PAST SIMPLE / PAST CONTINUOUS
1) Fill in the past simple form.
1. Mammoths _______________big animals, bigger than elephants. (be)
2. Mammoths _________________100 years ago. (not live)
3. Mammoths _________________a long time ago. (live)
4. Mammoths ___________meat. They __________grass. (not eat / eat)
5. They ___________two large tusks about three metres long. (have)
6. I _____________by credit card. I _______________cash. (pay / not pay)
7. He ____________some milk. He __________any water. (drink / not drink)
8. She only ____________a pound. She ___________3 pounds. (spend / not spend)
9. I _____________some elephants. I ___________any lions. (see / not see)
10. They _____________in the sea, but they _______________in the lake. (swim / not swim)
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2) Fill in the past simple form.
On Friday, the children ___________ (talk) about a day out together in the country. The next
morning, they ___________ (go) to the country with their two dogs and __________ (play)
together. Ben and Dave _________ (have) some kites. Some time later the dogs __________ (be)
not there. So they __________ (call) them and ___________ (look) for them in the forest. After half
an hour the children __________ (find) them and ____________ (take) them back.
Charlie __________ (be) very happy to see them again. At lunch time Nick _________ (go) to the
bikes and ___________ (fetch) the basket with some meat sandwiches. Then they _________ (play)
football. Nick and Dave ____________ (win). In the evening they _________ (ride) home.
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3) Form the questions.
1. He was at the office yesterday. ___________________ at the office yesterday?
2. We watched the late-night movie. ______________ the late-night movie?
3. My father walked to work yesterday. ____________ to work yesterday.?
4. She took the bus to Manchester. _________________ the bus to Manchester?
5. They ate out last evening. ________________ out last evening?
6. They arrived at the airport on time. _________________ at the airport on time?
7. Linda decided to go home straight away. ______________ to go home straight away?
8. I bought bread. ______________ bread?
9. My friends swam in the sea. ______________ in the sea?
10. My sister missed the bus. ______________ the bus?
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4) Fill in was or were into the gaps.
If there is a (-) use the negation (wasn't or weren't).
1. Last year my best friend __________22 years old.
2. The weather _____________cold when we ____________in Berlin.
3. Why ______________you so angry yesterday?
4. At this time last year Sandra ___________in Paris.
5. We _______________tired because it _________late at night.
6. Tim _____________asleep at ten o'clock yesterday. (-)
7. Our hotel last year ____________small, but it ______________very clean.
8. I phoned you at the weekend, but you ______________at home. (-)
9. My dad _____________at work the whole week, because he was ill. (-)
10. The shops _______________open yesterday, but we didn't go there.
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5) Fill in the negation.
1. They were at the party yesterday. They ____________at the party yesterday.
2. Paula wrote back. Paula _______________back.
3. We arrived late. We ________________late.
4. He played football. He _______________football.
5. I forgot her birthday. I _______________her birthday.
6. He washed the car. He ______________the car.
7. She hurt her leg. She _______________her leg.
8. Sam was tired. Sam ________________tired.
9. I found the keys. I _________________the keys.
10. Martin visited his grandparents. Martin __________________his grandparents.
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PAST CONTINUOUS
6) Complete the sentences with the past progressive.
1. The girls ___________ (play) cards.
2. Greg __________ (look) for his wallet.
3. Mr Miller _____________ (not wash) his car.
4. Susan ____________ (do) her homework.
5. They ___________ (not play) football yesterday afternoon.
6. I ___________ (wait) for her in the park.
7. Carol and I ______________ (have) dinner when he arrived.
8. We ____________ (play) the guitar when she entered.
9. Tom ____________ (not swim) in the pool.
10. The boys _____________ (cycle) home from school.
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7) Complete the sentences with the past simple or progressive.
1. When I ___________to school, I _____________John. (walk/see)
2. When I ____________in the kitchen, Mary ___________. (help/come)
3. While she ____________the soup, the children ____________. (cook/play)
4. While they _____________cards, the baby ______________. (play/sleep)
5. When I _____________in the garden, my uncle ______________. (work/call)
6. Carol _______________TV while Bob and Peter _____________football. (watch/play)
7. When she __________her hair, the baby __________to cry. (wash/begin)
8. A strong wind _____________when the plane _______________. (blow/land)
9. When she ____________tennis, it ______________ to rain. (play/began)
10. When I _____________TV, the lights _______________out. (watch/go)
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8) Complete the sentences. Decide if you need the simple past or the past progressive.
1. I _____________ (look) out of the window and ______________ (see) John.
2. I _____________ (help) to peel the potatoes when Mary _________________ (come) in.
3. The sun ___________ (rise) when we ____________ (reach) the hill.
4. He ____________ (laugh) and ____________ (clap) his hand.
5. While they _____________ (sing), he _____________ (play) the piano.
6. A heavy wind ______________ (blow) when the helicopter ________________ (land).
7. We ________________ (go) to the church when the bell _____________ (start) to ring.
8. While the police _______________ (drive) to the house, the burglars ______________ (put) the
paintings into their bags.
9. Father ________________ (smoke) his pipe while mother ______________ (read) a book.
10. The baby ______________ (start) to cry when she _______________ (do) the washing up.
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