Test B: Past Simple and Past Continuous

1. Put in the Past Simple of the verbs in brackets.

► The car stopped (stop) at the lights.

1 We.............................................(leave) the cinema before the end of the film.

2 The streets.............................................(be) crowded with people.

3 My grandmother.............................................(die) last year.

4 Everyone.............................................(have) a marvellous time.

5 We.............................................(not / like) the food they gave us.

6 Claire.............................................(go) to Egypt last month.

7 The accident.............................................(happen) last weekend.

8 It.............................................(not / be) a very comfortable journey.

9 I.............................................(know) that ages ago.

2. Write a second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the word in brackets.

► There were lights on the spacecraft, (had)

The spacecraft had lights on it.

1 I had my old coat on. (wearing)

2 I was on holiday, and you were on holiday, too. (we)

3 It isn't true that I made a mistake, (didn't)

4 The boys were in the middle of a game of cards, (playing)

5 No one told me about the change of plan, (know)

6 My friend was the winner of the competition, (won)

7 Is it a fact that the Romans built this wall? (did)

3. Lorna Bright is a long-distance walker. Look at this part of her diary describing a morning's walk along the coast. Write the missing words. Use one word only in each space.

It was a fine day (►) when I started out on the last part of my walk around the coast of Britain. The sun was (1)............................................., and a light wind (2)............................................. blowing from the south-west. I was pleased that it (3).............................................raining. I knew by now that I (4).........................................like rain. In fact I (5).............................................it. I (6).............................................along the cliff top and then down into the lovely little fishing village of Wellburn, past a cafe where people (7).............................................having morning coffee. Three miles past Wellburn I (8).............................................down for five minutes and (9).............................................a drink. Now it (10).............................................getting warmer, so I (11).............................................off one of my sweaters. I (12)............................................. stop for long because I (13).............................................to reach Seabury by lunch-time. (14).............................................I finally got there, it (15).............................................just after half past twelve.

4. Each of these sentences has a mistake in it. Write the correct sentence.

a) The hotel were very quiet.

b) It was peaceful, and the birds were sing,

c) I washed my hair when the phone rang.

d) You came not to the club last night.

e) It taked ages to get home.

f) We tried to keep quiet because the baby sleeping.

g) As I was watching him, the man was suddenly running away,

h) Everything was seeming OK.

i) Where bought you that bag?

5. Complete the sentences. Put in the correct form of each verb. Use the Past Continuous or Past Simple.

► When Martin arrived (arrive) home, Anna was talking (talk) to someone on the phone.

Martin started (start) to get the tea.

1.I....................................(lie) in the bath when the phone.............................................(ring). It.............................................(stop) after a few rings.

2 It.............................................(be) cold when we.............................................(leave) the house that day, and a light snow.............................................(fall).

3 Your friend who.............................................(come) here the other day................................. (seem) very nice. I.............................................(enjoy) meeting her.

4 When I.............................................(see) the man, he.............................................(stand) outside the bank. He.............................................(have) a black baseball cap on.

5 When I.............................................(open) the cupboard door, a pile of books.............................................(fall) out.

6 I.............................................(walk) along the street when I suddenly

.............................................(feel) something hit me in the back. I............................................

(not / know) what it was.

7 We.............................................(go) to London yesterday, but on the way we.............................................(hear) about a bomb scare in Oxford Street. So we.............................................(drive) back home straightaway.

8 Something very strange.............................................(happen) to me on my way home from work yesterday afternoon. I.............................................(drive) along the bypass at the time. Suddenly I.............................................(see) my mother in the seat beside me. But she died three years ago.