Past Simple and Past Continuous Exercises

In this entry we show you some exercises and their solutions to check your level in the subject of Physics. We show you the following links in case they are of interest to you:

• English classes and courses
• Free English notes and resources
• English Exams

Simple past

1. When I was a child, I always _________ to school by bike. (go)
2. She _________ her keys at home this morning. (leave)
3. You _________ all the answers on the test! (know)
4. Before I moved to this city, I had never _________ sushi. (try)
5. Have you ever _________ at a live concert? (sing)
6. Last year, she _________ her book and it was a big hit. (publish)
7. My grandmother _________ delicious meals every Sunday. (cook)
8. The last time I saw them, they _________ a new house. (buy)
9. I _________ at that company for five years before I found a new job. (work)
10. Although we _________ all day, we couldn't finish the project on time. (strive)

Past Continuous

1. While you were sleeping, I _________ the whole house. (clean)
2. They _________ a movie when the power went out. (watch)
3. When I called her, she _________ dinner. (make)
4. I _________ to music while studying for the exam. (listen)
5. The children _________ in the garden when it started to rain. (play)
6. We _________ the game when someone knocked at the door. (play)
7. She _________ a bath when the phone rang. (take)
8. While they _________ for the bus, they met an old friend. (wait)
9. I _________ a book when I suddenly realized I was late. (read)
10. The sun _________ when we went outside for a walk. (shine)

Phrases to practice both past tenses

1. Yesterday, I _________ to the store, but they _________ remodeling, so it was closed. (go, be)
2. She _________ her keys at home this morning, while she _________ for the bus. (leave, wait)
3. While we _________ dinner last night, the power _________. (cook, go out)
4. They _________ the game on TV when their friends _________ by for a surprise visit. (watch, drop)
5. He _________ to the gym last week, but on Tuesday he _________ at home with a cold. (go, stay)
6. She always _________ her homework, but yesterday she _________ it at school. (do, forget)
7. While you _________ your book, I _________ some cookies. (read, bake)
8. They _________ a new house last month, while they _________ for a bigger place. (buy, look)
9. I _________ my phone on the table when I _________ for my keys. (put, search)
10. The children _________ in the park when it _________ to rain. (play, start)
11. Last weekend, they _________ to the beach, but they _________ because of the weather. (go, don't enjoy)
12. While I _________ to work yesterday, I _________ a flat tire. (drive, get)
13. She _________ a beautiful song at the concert, while the audience _________. (sing, clap)
14. They _________ late for the meeting because they _________ in traffic. (be, get stuck)
15. I _________ my grandma last Sunday while she _________ in the garden. (visit, work)

Solutions

Simple past

1. went
2. left
3. Knew
4. classes
5. Sung
6. published
7. cooked
8. bought
9. worked
10. strove

Past Continuous

1. was cleaning
2. were watching
3. was making
4. was listening
5. were playing
6. were playing
7. was taking
8. were waiting
9. was reading
10. was shinin

Phrases to practice both past tenses

1. went, was
2. left, was waiting
3. were cooking, went out
4. were watching, dropped
5. went, was staying
6. did, forgot
7. were reading, baked
8. bought, were looking
9. put, was searching
10. were playing, started
11. went, didn't enjoy
12. was driving, got
13. sang, were clapping
14. were, got stuck
15. visited, was working