Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.
1I ...............; I didn't hear the doorbell.
Wrong!
Use the past continuous for the background action, so the correct answer is "was sleeping".
2I ............... her many times, but she didn't answer.
Wrong!
Use the simple past for repeated completed actions in the past, so the correct answer is "phoned".
3"What ............... then?" "I was watching TV."
Wrong!
Use the past continuous to ask about an action in progress at that time, so the correct answer is "were you doing".
4He ............... money from the rich and gave it to the poor.
Wrong!
Use the simple past for completed past actions in a sequence, so the correct answer is "stole".
5"Did you meet James yesterday?" "Yes, I ............... him."
Wrong!
Use the simple past to answer about a completed meeting yesterday, so the correct answer is "met".
6The train ............... at 6:30.
Wrong!
Use the simple past for a completed event at a specific time, so the correct answer is "arrived".
7The children were sleeping when their mother ............... home.
Wrong!
Use the simple past for the shorter action that interrupted the background action, so the correct answer is "got".
8First I cooked dinner, and then Mike ............... the house.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "tidied" for completed actions that happen one after another ("first ... and then"); the past continuous would describe an action in progress, not the next step in a sequence.
9I ............... dinner when the lights went out.
Wrong!
Use the past continuous for the longer action interrupted by another event, so the correct answer is "was having".
10It ............... me quite some time to learn French.
Wrong!
Use the simple past for a completed past situation, so the correct answer is "took".
11I ............... down the street when I suddenly saw a strange sight.
Wrong!
Use the past continuous "was walking" for the background action that was in progress when a shorter action ("saw") suddenly happened.
12I ............... a car last month.
Wrong!
Use the simple past for a completed action at a finished past time, so the correct answer is "bought".
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- I was sleeping; I didn’t hear the doorbell.
- I phoned her many times, but she didn’t answer.
- “What were you doing then?” “I was watching TV.”
- He stole money from the rich and gave it to the poor.
- “Did you meet James yesterday?” “Yes, I met him.”
- The train arrived at 6:30.
- The children were sleeping when their mother got home.
- First I cooked dinner, and then Mike tidied the house.
- I was having dinner when the lights went out.
- It took me quite some time to learn French.
- I was walking down the street when I suddenly saw a strange sight.
- I bought a car last month.