Question

Past Simple or Past Continuous 1. As I (do) the washing up, I (break) a glass. 2. We (walk) in the woods when the storm (begin). 3. John (repair) his motor bike when his mother (arrive). 4. I (eat) my lunch when the phone (ring). 5. He (ride) his bicycle to school when he (drop) his bag. 6. We (see) a bad accident as we (drive) to the airport. 7. Tom (watch) the match when the TV (break down). 8. We (talk) when she (come) into the room. 9. We (go) swimming every week when we were young. 10. Simon (dance) when he fell and hurt his leg. 11. Why (you\laugh) all through your history lesson yesterday? 12. I (drink) a glass of milk every day when I was a child. 13. Todd often (ride) horses when he was a boy. 14. Bill (write) a letter when his mother came home. 15. It (rain) while I was waiting for the bus. 16. I (play) the guitar when I was young but I don’t any more. 17. Debbie (sing) in the school choir many years ago. 18. Liz (clean) the windows when I saw her

Answer 1

1. As I was doing the washing up, I broke a glass.
2. We were walking in the woods when the storm began.
3. John was repairing his motor bike when his mother arrived.
4. I was eating my lunch when the phone rang.
5. He was riding his bicycle to school when he dropped his bag.
6. We saw a bad accident as we were driving to the airport.
7. Tom was watching the match when the TV broke down.
8. We were talking when she came into the room.
9. We went swimming every week when we were young.
10. Simon was dancing when he fell and hurt his leg.
11. Why were you laughing all through your history lesson yesterday?
12. I drank a glass of milk every day when I was a child.
13. Todd often rode horses when he was a boy.
14. Bill was writing a letter when his mother came home.
15. It was raining while I was waiting for the bus.
16. I played the guitar when I was young but I don’t any more.
17. Debbie sang in the school choir many years ago.
18. Liz was cleaning the windows when I saw her.

Answer 2

Here are the sentences with the appropriate verb tenses:

1. As I was doing the washing up, I broke a glass. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

2. We were walking in the woods when the storm began. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

3. John was repairing his motorbike when his mother arrived. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

4. I was eating my lunch when the phone rang. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

5. He was riding his bicycle to school when he dropped his bag. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

6. We saw a bad accident as we were driving to the airport. (Past Simple for both actions)

7. Tom was watching the match when the TV broke down. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

8. We were talking when she came into the room. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

9. We went swimming every week when we were young. (Past Simple for the repeated action)

10. Simon was dancing when he fell and hurt his leg. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

11. Why were you laughing all through your history lesson yesterday? (Past Continuous for the action in progress)

12. I drank a glass of milk every day when I was a child. (Past Simple for the repeated action)

13. Todd often rode horses when he was a boy. (Past Simple for the repeated action)

14. Bill was writing a letter when his mother came home. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

15. It was raining while I was waiting for the bus. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)

16. I played the guitar when I was young but I don't anymore. (Past Simple for the action in the past)

17. Debbie sang in the school choir many years ago. (Past Simple for the action in the past)

18. Liz was cleaning the windows when I saw her. (Past Continuous for the action in progress and Past Simple for the completed action)