High School

## Exercises

**6.1** What were you doing at these times? Write sentences as in the examples. The past continuous is not always necessary (see the second example).

1. (at 8 o'clock yesterday evening) I was having dinner.
2. (at 5 o'clock last Monday) I was on a bus on my way home.
3. (at 10.15 yesterday morning)
4. (at 4.30 this morning)
5. (at 7.45 yesterday evening)
6. (half an hour ago)

**6.2** Use your own ideas to complete the sentences. Use the past continuous.

1. Matt phoned while we were having dinner.
2. The doorbell rang while I
3. The car began to make a strange noise when we
4. Jessica fell asleep while she
5. The television was on, but nobody

**6.3** Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

1. I saw (see) Sue in town yesterday, but she (not / see) me. She (look) the other way.
2. I met Tom and Jane at the airport a few weeks ago. They (go) to Paris and I (fly) to Rome. We (have) a chat while we (wait) for our flights.
3. I (cycle) home yesterday when a man (step) out into the road in front of me. I (go) quite fast, but luckily I (manage) to stop in time and (not / hit) him.

**6.4** Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

1. Jenny was waiting (wait) for me when I arrived (arrive).
2. 'What were you doing (you / do) at this time yesterday?' 'I was asleep.'
3. Did you go (you / go) out last night?' 'No, I was too tired.'
4. How fast were you driving (you / drive) when the accident happened (happen)?
5. Sam took (take) a picture of me while I was not looking (not / look).
6. We were in a very difficult position. We did not know (not / know) what to do.
7. I haven't seen Alan for ages. When I last saw (see) him, he was trying (try) to find a job.
8. I was walking (walk) along the street when suddenly I heard (hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody was following (follow) me. I was scared and I started (start) to run.
9. When I was young, I wanted (want) to be a pilot.
10. Last night I dropped (drop) a plate when I was doing (do) the washing-up. Fortunately, it did not break (not / break).

Answer :

Exercise 6.1: Past Activities

You need to write sentences describing what you were doing at specific times using either the past continuous tense or the simple past tense based on the context.

  1. At 10.15 yesterday morning, I was studying for my math test.

  2. At 4.30 this morning, I was sleeping peacefully in my bed.

  3. At 7.45 yesterday evening, I was watching a movie with my family.

  4. Half an hour ago, I was finishing my homework assignment.

Exercise 6.2: Completing Sentences with Past Continuous

You will complete sentences with your own ideas using the past continuous tense.

  1. The doorbell rang while I was taking a shower.

  2. The car began to make a strange noise when we were driving through the countryside.

  3. Jessica fell asleep while she was reading her favorite book.

  4. The television was on, but nobody was watching it.

Exercise 6.3: Past Continuous and Past Simple

In this exercise, you will put verbs into the correct form: either past continuous or past simple.

  1. I saw (see) Sue in town yesterday, but she did not see (not / see) me. She was looking (look) the other way.

  2. We met Tom and Jane at the airport a few weeks ago. They were going (go) to Paris, and we were traveling (meet) to Rome. We had (have) a chat while we were waiting (wait) for our flights.

  3. I was cycling (cycle) home yesterday when a man stepped (step) out into the road in front of me. I was going (go) quite fast, but luckily I managed (manage) to stop in time and did not hit (not / hit) him.

Exercise 6.4: Mixed Tenses

For this task, choose the correct form (past continuous or past simple) to complete the sentences.

  1. Jenny was waiting (wait) for me when I arrived (arrive).

  2. 'What were you doing (you / do) at this time yesterday?' 'I was asleep.'

  3. 'Did you go (you / go) out last night?' 'No, I was too tired.'

  4. How fast were you driving (you / drive) when the accident happened (happen)?

  5. Sam took (take) a picture of me while I wasn't looking (not / look).

  6. We were in a very difficult position. We did not know (not / know) what to do.

  7. I haven't seen Alan for ages. When I last saw (see) him, he was trying (try) to find a job.

  8. I was walking (walk) along the street when suddenly I heard (hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody was following (follow) me. I was scared, and I started (start) to run.

  9. When I was young, I wanted (want) to be a pilot.

  10. Last night I dropped (drop) a plate when I was doing (do) the washing-up. Fortunately, it **didn't break (not / break)."}

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