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Mixed Past Simple and Past Continuous (Set 1)

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in either the Past Simple or Past Continuous.

  1. I __________ (watch) TV when the doorbell __________ (ring).
  2. They __________ (have) dinner when I __________ (arrive) at their house.
  3. She __________ (write) an email when her computer __________ (crash).
  4. We __________ (play) football when it suddenly __________ (start) to rain.
  5. He __________ (not/see) me because he __________ (talk) on the phone.
  6. __________ (you/do) your homework when I __________ (call) you yesterday?
  7. I __________ (drive) to work when I __________ (see) the accident.
  8. The students __________ (study) when the teacher __________ (come) into the room.
  9. While I __________ (clean) the house, my brother __________ (relax) in the garden.
  10. They __________ (not/hear) the alarm because they __________ (sleep).

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Option

Choose the correct form (Past Simple or Past Continuous) to complete the sentences.

  1. When I __________ (arrived, was arriving) at the party, everyone __________ (danced, was dancing).
  2. He __________ (didn’t notice, wasn’t noticing) me because I __________ (stood, was standing) behind the door.
  3. They __________ (played, were playing) cards when the power __________ (went, was going) out.
  4. We __________ (saw, were seeing) an accident while we __________ (were walking, walked) to the store.
  5. __________ (Were you working, Did you work) on the project when I __________ (sent, was sending) you the email?
  6. The sun __________ (was shining, shone) while the children __________ (played, were playing) outside.
  7. While he __________ (was cooking, cooked) dinner, the phone __________ (was ringing, rang).
  8. She __________ (was reading, read) a book when her friends __________ (arrived, were arriving).
  9. They __________ (were driving, drove) to the mountains when the car __________ (broke, was breaking) down.
  10. I __________ (was sleeping, slept) when the thunderstorm __________ (woke, was waking) me up.

Exercise 3: Correct or Incorrect?

Read the sentences below and decide if they are correct or incorrect. If incorrect, rewrite the sentence using the correct form of the verb.

  1. He was waiting for the bus when it rained.
  2. They didn’t studied while the teacher was explaining the lesson.
  3. I was walking in the park when I found a wallet.
  4. She didn’t saw him because she was reading a book.
  5. We were having dinner when the lights went off.
  6. The dog barked while we were talking.
  7. They weren’t hearing the doorbell because they were listening to music.
  8. I didn’t went to the party because I was feeling sick.
  9. He was playing the guitar when his friend arrived.
  10. She wrote an email when her computer was crashing.

Exercise 4: Complete the Sentences

Complete each sentence with your own ideas using the Past Simple or Past Continuous.

  1. I __________ (watch) a movie when __________.
  2. They __________ (not/finish) the project because __________.
  3. While I __________ (wait) for the bus, I __________.
  4. He __________ (lose) his phone while __________.
  5. We __________ (study) when the fire alarm __________ (go) off.
  6. They __________ (play) basketball when __________.
  7. She __________ (not/notice) the time because she __________ (work).
  8. I __________ (see) my friend while I __________ (walk) to school.
  9. The children __________ (build) a sandcastle when __________.
  10. He __________ (fall) asleep while he __________ (read).

Answer Key

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

  1. was watching, rang
  2. were having, arrived
  3. was writing, crashed
  4. were playing, started
  5. didn’t see, was talking
  6. Were you doing, called
  7. was driving, saw
  8. were studying, came
  9. was cleaning, was relaxing
  10. didn’t hear, were sleeping

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Option

  1. arrived, was dancing
  2. didn’t notice, was standing
  3. were playing, went
  4. saw, were walking
  5. Were you working, sent
  6. was shining, were playing
  7. was cooking, rang
  8. was reading, arrived
  9. were driving, broke
  10. was sleeping, woke

Exercise 3: Correct or Incorrect?

  1. Incorrect → He was waiting for the bus when it started to rain.
  2. Incorrect → They didn’t study while the teacher was explaining the lesson.
  3. Correct
  4. Incorrect → She didn’t see him because she was reading a book.
  5. Correct
  6. Correct
  7. Incorrect → They didn’t hear the doorbell because they were listening to music.
  8. Incorrect → I didn’t go to the party because I was feeling sick.
  9. Correct
  10. Incorrect → She was writing an email when her computer crashed.

Exercise 4: Complete the Sentences
(Sample answers)

  1. I was watching a movie when my friend called me.
  2. They didn’t finish the project because they ran out of time.
  3. While I was waiting for the bus, I saw an old friend.
  4. He lost his phone while he was walking in the park.
  5. We were studying when the fire alarm went off.
  6. They were playing basketball when it started to rain.
  7. She didn’t notice the time because she was working.
  8. I saw my friend while I was walking to school.
  9. The children were building a sandcastle when the tide came in.
  10. He fell asleep while he was reading.