PAST SIMPLE - PAST CONTINUOUS - PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

1 Choose the correct answer.

1. Where did you buy / were you buying your tent?

2. My brother bought / was buying me a gift while he shopped / was shopping.
3. Why didn’t you sleep / weren’t you sleeping at 3.00 am?
4. While the children played / were playing, their parents talked / were talking.
5. As I walked / was walking to the bus stop, the bus drove / was driving past me.

2 Complete the sentences with the time expressions below.

in 1990 • while • when • at 6.00 pm • yesterday morning

1. The baby was crying ……………………… his mother went into his room.
2. ……………………… we were playing football, our father was cleaning the house.
3. My mum’s car is very old. She bought it ……………………… .
4. It started to rain ……………………… , so we went inside and made dinner.
5. ……………………… , my best friend went to France on holiday.

3 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple or Past Continuous.

1. While he ……………………… (shave), he ……………………… (cut) himself.

2. She ……………………… (break) her nail while she ……………………… (clean) the house.
3. While Adam ……………………… (look) for his keys, he ……………………… (find) his glasses.
4. Rosa ……………………… (meet) her boyfriend while she ……………………… (travel) in India.

4 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Perfect Simple.

1. By the time she reached the airport, she ……………………… (miss) the plane.
2. They ……………………… (learn) the play by heart before they performed it on the stage.
3. ……………… he ……………… (go) to sleep by 11 o’clock?
4. The film ……………… already ……………… (start) before he arrived at the cinema.
5. How much homework ……………… he ……………… (finish) when you arrived?

5 Choose the correct answer.

1. They studied / had studied Portuguese for a year before they travelled / had travelled to Brazil.
2. My parents decided / had decided to visit India after they saw / had seen a documentary about the
Taj Mahal.
3. By the time they reached / had reached the station, their train left / had left. Naturally they were
upset.
4. Nick was hungry when the plane landed / had landed at the airport because he didn’t eat / hadn’t
eaten on the flight.
6 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple, Past Continuous or Past
Perfect Simple.
1. They ……………………… (not finish) packing their suitcase when their taxi ………………………
(arrive).
2. They ……………………… (be) friends for five years before they ……………………… (get) married.
3. Clara ……………………… (try) to study while her brother ……………………… (play) his drums.
4. Mr Brown ……………………… (cross) the street when a car ……………………… (hit) him.
5. They ……………………… (read) the whole travel guide before they ………………..… (go) on their trip.
 6. Why ……………… you ……………………… (cry) when I ……………………… (see) you yesterday?

7 Write questions for the answers below. Pay attention to the words in bold.

1. ....................................................................................................................
Victor was visiting a museum while we were eating.
2. ....................................................................................................................
Ingrid had bought souvenirs before we arrived.
3. ....................................................................................................................
Toni was working at the bank when he met Eva.
4. ....................................................................................................................
Mr Duncan had smoked 20 cigarettes a day before he stopped smoking.
5. ....................................................................................................................
My parents went sightseeing in Paris in the summer.
6. ....................................................................................................................
I didn’t wear a jacket because it was warm outside.
8 Choose the correct answer.
1. Did they visit / Have they visited their grandparents last week?
2. My uncle lived / has lived in Canada for eight years and is very happy there.
3. He didn’t check / hasn’t checked his e-mails yet.
4. When did they finish / have they finished the test?
5. Irene broke / has broken her leg yesterday.
6. The twins were / have been ill for a week. I hope they get better soon.
7. My brother didn’t have / hasn’t had his lunch yesterday.
8. Where were you / have you been lately?

9 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple or Present Perfect Simple.

1. Mr Smith ……………………………… (never teach) English before.

2. Robert ……………………………… (drive) to London two days ago.
3. ……………… you ……………………… (go) to the football match last week?
4. I ……………………………… (not wash) the dishes yet.
5. ……………… you ever ……………………… (see) such a beautiful car?
6. My friend ……………………………… (already give) his work to the teacher.
7. Nancy ……………………………… (not drink) enough water yesterday.
8. Mrs Black ……………………………… (recently write) a new book.
10 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple or Past Continuous.
1. The teacher …………………… (leave) the room while the students …………………… (do) a test.

