Past Simple vs. Past Continuos

1. Choose between the Past Simple and Past Continuous (Progressive) tense-forms.

Thomas Edison started/was starting work on the railway when he was twelve, selling newspapers and snacks. There were long periods with nothing for him to do so he built/ was building himself a little laboratory in the luggage van where he could carry out experiments when he didn't sell/ wasn 't selling things to passengers. Another thing that he occupied/was occupying himself with was reading. Rejoined a library and read/was reading every single book in it. One day, when he waited/was waiting at a station he noticed/was noticing a small boy who played/was playing by the track, unaware that a train approached/was approaching. Edison ran/was running out and grabbed/was grabbing the child just in time. The child's father was so grateful that he offered/ was offering to teach Edison to be a telegraph operator. Edison accepted the offer and soon he had/was having regular lessons. After a year, he was good enough to get a job in the telegraph office. He continued to read and experiment, whenever he had/was having time. At twenty-one he left/ was leaving the telegraph office to devote all his time to be an inventor. He went/was going to invent the electric light bulb, the photograph and the movie camera.

2. Choose the suitable adverb.

1.  Everyone was talking but stopped (then/the moment) Mr Smith entered the room.

2.  I lived in Glasgow (until/by the time) I was fourteen.

3.  (While/Once) I was chewing a piece of meat, my tooth fell out.

4.  James always let me know (at the time/whenever) he was going to be late.

5.  Now, Mr Star, what were you doing (between/by) ten and ten thirty last night?

6.  It wasn't (until/up to) last year that they could afford to buy a car.

7.  I was sitting at my report (by 5p.m./at 5p.m.).

8.  (When/While) I got to the cinema Jack was waiting for me.

9.  He was drinking quite a lot (these days/those days). 10. (When/During) I was shopping I met Max, my sister's

boy-friend.

3. Open the brackets putting the verbs in the Past Simple or the Past Continuous tense-forms.

1.  When the door-bell (ring) he (stand) up and (go) to the door.

2.  It (rain) hard this morning when I (wake up).

3.  While I (have) breakfast this morning, my sister (phone) from Mexico.

4.  When I (see) his face, I (realize) my mistake.

5.  I (take) my umbrella because it (rain).

6.  Yesterday morning he (wake up) late and (miss) his breakfast.

7.  When he (work) in the garden he (hurt) his knee.

8.  Linda (wait) for the bus when I (see) her.

9.  I (look) out of the window and (see) that it (snow) hard. 10. When the parents (come) from the theatre yesterday

evening, the children (sleep). \ 1. When the guests (arrive) Mrs Black still (cook) dinner.

12.  Tom (not/want) to lend us the money at first but then he (agree).

13.  The illness (get) worse and worse. In the end he (go) into hospital for an operation.

14.  I (walk) along the road yesterday when I (meet) an old friend. She (go) to the post-office.

15.  We (see) an accident when we (wait) for the bus.

16.  Where you (go) at this time yesterday?

17.  I (go) to sleep at 3 o'clock this morning and (wake) up an hour later at 4 o'clock.

18.  He (give) up his job as a journalist and (become) a teacher.

19.  While we (be) on holiday, we (spend) most of our time swimming and sailing.

20.  When my car (break) down 1 (phone) a garage.

21.  When I (shave) I (cut) myself.

22.  Ann (show) me a photograph and then (go) to the kitchen for some drinks.

23.  Sally (lie) in bed when her mother (enter) the room.

24.  This (use) to be a station and all the London trains (stop) here. But two years ago they (close) the station and (give) us a bus service instead.

25.  I (go) to Jack's house but (not/find) him in. His mother (say) that she (not/know) what he (do) but (think) he probably (play) football.

26.  We (cycle) along the road when we (see) a huge lorry.

27.  «What you (do) between 9.00 and 10.00 yesterday?» (ask) the detective. - «I  (clean)  my   house», said Mrs Jones. «I always clean my house on Saturday mornings.»

28.  Although he (agree) with me on most points, there (remain) one on which he was unwilling to yield.

29.  We (arrive) as they (leave).

30.  She (weep) bitterly while she (tell) her story.

31.  As Mary (get) out of the boat her foot (slip) and she (fall) into the water.

32.  While I (wait) for the bus I (notice) a group of tourists who (listen) intently to a guide.

33.  I (try) to explain the situation to my parents, but they just (not/understand) what I (talk) about.

34.  She (injure) her ankle while she (jog) in the park. 35.1 (feel) rather worried. It (get) darker and colder, but there

(be) still no sign of the rescue helicopter.

36.  How often you (visit) your cousins when you (he) in the States last year?

37.  John's children (use) to be well-behaved but now they are quite naughty.

38.  While I (row) across the lake I (lose) one oar.

39.  At school I (dislike) the maths teacher because he always (pick) on me.

40.  Nobody (watch), so the little boy (take) a packet of sweets from the shelf and (put) it in his pocket.

41.  The plane (crash) into a bridge because it (fly) too low.

42.  While I (try) to get my car started, a passing car (stop) and the driver (offer) to help me.

43.  Last fall I (drive) along a free way when I (run) out of gas. Luckily a truck (stop) and (give) me a lift.

44.  When they (walk) through the countryside one day they (come) across a ruined mansion.

45.  While we (clean) the attic, we (come) across our grand­mother's old school books.

46.  The driver (fall) asleep as he (drive) along.

47.  I (not/understand) what (goon). Several people (shout) at me and one (wave) a newspaper in front of my face.

48.  The article (say) that crime (grow) at a rapid rate, especially in urban areas.

49.  At six o'clock this morning I (have) a wonderful dream, but then the alarm (go) off.

50.  Laura (not/wear) her glasses at that time, so she (not/ notice) what kind of car the man (drive).

51.  We (not/go) to the skating rink, because it (freeze) hard.

52.  While I (have) a shower someone (knock) at the door.

53.  She said she (get) more forgetful as she (grow) older.

54.  The only thing I disliked about him when we (study) at college was that he always (borrow) my things without asking.

55.  While we (get) on the train, we (see) a robbery take place.'

56.  While the boys (skate) they (slip) on the thin ice and (fall) into the water.

57.  The sun (shine) so brightly that Maria (have) to put on her sunglasses.

58.  Bobby always (make) up excuses for being late when he studied at school.