Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1While I ............... dinner, the phone rang.
Wrong!
Use "was cooking" for a longer action in progress when the phone rang.
2At 8 p.m. last night, we ............... for the exam in the library.
Wrong!
Use "were studying" for an action in progress at a specific time in the past.
3She ............... her laptop and then started the meeting.
Wrong!
Use "opened" for a completed action in a sequence of past events.
4When the teacher came in, the students ............... quietly.
Wrong!
Use "were talking" for an action already in progress when the teacher came in.
5I ............... my keys yesterday, so I took the bus to work.
Wrong!
Use "lost" for a completed past action at a definite time.
6They ............... tennis from 4 to 6, so they didn't hear your call.
Wrong!
Use "were playing" for an activity in progress over a past period of time.
7My brother ............... a shower when the lights went out.
Wrong!
Use "was having" for an action in progress when the lights went out.
8Last Friday, our team ............... the report before lunch.
Wrong!
Use "finished" for a completed action at a definite past time.
9As I ............... to class this morning, I saw Emma on the bus.
Wrong!
Use "was walking" for a background action in progress when I saw Emma.
10He ............... his homework at 7 o'clock, so he couldn't come out.
Wrong!
Use "was doing" for an action in progress at a specific time in the past.
11We ............... the museum on Saturday and took lots of photos.
Wrong!
Use "visited" for a completed past event in a sequence.
12While the manager ............... to a client, I sent the email.
Wrong!
Use "was speaking" for a longer background action in progress when the email was sent.
Answers
- While I was cooking dinner, the phone rang.
- At 8 p.m. last night, we were studying for the exam in the library.
- She opened her laptop and then started the meeting.
- When the teacher came in, the students were talking quietly.
- I lost my keys yesterday, so I took the bus to work.
- They were playing tennis from 4 to 6, so they didn’t hear your call.
- My brother was having a shower when the lights went out.
- Last Friday, our team finished the report before lunch.
- As I was walking to class this morning, I saw Emma on the bus.
- He was doing his homework at 7 o’clock, so he couldn’t come out.
- We visited the museum on Saturday and took lots of photos.
- While the manager was speaking to a client, I sent the email.
