Exercise 1

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).
1.
While Tom (read) ---------------, Amely (watch) --------------a
documentary on TV.
2.
Marvin (come) -------------home, (switch) ------------on the computer
and (check) -------------his emails.
3.
The thief (sneak) ------------into the house, (steal) -----------the
jewels and (leave) -----------without a trace.
4.
Nobody (listen) -----------while the teacher (explain)
-----------------the tenses.
5.
While we (do) -----------a sight-seeing tour, our friends (lie)
----------on the beach.
6.
He (wake) -------------up and (look) ----------------at his watch

Exercise 2
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1.

The receptionist (welcome) -------------------the guests and (ask)

--------------them to fill in the form.

2.
3.
4.

The car (break) ---------------down and we (have) ---------------to walk home.

The boys (swim) --------------while the girls (sunbathe) ----------------.

My father (come) ----------------in, (look) ---------------around and (tell)

---------------me to tidy up my room.

5.

As long as one group (prepare) ------------dinner, the others (collect)

------------wood for their campfire.

6.

While the parents (have) ------------breakfast, their children (run)

-------about.

7.

Martha (turn) ----------------off the lights and (go) --------------to bed.

Exercise 3
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1.

We (wait) -----------------for Jane, when suddenly Louis (come) --------around

the corner.

2.
3.

I (cycle) ------through the park, when I (hear) -------------a strange noise.

4.
5.

I (fall) -------------asleep while I (watch) ---------------TV last night.

6.

Tom (break) -------------his leg when he (play) ---------------frisbee.

He (pass) ------------her a message when the teacher (look / not)

---------------.
When Mike and Jane (paint) ------------the walls, their dog (knock)
-------------over the paint pot.

7.

The phone (ring) -------------when I (sit) --------------on the toilet.

Exercise 4
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1.

I (jog) ----------------in the park, when two squirrels (cross) ----------------my

way.

2.

Robert (fall) ---------------off the ladder when he (pick)

----------------cherries.

3.

Archimedes (discover) --------------the theory of buoyancy while he (take)

---------------a bath.

4.

When we (travel) --------------around Ireland, we (meet) ---------------some

very nice people.

5.
6.
7.

While she (speak) ------------on the phone, the milk (boil) -----------over.
When I (leave) ------------the house this morning, the sun (shine) -------.
Caroline (burn) ----------her hand when she (iron) ---------------her clothes.

Exercise 5
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1.

Two days ago, a murder (happen) --------------in Market Street at about

seven pm.

2.

Yesterday, Sherlock Holmes (arrive) --------------at the crime scene to

investigate.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

He (ask) --------------on of the tenants in the house.

What (do / you) ----------------yesterday at seven?
I (watch) --------------a football match on TV.
(be) ----------------you alone?
Yes, I (be) ----------------.
(hear / you) -----------------anything suspicious?

Yes, about seven o'clock, two people (argue) ----------------in the hallway.
But the football match (be) --------------so interesting. So I just (turn)
---------------up the telly and then (hear / not) --------------anything anymore.

Exercise 6

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1.
2.
3.

A: What (do / you) -------------------yesterday at 8 pm?

4.
5.

B: Why (ring / not / you) ---------------my mobile?

B: I (sit) ----------------in the pub with Sam. Why?

A: I (drive) -------------------to the sports centre at that time to play

squash with a few friends. As we only three players, I (try) ---------------to ring
you to ask if you would like to come as well. But I (reach / not) -------------you at
home.
A: I actually (want) ------------to ring your mobile, but by accident I (dial)
----------------William's number. He (do / not) -----------anything special at that
moment and really (like) ---------------the idea of playing squash with us.

Exercise 7
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or past progressive).

1.
2.

When I (do) --------------the washing-up, I (break) -------------a plate.

3.
4.
5.

He (drink) ------------some juice and then he (eat) ------------a few chips.

While Tom (play) ------------the piano, his mother (do) --------------the

washing-up.
I (have) -----------dinner when I suddenly (hear) --------------a loud bang.

When my father (work) -------------in the garden, an old friend (pass)

--------------by to see him.

6.

She (go) --------------to school, (take) ------------out her textbook and

(begin) -------------to learn.

7.

When it (start) ----------------to rain, our dog (want) ----------------to come

inside.

8.

When Jane (do) ---------------a language course in Ireland, she (visit)

------------Blarney Castle.

9.
10.

When I (be) --------------on my way home, I (see) ----------------an accident.

I (not / understand) -----------------what they (talk) --------------------about.

Exercise 8
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1.
2.
3.
4.

When I (get) -------------up yesterday, the sun (shine) -----------------.

It (is) --------------------a beautiful morning.
So I (decide) ---------------to cycle around a little.
I (go) -----------------to the shed and (take) -----------------out my bike.

5.

While I (cycle) ----------------past some villages, I (see) ---------------some

people in their gardens.

6.

One man (mow) -------------------the grass while his wife (pick)

------------------strawberries.

7.

After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly

(appear) ----------------and it (start) ------------------to rain.

8.

Luckily, a farmer (notice) --------------------me and (tell) ---------------me to

come in.

9.

While it (rain) ----------------outside, I (sit) ----------------in the farmer's

house.

10.
11.

After a while, the sun (come) --------------out again.

I (thank) --------------the farmer for his hospitality and (move)

-------------------on.