We use Past

We use Past Continuous to express:

Simple to express:
an action that was in progress
an action that at a stated time in the past
happened at a definite
time in the past two actions that were
happening at the same time
actions that happened
immediately one after an action that was in progress
the other in the past (longer action) when another
action interrupted it

Fill in the blanks with the Past Simple form of

the verbs below.

James _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to earn some extra money last

summer, so he _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ part-time at his mother’s
restaurant.
Mary and Kevin _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ their wedding
anniversary in grand style. They _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ more
than a hundred guests.
We _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the morning bus to Bournemouth and Fill in the blanks with the Past Continuous
we _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the whole day at the beach. form of the verbs above.
Suzie _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a note for her mother,
Lucy broke the glass figurine while she
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on her coat and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the sitting room.
door.
My little brother _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a tower with his
Who _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (your father) squash with last
favourite blocks while I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on my science
weekend?
project.
I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ very busy last night. I’m sorry but I _ _
Tracy and I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ at the table and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (not) phone you.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to Pete when Jack came in.
Why _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (you/not) that black strapless dress
What _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (they) this time last Sunday? They _
at the party?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a comedy they hired from the video club.
Alex _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ his homework at the lunch break.
At 6 yesterday morning I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (not) my dog. I
Paul and I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ at the cybercafé yesterday
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ soundly in my bed.
afternoon.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (you/not) the car when it started to rain?
10. Helen _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ through the peephole
The pupils_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a break when the headmaster
but _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ nobody.
announced the winner of the Spelling Bee Contest.
My grandparents _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ spaghetti while I _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ the table.
Rick _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a model of a big wheel for the
technology project.
10. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (the sun) when you went on
an excursion to Brighton last week?
 We use Past
We use Past Continuous to express:
Simple to express:
an action that was in progress
an action that at a stated time in the past
happened at a definite
time in the past two actions that were
happening at the same time
actions that happened
immediately one after an action that was in progress
the other in the past (longer action) when another
action interrupted it

Fill in the blanks with the Past Simple form of

the verbs below.

James wanted to earn some extra money last summer, so he

worked part-time at his mother’s restaurant.
Mary and Kevin celebrated their wedding anniversary in
grand style. They invited more than a hundred guests.
We took the morning bus to Bournemouth and we spent the
whole day at the beach.
Suzie left a note for her mother, Fill in the blanks with the Past Continuous
put on her coat and locked the door. form of the verbs above.
Who did your father play squash with last weekend?
Lucy broke the glass figurine while she
I was very busy last night. I’m sorry but I couldn’t phone
was dusting the sitting room.
you.
My little brother was building a tower with his favourite
Why didn’t you wear that black strapless dress at the party?
blocks while I was working on my science project.
Alex did his homework at the lunch break.
Tracy and I were sitting at the table and
Paul and I met at the cybercafé yesterday afternoon.
talking to Pete when Jack came in.
10. Helen looked through the peephole
What were they doing this time last Sunday? They were
but saw nobody.
watching a comedy they hired from the video club.
At 6 yesterday morning I wasn’t walking my dog. I was
sleeping soundly in my bed.
Weren’t you washing the car when it started to rain?
The pupils were having a break when the headmaster
announced the winner of the Spelling Bee Contest.
My grandparents were preparing spaghetti while I was
setting the table.
Rick was making a model of a big wheel for the technology
project.
10. Was the sun shining when you went on
an excursion to Brighton last week?