Can you use past simple and past continuous correctly? Test what you know with this interactive exercise.
Fill in the blanks.
1. When I ..................... in the morning, it ........................
Wrong!
We use the past continuous for the longer background action that was going on when another shorter action interrupted it. The simple past is used for the shorter action.
2. I .......................... dinner when you .......................... me.
Wrong!
3. What ................................... at 7 o'clock yesterday evening?
Wrong!
4. I ........................ up at 6 am.
Wrong!
5. At that time, she ........................... as a receptionist in Mumbai.
Wrong!
Use the past continuous to say that an action or situation was going on at a particular point of time in the past.
6. He ............................... at 110 miles/hour when the accident ..........................
Wrong!
7. That ........................... a long time ago.
Wrong!
8. This time last week, he ............................ in the Bahamas.
Wrong!
9. She ......................... chemistry at university.
Wrong!
Use the simple past to talk about finished events.
10. He ........................... his leg while he ........................... football yesterday.
Wrong!
11. He .......................... at a young age.
Wrong!
12. She ........................... the call because she ...........................
Wrong!
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- When I woke up in the morning, it was raining.
- I was having dinner when you phoned me.
- What were you doing at 7 o’clock yesterday evening?
- I got up at 6 am.
- At that time, she was working as a receptionist in Mumbai.
- He was driving at 110 miles/hour when the accident occurred.
- That happened a long time ago.
- This time last week, he was holidaying in the Bahamas.
- She studied chemistry at university.
- He injured his leg while he was playing football yesterday.
- He died at a young age.
- She didn’t answer the call because she was driving.
