Exercises

Put questions to the words on italics.

1. They were sitting in their garden at lunchtime.

2.. A teenage student was driving an old Ford.

3. Nick was sitting in his office when he heard a fire alarm.

4. I was talking to a customer from 5 to 6 last evening.

5. The radio was playing soft music when I fell asleep.

6. They were wearing black masks at the time of the robbery.

7. While the students were having a test the professor was sleeping at his desk.

8. Brian was following the robbers while they were getting away.

9. The lady was cycling up the street when she saw an accident.

10. When the police arrived the robbers were holding guns.

Put questions to the missing parts of the sentences.

1. Jim was working when ….

2. Mary was watching … at 5 yesterday.

3. The students were … when the professor arrived.

4. … was sleeping while his mother was cooking breakfast.

5. Will was writing … from 9 to 10.30.

6. The robbers were … when the police arrived.

7. I was cycling down to the post office at ….

8. She was watering flowers while her husband was ….

9.... was crying when I saw her.

10. They were playing football when ….

Match the sentences.

1. They were sleeping	a. when a truck crashed into our car.
2. I was skiing	b. when I burned my finger.
3. I was cooking	c. when the doorbell rang.
4. She playing with the dog	d. when he called her on the phone.
5. I was eating a carrot	e. when it turned over and I fell into the water.
6. We were driving to work	f. when my tooth fell out.
7. I was standing in the boat	g. when I fell and broke my ankle.
8. She was dreaming about her boyfriend	h. when it bit her hand.

4. Match the sentences using while or when.

1. John was listening to the radio	a. he was crossing the road.
2. Peter was swimming	b. he was shopping.
3. He fell over	c. her pen broke.
4. The robbers stole his car	d. the professor was giving a lecture.
5. Helen was writing a letter	e. the battery ran out.
6. The students were playing computer games	f. his sister was sunbathing.

Use the prompts to talk about Peter’s party.

They were having a party when the doorbell rang. Peter opened the door and an angry policeman entered the room. Mary and George were dancing while ….

1. Mary and George/ dance/ while the music/ play loud.

2. Bob and Ben/ drink Coke/ while Kristi/ eat sandwiches.

3. Ted and Steve/ sing.

4. Alex/ clean/ the floor while the dog/ bark.

5. James/ sleep on the sofa/ while Sheila/ try to wake him up.

6. Edward and Lucy/ laugh.

7. Susan/ bring coffee.

8. Chris/ leave the party/ while Paula/ try to stop him.

Mr. Scott Show, a high school principal, was attacked at 9.18 last night. He was walking from his office to his car when somebody attacked him from behind and hit him on the head. Now he is hospital and a policeman is questioning him. Read the dialogue. Open the brackets, use Past Continuous or Past Simple.

Policeman: What can you remember about the attack, Mr. Show?

Mr. Show: Well, I (working) late last night.

Policeman: What time did you leave your office?

Mr. Show: At about a quarter after 9.

Policeman: What did you do then?

Mr. Show: I (lock) the office door. I (walk) to the parking lot when somebody (hit) me on the head.

Policeman: Did you see the attacker?

Mr. Show: Yes, but I (not see) his face. He (wear) a black mask.

Policeman: He? So it (be) a man!

Mr. Show: Well, I’m not really sure. No, I don’t know.

Policeman: Tell me, Mr. Show, how you (break) your leg?

Mr. Show: When they (put) me into the ambulance they (drop) me!