Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.
1I ............... my teeth when the fire alarm rang.
Wrong!
"was brushing" describes the action already in progress when the alarm rang.
2They ............... for the bus when it finally arrived after a long delay.
Wrong!
"were waiting" describes the ongoing action interrupted when the bus arrived.
3While I was washing the dishes, Tom ............... the kitchen floor when the doorbell rang.
Wrong!
"was cleaning" shows that Tom's activity was in progress when the doorbell rang.
4At the exact moment of the photo, I ............... at the camera; I was looking at the dog.
Wrong!
"wasn't looking" refers to what was not happening at the exact moment of the photo.
5............... when the lights went out, or were you already in bed?
Wrong!
"Were you reading" asks about an activity in progress when the lights went out.
6I could see you from the window, but I couldn't see what you ...............
Wrong!
"were carrying" describes what was visible in progress from the window.
7This time last Saturday, we ............... in a small hotel by the sea.
Wrong!
"were staying" describes a temporary situation in progress at this time last Saturday.
8When we opened the curtains, snow ............... heavily outside, so everything looked white.
Wrong!
"was falling" gives the background situation visible when the curtains were opened.
9I ............... an email when my computer stopped working, so I never finished it.
Wrong!
"was writing" shows the email was unfinished when the computer stopped working.
10The phone rang while we ............... our favourite TV programme.
Wrong!
"were watching" describes the programme already in progress when the phone rang.
11The baby ............... peacefully when the music suddenly stopped.
Wrong!
"was sleeping" describes the baby's ongoing activity before the music suddenly stopped.
12............... to work when you called her, or was she still at home?
Wrong!
"Was Maya driving" asks whether the journey was in progress when the call happened.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- I was brushing my teeth when the fire alarm rang.
- They were waiting for the bus when it finally arrived after a long delay.
- While I was washing the dishes, Tom was cleaning the kitchen floor when the doorbell rang.
- At the exact moment of the photo, I wasn’t looking at the camera; I was looking at the dog.
- Were you reading when the lights went out, or were you already in bed?
- I could see you from the window, but I couldn’t see what you were carrying .
- This time last Saturday, we were staying in a small hotel by the sea.
- When we opened the curtains, snow was falling heavily outside, so everything looked white.
- I was writing an email when my computer stopped working, so I never finished it.
- The phone rang while we were watching our favourite TV programme.
- The baby was sleeping peacefully when the music suddenly stopped.
- Was Maya driving to work when you called her, or was she still at home?