downstairs.

3. (you / have) a bath when I phoned you?

4. They (wait) for a taxi when I (arrive).

5. I (not / drive) very fast when I (see) her.

6. I (break) a plate last night. I (do) the washing-up when it (slip) out of my hand.

7. Bob (take) a nap while I (paint) a ceiling.

8. We (not / go) out because it (get) dark.

9. What (you / do) at this time yesterday?

10. We (see) Amanda in the gallery. She (wear) her new necklace.

Put the verbs in brackets into Past Indefinite and Past Continuous.

1. Mary (play) the piano; John (read); my wife (sew) when suddenly we all (hear) a shout.

2. When the doctor (leave) the hospital, he (catch) a glimpse of himself in the glass front door.

3. When her father (come) in she (sit) before a red tea-table, finishing a very good tea.

4. Next day, while he (shave) he (cut) himself slightly.

5. The door of his room (be) open; his mother still (stand) at the window.

6. And, smiling to himself, he (begin) to make plans, fantastic plans for the future. He still (smile) when he (walk) up the rock-cut steps.

7. I (sleep) soundly when the phone (ring).

8. We (sit) on our front porch when Mr Smith (drive) up in his new car.

9. Crosby (cross) the street when the car (strike) him.

10. It (drizzle) when they (come) out of the house.

11. When the World War (break), John (live) in Holland.

12. It (get) dark and I (suggest) that we should go down.

13. John (come) in, (look) at the fire, (stand) a moment, (turn) and (go) away.

14. As I (walk) home yesterday, I (meet) a beggar who (ask) me for some money.

15. We (come) into the dining-room while our parents (eat) supper.

16. She (run) down the stairs and (go) to the library, where her husband (stand) with his mother.

17. Mike (lift) his eyes from the book and (look) out of the window. It still (snow).

18. We (drive) at about forty miles an hour when the accident (happen).

19. You (have) a good time at those parties?

20. A fortnight later Holt (fall) and (hurt) himself when he (ride) his motorcycle.

21. He (go) into the kitchen and (get) himself a cup of coffee.

22. Eric (go) into the library and (sit) down to read the letter. The fire (crackle) merrily in the fireplace, and outside the wind (howl).

23. He (take) a cushion, (put) it behind and (lean) back.

24. At half past four I (put) on the lights.

25. When I (be) a boy, I (want) to be an actor.

26. While he (wait) to cross Fifth Avenue, a man standing beside him (cough) painfully.

27. She (draw) aside the curtains and (look) out into the Square. Two cats (stand) in the light of a lamp - narrow, marvelous, graceful.

28. When I (hear) his knock I (go) to the door and (open) it, but I (not / recognize) her at first because I (not / wear) my glasses.

29. When they (walk) up the street together they (begin) to talk.

30. Your telegram (come) just as I (leave) home.

31. John (talk) with his boss when I last (see) him.

32. When he (arrive) home, he (go) straight to the sitting room and (take) off the picture.

Open the brackets. Use Past Indefinite in case of permanent, repeated one-time actions. Use Past Continuous if the action is a temporary one taking place at a given moment in the past.

Models:

He (turn) the car and (start) back towards Delphi. - He turned the car and started back towards Delphi. One-time action.

The local businessmen (like) something solid with their luncheon coffee. - The local businessmen liked something solid with their luncheon coffee. A permanent action.

I (glance) at the terrace below the balcony. He (sit) under one of the plane-trees smoking. - I glanced at the terrace below the balcony. He was sitting under one of the plane-trees, smoking. A temporary action taking place at a moment in the past. The moment in the past is indicated by an independent sentence "I glanced at the terrace".

1. I (open) the shutters and (look) out. The car (stand) where I had left it.

2. Suddenly I (realize) that they (not / pay attention) to me any longer. They (mutter) something and all (look) in the same direction. I (turn) my head and (look) where they all (look). A man (come) slowly down a steep little street that (lead) uphill between the houses on my right.

3. On my left I (see) the lights of the first house of the village, and I (hurry) towards it through the wood when a sudden flash of light (make) me stop.

4. At that time I (look) for a job.

5. Miss Nobbs (not / see) him leave the office. At half past four she (make) herself a cup of tea in a small recess off the main corridor.

6. The idea first (occur) to me that afternoon as I (back) the car into the garage.

7. I probably (drop) the key when I (fish) for small change in my bag at the news-stand.

8. All through the night I (hear) them work, open drawers, drag cases over the floor. They (pack).