NM3 ENGLISH WORKSHEET : Simple past and Past continuous

Name:__________________________________ Grade:__________ Date: ________

The aim of this worksheet is to provide the necessary practice to use the simple
past and the past continuous correctly.

I. Complete the sentences with affirmative + verbs, questions ? or negative - .

Examples: I didn't break this window, but (the other one + ) I Broke the other one.

I worked last week, but (the week before - ) I didn't work the week before.

I bought a new coat yesterday. ('shoes too ? ) Did you buy shoes too?

1) He didn't change his trousers, but (his shirt + ) ________________________________.

2) She answered the first question, but (the others - ) _____________________________.

3) He phoned her, but (go to her house - ) ______________________________________.

4) I didn't bring any flowers, but (some chocolates + ) ____________________________.

5) I know you went to Singapore, but (Malaysia ? ) ______________________________.

6) I ate the vegetables, but (the meat - ) ________________________________________.

7) 'Peter didn't phone yesterday'. ('this morning' ? ) _______________________________.

8) They didn't speak English, but (German + ) __________________________________.

9) I liked the party, but (the music - ) _________________________________________.

10) We didn't know your address, but (phone number + ) __________________________.

11) 'I ate your cake'. ('my chocolates too' ? ) ____________________________________.

12) My uncle didn't teach mathematics, but (English + ) __________________________.

13) We kept the photos, but (the letters - ) _____________________________________.

14) My grandfather shaved on weekdays, but (at weekends - ) ______________________.

15) Bill cooked the potatoes, but (the fish - ) ____________________________________.

16) She didn't buy a coat, but (a very nice dress + ) ______________________________.

II. Write three things that you didn't do yesterday.

17) _____________________________________________________________________.

18) _____________________________________________________________________.

19) _____________________________________________________________________.
III. Make simple past questions with What, Who and Where.

Example: Pete saw somebody. Who did he see?__________________.

20) John went somewhere.___________________________________.

21) Bill bought something. __________________________________.

22) Alice married somebody._________________________________.

23) Joe study something. ____________________________________.

24) Sarah went on holiday somewhere. _________________________.

25) George understood something. ____________________________.

26) Robert study somewhere. ________________________________.

27) Catherine heard somebody. _______________________________.

IV. Complete the sentences with past continuous verbs.

Examples: When I got home (the children watch TV + )

When I got home the children were watching TV

(you cycle ? ) when you broke your leg

Were you cycling when your broke your leg?

When I saw Joan (she look - ) happy

When I saw Joan she wasn't looking happy.

28) At seven o'clock on Friday (we play cards + )

_________________________________________________________________________

29) When I saw him he was holding the phone but (talk - )

_________________________________________________________________________

30) When Mary got up (it snow + )

_________________________________________________________________________

31)When I saw Alice, (she walk - ) very fast

_________________________________________________________________________

32) What (you do ? ) at ten o'clock yesterday evening

_________________________________________________________________________

33) When you heard them, (they talk about me ? )

_________________________________________________________________________

34) How fast (you drive ? ) when you had the accident

_________________________________________________________________________

35) The doorbell rang when I (expect - ) anybody

_________________________________________________________________________

36) I don't know what I (do + ) at 10.00 on January 13th, 2005.

_________________________________________________________________________

37) I had to drive to London because the trains (run - ) when I left home

_________________________________________________________________________

V. Put simple past and past progressive verbs in the right places.

Example: While I was walking down the road, I saw__ Bill. (walk / see)

38) While I ______________ the newspaper, the cat ______________ on the table. (read /
jump)

39) Alan ______________ Helen while he ______________ in Morocco. (meet / travel)

40) Sally ______________ her leg while she ______________ (break / ski)

41) While I ______________ , somebody ______________ my car. (shop / steal)

42) Ruth ______________ me eight times yesterday while I ______________ (phone /

work)

43) The police ______________ me while I ______________ home. (stop / drive)

44) I ______________ an interesting report on the radio while I ______________

breakfast. (hear / have)

45) Dad ______________ to sleep again while he ______________ TV. (go / watch)

46) While I ______________ I ______________ a glass. (wash up / break)

47) I ______________ my hand while I ______________ in the kitchen. (cut / work)

48) When I ______________ the house I took my coat because it ______________ .

(leave / snow)

49) When I ______________ the door they ______________ about me. (open / talk)

50) The telephone ______________ while I ______________ lunch. (ring / cook)

51) When I last ______________ from Harry he ______________ in Portugal. (hear /

work)

52) I saw Sid when I ______________ to work. He ______________ (come / shop)

53) She ______________ Jim while she ______________ . (meet / travel)

54) I ______________ out of the window and ______________ that we ______________

over the mountains. (look / see / fly)