1. Complete the sentences with the verbs below. Use the past simple or the past continuous.
argue • borrow • get • not listen • not seem • revise • spend • think
1 Jake didn’t want to come to the park with me because he …………………… for his exam.
2 I noticed the sad look in Lucy’s eyes and knew she …………………… about her grandfather.
3 After retiring, our neighbour …………………… two years travelling around the world.
4 As the teacher gave the instructions, she could tell some of the students …………………… .
5 Outside, it was a miserable day: the sky was grey and the rain …………………… heavier.
6 My cousin …………………… my bike a year ago and has never returned it.
7 Kelsie woke up suddenly; in the street outside, two men …………………… loudly.
8 Even though their holiday was about to start, the children …………………… excited.
Answer
1 was revising 2 was thinking
3 spent 4 weren’t listening
5 was getting 6 borrowed
7 were arguing 8 didn’t seem
2. Tick (✓) the correct verb form to complete the sentences. Tick (✓) both if both are correct.
1 By the age of eighteen, Ben ………… his university degree.
a had completed
b had been completing
2 Her face was pale, as though she ………… a ghost.
a had seen
b saw
3 As we ………… in Spain for several years, we all spoke good Spanish.
a had lived
b had been living
4 Lucy wasn’t at home when I called for her; she ………… into town.
a had gone
b went
5 He ………… a shower when we arrived, so he hadn’t heard us knock at the door.
a had had
b had been having
6 I wish I ………… more attention when we studied this grammar point in class.
a had paid
b had been paying
7 His eyes were red, as though he ………… .
a had cried
b had been crying
8 As soon as ………… his dinner, he went out.
a he’s finished
b he finished
Answer
1 a 2 a 3 a / b 4 a 5 b
6 a / b 7 b 8 a / b
3. Look at the timeline. Then write sentences using the prompts and the correct past tense.
TOM WOODWARD
1984 - born in Liverpool
1991 - moves to London, changes school
1993 - moves to Bristol, changes school again
1995 - starts secondary school in Bristol
2001 - leaves school but is unable to find work
2003 - gets a job in London, moves there
Today - continues in the same job and home
1 in 1986 - live in Liverpool
In 1986, Tom was living in Liverpool
2 by 1992 - move to London
…………………………………..
3 in 1994 - live in Bristol
…………………………………..
4 by 1997 - go to secondary school - two years
…………………………………..
5 between 2001 and 2003 - not have a job
…………………………………..
6 by 2013 - work in London - ten years
…………………………………..
Answer
2 By 1992, Tom had moved to London.
3 In 1994, Tom was living in Bristol.
4 By 1997, Tom had been going to / had been at secondary school for two years.
5 Between 2001 and 2003 Tom didn’t have a job.
6 By 2013, Tom had been working in London for ten years.
4. Complete the blog post using the correct past tense of the verbs in brackets.
Two years ago, I (1) …………………. (decide) to move to Japan for six months. I (2) …………………. (always / want) to learn Japanese and I (3) …………………. (even / try) a few online lessons, but without much success. The only answer, in my opinion, (4) …………………. (be) to live there for a while. During the eight years since leaving university, I (5) …………………. (work) non-stop in a well-paid job, so taking six months off (6) …………………. (seem) financially possible. Three months after making the decision, I (7) …………………. (sit) on a flight to Tokyo!
Finally, my dream (8) …………………. (become) a reality. Before leaving the UK, I (9) …………………. (find) an apartment to rent in a quiet part of the city. I remember waking up on my first morning there and thinking how beautiful everything looked. The sun (10) …………………. (shine) and the birds (11) …………………. (sing) in the trees. I (12) …………………. (go) out to buy some food from the nearest shop - and that’s when my problems (13) …………………. (begin).
Answer
1 decided 2 had always wanted
3 had even tried 4 was
5 worked / had worked / had been working
6 seemed 7 was sitting
8 was becoming / had become
9 found 10 was shining
11 were singing 12 went 13 began