To talk about two simultaneous short actions we use simple tenses. To talk about a longer background action which was going on when something else happened, we use the past continuous tense. We usually use the past simple tense to refer to the shorter action that interrupted the longer background action.
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate past simple or past continuous tense.
1When I ............... to work, I .............................. Peter.
Wrong!
2When I ............... a bath, the telephone ......................................
Wrong!
3I ............... when someone knocked on the door.
Wrong!
4While she ............... games, I .........................................
Wrong!
5As I ............... my eyes, I ................................... a strange sight.
Wrong!
6James ............... the lounge while I .............................. supper.
Wrong!
7While they ............... caroms somebody ........................................ into the house.
Wrong!
8I ............... of it just when you ..................................... your mouth.
Wrong!
9When she ............... a bath, the child ................................. to cry.
Wrong!
10She took out her pen and ............... writing.
Wrong!
Done.
Score: 0/10
Answers
- When I was driving, saw to work, I ………………………… Peter.
- When I was having, rang a bath, the telephone ………………………………..
- I was sleeping when someone knocked on the door.
- While she Either could be used here games, I …………………………………..
- As I opened, saw my eyes, I …………………………….. a strange sight.
- James tidied, cooked the lounge while I ………………………… supper.
- While they were playing, broke caroms somebody …………………………………. into the house.
- I thought, opened of it just when you ………………………………. your mouth.
- When she was having, began a bath, the child …………………………… to cry.
- She took out her pen and started writing.
