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Mixed Past Simple and Past Continuous (Set 2)

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. While I __________ (walk) to the store, I __________ (meet) my old friend.
  2. She __________ (study) for the exam when her brother __________ (come) home.
  3. They __________ (not/watch) the match when their team __________ (score) a goal.
  4. He __________ (read) a book when his phone __________ (ring).
  5. We __________ (cook) dinner while they __________ (set) the table.
  6. __________ (you/drive) to work when it __________ (start) to rain?
  7. I __________ (not/see) you because I __________ (look) the other way.
  8. The kids __________ (play) outside when it suddenly __________ (get) dark.
  9. The waiter __________ (bring) our food while we __________ (talk).
  10. I __________ (not/finish) my homework because I __________ (help) my parents.

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Option

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

  1. She __________ (painted, was painting) the room when she __________ (fell, was falling) off the ladder.
  2. They __________ (sang, were singing) when we __________ (arrived, were arriving) at the party.
  3. While I __________ (was looking, looked) for my keys, I __________ (found, was finding) an old photo.
  4. __________ (Was, Were) you eating when I __________ (came, was coming) in?
  5. The wind __________ (was blowing, blew) hard while we __________ (were hiking, hiked) up the hill.
  6. He __________ (didn’t hear, wasn’t hearing) the phone because he __________ (was listening, listened) to music.
  7. They __________ (weren’t, didn’t) paying attention when the teacher __________ (was explaining, explained) the rules.
  8. We __________ (met, were meeting) while we __________ (were traveling, traveled) in Spain.
  9. She __________ (broke, was breaking) her glasses when she __________ (was playing, played) football.
  10. The train __________ (was leaving, left) the station while I __________ (was running, ran) to catch it.

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. I was cooking dinner when the power gone out.
  2. They were play outside when it started to snow.
  3. He was run to the bus stop when he fell down.
  4. She didn’t listen because she was doing her homework.
  5. I wrote an email while you was talking to your friend.
  6. The car was moving when I saw it.
  7. We wasn’t watching TV when you called us.
  8. The dog barked while I was walked by the house.
  9. The teacher talked while the students were writing.
  10. She didn’t saw me because she was looking at her phone.

Exercise 4: Match the Sentences

Match each sentence beginning (1-5) with its appropriate ending (A-E). Use the correct verb form for each pair.

  1. While I __________ (A)
  2. They __________ (B)
  3. She __________ (C)
  4. The children __________ (D)
  5. We __________ (E)

A) __________ (watch) TV when it __________ (start) to rain.
B) __________ (not/pay) attention when the teacher __________ (ask) them a question.
C) __________ (drive) to work when she __________ (see) an accident.
D) __________ (build) a sandcastle when the tide __________ (come) in.
E) __________ (talk) about the new project when the manager __________ (enter) the room.

Answer Key

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

  1. was walking, met
  2. was studying, came
  3. weren’t watching, scored
  4. was reading, rang
  5. were cooking, were setting
  6. Were you driving, started
  7. didn’t see, was looking
  8. were playing, got
  9. brought, were talking
  10. didn’t finish, was helping

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Option

  1. was painting, fell
  2. were singing, arrived
  3. was looking, found
  4. Were, came
  5. was blowing, were hiking
  6. didn’t hear, was listening
  7. weren’t, was explaining
  8. met, were traveling
  9. broke, was playing
  10. was leaving, was running

Exercise 3: Correct or Incorrect?

  1. Incorrect → I was cooking dinner when the power went out.
  2. Incorrect → They were playing outside when it started to snow.
  3. Incorrect → He was running to the bus stop when he fell down.
  4. Correct
  5. Incorrect → I was writing an email while you were talking to your friend.
  6. Correct
  7. Incorrect → We weren’t watching TV when you called us.
  8. Incorrect → The dog barked while I was walking by the house.
  9. Correct
  10. Incorrect → She didn’t see me because she was looking at her phone.

Exercise 4: Match the Sentences

  1. While I was watching TV, it started to rain.
  2. They weren’t paying attention when the teacher asked them a question.
  3. She was driving to work when she saw an accident.
  4. The children were building a sandcastle when the tide came in.
  5. We were talking about the new project when the manager entered the room.