Past Cont Exercises

8/2/2019 Past Cont Exercises

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Exercise 1

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1. While Tom (read) ---------------, Amely (watch) --------------a

documentary on TV.2. Marvin (come) -------------home, (switch) ------------on the computerand (check) -------------his emails.3. The thief (sneak) ------------into the house, (steal) -----------the

jewels and (leave) -----------without a trace.4. Nobody (listen) -----------while the teacher (explain)-----------------the tenses.5. While we (do) -----------a sight-seeing tour, our friends (lie)----------on the beach.6. He (wake) -------------up and (look) ----------------at his watch

Exercise 2


1. The receptionist (welcome) -------------------the guests and (ask)--------------them to fill in the form.2. The car (break) ---------------down and we (have) ---------------to walk home.3. The boys (swim) --------------while the girls (sunbathe) ----------------.4. My father (come) ----------------in, (look) ---------------around and (tell)---------------me to tidy up my room.5. As long as one group (prepare) ------------dinner, the others (collect)------------wood for their campfire.6. While the parents (have) ------------breakfast, their children (run)-------about.7. Martha (turn) ----------------off the lights and (go) --------------to bed.

Exercise 3


1. We (wait) -----------------for Jane, when suddenly Louis (come) --------aroundthe corner.2. I (cycle) ------through the park, when I (hear) -------------a strange noise.3. He (pass) ------------her a message when the teacher (look / not)---------------.4. I (fall) -------------asleep while I (watch) ---------------TV last night.5. When Mike and Jane (paint) ------------the walls, their dog (knock)-------------over the paint pot.6. Tom (break) -------------his leg when he (play) ---------------frisbee.



7. The phone (ring) -------------when I (sit) --------------on the toilet.

Exercise 4


1. I (jog) ----------------in the park, when two squirrels (cross) ----------------myway.2. Robert (fall) ---------------off the ladder when he (pick)----------------cherries.3. Archimedes (discover) --------------the theory of buoyancy while he (take)---------------a bath.4. When we (travel) --------------around Ireland, we (meet) ---------------somevery nice people.5. While she (speak) ------------on the phone, the milk (boil) -----------over.6. When I (leave) ------------the house this morning, the sun (shine) -------.7. Caroline (burn) ----------her hand when she (iron) ---------------her clothes.

Exercise 5


1. Two days ago, a murder (happen) --------------in Market Street at aboutseven pm.2. Yesterday, Sherlock Holmes (arrive) --------------at the crime scene toinvestigate.3. He (ask) --------------on of the tenants in the house.

4. »What (do / you) ----------------yesterday at seven?«5. »I (watch) --------------a football match on TV.«6. » (be) ----------------you alone?«7. »Yes, I (be) ----------------.«8. » (hear / you) -----------------anything suspicious?«9. »Yes, about seven o'clock, two people (argue) ----------------in the hallway.But the football match (be) --------------so interesting. So I just (turn)---------------up the telly and then (hear / not) --------------anything anymore.«

Exercise 6




1. A: »What (do / you) -------------------yesterday at 8 pm?«2. B: »I (sit) ----------------in the pub with Sam. Why?«3. A: »I (drive) -------------------to the sports centre at that time to play

squash with a few friends. As we only three players, I (try) ---------------to ringyou to ask if you would like to come as well. But I (reach / not) -------------you athome.«4. B: »Why (ring / not / you) ---------------my mobile?«5. A: »I actually (want) ------------to ring your mobile, but by accident I (dial)----------------William's number. He (do / not) -----------anything special at thatmoment and really (like) ---------------the idea of playing squash with us.«

Exercise 7

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past progressive).

1. When I (do) --------------the washing-up, I (break) -------------a plate.2. While Tom (play) ------------the piano, his mother (do) --------------thewashing-up.

3. He (drink) ------------some juice and then he (eat) ------------a few chips.4. I (have) -----------dinner when I suddenly (hear) --------------a loud bang.5. When my father (work) -------------in the garden, an old friend (pass)--------------by to see him.6. She (go) --------------to school, (take) ------------out her textbook and(begin) -------------to learn.7. When it (start) ----------------to rain, our dog (want) ----------------to comeinside.8. When Jane (do) ---------------a language course in Ireland, she (visit)------------Blarney Castle.9.

When I (be) --------------on my way home, I (see) ----------------an accident.10. I (not / understand) -----------------what they (talk) --------------------about.

Exercise 8


1. When I (get) -------------up yesterday, the sun (shine) -----------------.2. It (is) --------------------a beautiful morning.3.

So I (decide) ---------------to cycle around a little.4. I (go) -----------------to the shed and (take) -----------------out my bike.



5. While I (cycle) ----------------past some villages, I (see) ---------------somepeople in their gardens.6. One man (mow) -------------------the grass while his wife (pick)------------------strawberries.7. After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly

(appear) ----------------and it (start) ------------------to rain.8. Luckily, a farmer (notice) --------------------me and (tell) ---------------me tocome in.9. While it (rain) ----------------outside, I (sit) ----------------in the farmer'shouse.10. After a while, the sun (come) --------------out again.11. I (thank) --------------the farmer for his hospitality and (move)-------------------on.

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Past Cont Exercises