Fill in the blanks with an appropriate verb form.
1The boys were playing games when it ............... raining.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "started" for the short action that interrupted the longer past action.
2You were watching TV while I ............... for my exam.
Wrong!
Use the past continuous "was preparing" for an action in progress at the same time as another past action.
3The phone ............... while I was cooking dinner.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "rang" for the short action that happened during the longer past action.
4How long ............... a social activist now?
Wrong!
Use the present perfect "have you been" with "How long" for a situation continuing up to now.
5We ............... each other for a long time, and we are still close friends.
Wrong!
Use the present perfect "have known" with "for a long time" for a state that continues up to now.
6We ............... nothing from all the wars in history.
Wrong!
Use the present perfect "have learnt" when the result is relevant now and no finished past time is given.
7I ............... well for the exam, so I feel confident now.
Wrong!
Use the present perfect "have prepared" with "I" when the present result matters and no finished past time is given.
8I ............... well for the exam, yet I failed.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "prepared" because "failed" places the whole situation in the past.
9The teacher ............... an interesting question in class yesterday.
Wrong!
Use the simple past "asked" with the finished past time expression "yesterday".
10I looked around, but I ............... anyone.
Wrong!
Use the simple past negative "didn't find" after the past action "looked".
11She threw a glass at me, but ...............
Wrong!
Use the simple past "missed" for the second completed action in the past sequence.
12If you don't hurry, you ............... the train.
Wrong!
Use "will miss" in the main clause of a real first conditional sentence.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The boys were playing games when it started raining.
- You were watching TV while I was preparing for my exam.
- The phone rang while I was cooking dinner.
- How long have you been a social activist now?
- We have known each other for a long time, and we are still close friends.
- We have learnt nothing from all the wars in history.
- I have prepared well for the exam, so I feel confident now.
- I prepared well for the exam, yet I failed.
- The teacher asked an interesting question in class yesterday.
- I looked around, but I didn’t find anyone.
- She threw a glass at me, but missed.
- If you don’t hurry, you will miss the train.