1. Past Simple and Progressive
Practice

2. Use the simple past or past progressive to complete the following sentences.
1. A: What (you, do) _________________ when you got hurt? B: I (try) __________________ to change a light bulb that was bad After I (find) __________________ the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately) __________________ to the police and (turn) __________________ it in for the official reward.
were you doing
was trying
found
went immediately
turned

3. Use the simple past or past progressive to complete the following sentences.
3. The doctor (say) __________________ that Tom (be) __________________ too sick to go to work and that he (need) __________________ to stay at home for a couple of days.
4. I (watch) __________________ a mystery movie on T.V. when the electricity (go) __________________ out. I (never, go) __________________ to find out how the movie (end) __________________ .
said
was
needed
was watching
went out
was never going
ended

4. Use the simple past or past progressive to complete the following sentences.
5. It's strange that you (call) __________________ because I (think, just) __________________ about you.
called
was just thinking

5. Past progressive verbs are used for
Interrupted action in the past
Parallel continuous actions
Description of a situation

6. Until he went to sleep, Ali was thinking.
1. The past progressive expresses past continuing activity, often when another action interrupted.
ring, say, be, sleep, wake, and call.
Until he went to sleep, Ali was thinking.
He __________________ when Tina __________________ him on his home phone.
So the phone __________________ when suddenly Ali __________________ up.
“Hi,” Tina _________________. “__________________ you sleeping already?”
was sleeping
called
was ringing
woke
said
Were you

7. 2 The past progressive can tell past continuing activity, with parallel continuous actions.
Verbs: read, study, practice, cut, make, mix.
Last night, Tina __________________ English while she __________________ dinner.
She __________________ a lesson and __________________ vegetables for a salad.
Tina __________________ pronunciation while she __________________ up a cake.
In fact, she __________________ a smart meal for her family.
was studying
was making
was reading
cutting
was practicing
was mixing
was making

8. 3. The past progressive can tell past continuing activity, with descriptions of action situations.
Verbs: type, yell, wait, and talk.
In the office, several people __________________ on their computers.
Some busy workers __________________ on the telephones.
As usual, the boss __________________ directions to everyone.
Lots of impatient customers __________________ to be helped.
were typing
were talking
was yelling
were waiting