2. The dog ……………………… (sleep) when the thief …………………………… (enter) the house.

3. I …………………………… (get dressed) when my boyfriend …………………………… (ring).

4. Andy …………………………… (see) us while he …………………………… (run) in the park.

5. Jake …………………………… (stop) working when he …………………………… (break) his leg.

6. We ……………………… (watch) a film on television when Mark ……………………… (arrive).

11 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple or
Present Perfect Simple.
1. Judy …………………… (leave) the building an hour ago.
2. …………………… you …………………… (have) time to visit your grandparents lately?
 3. I …………………… (not like) the book that I read for my English project.
4. The children …………………… (be) tired after the hike on Saturday.
5. He …………………… (not hire) anyone yet.
6. How long …………………… they …………………… (know) each other?

12 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple, Present Perfect Simple
or Past Perfect Simple.

1. Larry’s parents …………………………… (give) him money for his birthday last month. He
…………………………… (just buy) a new bicycle with the money.

2. By the time the train…………………… (arrive), many people …………………… (come) to the station.

3. We ………………………… (sell) all the tickets for the school party yesterday, but the girls
…………………………… (not decorate) the room yet.

4. …………………… Steve …………………… (send) the letter before he ……………………………

(talk) to his boss?

5. Marie ……………………… (not stop) crying since Graham …………………………… (leave) town.

13 Choose the correct answer.

1. The boy won / has won the judo competition yesterday.
2. When did you return / have you returned from your holiday?
3. She knew / has known Melissa since they were babies.
4. Mr Smith didn’t sleep / hasn’t slept last night because of the noise.
5. He called me last month but I didn’t hear / haven’t heard from him since.
6. Did you see / Have you seen Penélope Cruz’s latest film yet?
7. They went / have gone skiing two years ago.
8. I never ate / have never eaten here before
14 Complete the sentences with the time expressions below.
two years ago • yet • since • never • last night • just
1. The suspect escaped from prison at midnight …………………… . The police are still looking for him.
2. I’ve lived in Manchester ………………………… 2006.
3. Sue hasn’t seen the new James Bond film ………………………… .
4. I started my university course ………………………… . I hope to finish next year.
5. I’ve ………………………… been to that restaurant. Let’s go on my birthday.
6. Thanks, but I’m not hungry. I’ve ………………………… had a sandwich.

15 Complete the sentences with correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Present Perfect Simple
and the Past Simple.
1. Harry ………………………… (lock) the door and put the keys in the drawer.
2. We ……………… just ………………………… (receive) a report from the White House.
3. Since 2010, police patrols ………………………… (prevent) hundreds of robberies in this area.
4. I ………………………… (not read) the newspaper article yet, but I’m sure it’s interesting.
5. Our burglar alarm ………………………… (go off) at 10.00 last night.
6. ……………… Ingrid ever ………………………… (work) in a bakery?
16 Choose the sentence that is closest in meaning to the original sentence.
1. By the time we arrived, the burglar had run away.
a. We arrived and the burglar ran away.
b. The burglar ran away before we arrived.
2. Julie went on holiday after she had finished the project.
a. Julie finished the project and then went on holiday.
b. Julie finished the project when she was on holiday.
3. We had already bought a new flat when we sold our old one.
a. We sold our flat and then bought a new one.
b. We bought a flat before we sold our old one.
17 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Perfect Simple
and the Past Simple.
1. …………………… you …………………… (phone) the police before you …………………… (leave)?
2. We …………………… (already / tell) Jenna the news when you …………………… (see) her.
3. By the time I ………………… (get) home, the reporters ………………… (be) at the house for two hours

18 Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Past Simple or Past Continuous.
1. They ………………………… (arrive) home while their mother …………………………… (cook) dinner.
2. The electricity ……....………..… (go off) while Larry ……………...………… (play) a computer game.
3. The children ………..…………… (talk) when the teacher …………………… (enter) the classroom.

4. David suddenly ………………………… (remember) the phone number while he ………………………

(look) through his book.

5. ……………… the baby ……………… (cry) when the babysitter …………………… (leave) the room?
6. I ……………………… (buy) the film tickets while my boyfriend ……………………… (park) the car.

19 Choose the correct answer. Past Simple or Past Perfect Simple.

1. The dogs stopped / had stopped barking by the time the police came / had come.
2. Did you turn off / Had you turned off the stove after you finished / had finished cooking?
3. John heard / had heard the news before he read / had read it in the newspaper.
4. No one enjoyed / had enjoyed the party because Andy forgot / had forgotten to bring the music.
5. By the time the technician called / had called, my brother fixed / had fixed the computer