Question

Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Indefinite or the Past Continuous tense. Explain the use of tense forms: 1. He (be) very polite. Whenever a woman entered the room he (stand up). 2. When we (arrive) at the meeting the first speaker had just finished speaking and the audience (applaud). 3. The children (make) so much noise that I couldn't hear what their mother (say). 4. I didn't want to meet him, so when he entered the room I (leave) it. 5. This (annoy) the dog, who immediately (begin) to chase Mr Holms. 6. While Nick and I (walk) along the street yesterday evening, one of us (mention) Mr and Mrs Smith. 7. I (share) a room with him when we were students. He always (complain) about his headache. 8. Where he (live) when you (see) him last?

Answer 1

1. He was (being) very polite. Whenever a woman entered the room he (stood up). 2. When we (arrived) at the meeting the first speaker had just finished speaking and the audience (were applauding). 3. The children (were making) so much noise that I couldn't hear what their mother (was saying). 4. I didn't want to meet him, so when he entered the room I (left) it. 5. This (was annoying) the dog, who immediately (began) to chase Mr Holms. 6. While Nick and I (were walking) along the street yesterday evening, one of us (mentioned) Mr and Mrs Smith. 7. I (shared) a room with him when we were students. He was always (complaining) about his headache. 8. Where was he (living) when you (saw) him last?

Answer 2

To solve this exercise, we'll conjugate the verbs in the past indefinite (simple past) or past continuous tense as required by the context of each sentence.

1. He (be) very polite. Whenever a woman entered the room he (stand up).

In this case, we use the past simple tense for the first action and past continuous tense for the second action. - He was very polite. Whenever a woman entered the room he was standing up.

The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past, while the past simple tense is used to describe a completed action.

2. When we (arrive) at the meeting the first speaker had just finished speaking and the audience (applaud).

Here, we use the past simple tense for both actions. - When we arrived at the meeting the first speaker had just finished speaking and the audience applauded.

The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions in the past.

3. The children (make) so much noise that I couldn't hear what their mother (say).

In this case, we use the past simple tense for the first action and past continuous tense for the second action. - The children made so much noise that I couldn't hear what their mother was saying.

The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past, while the past simple tense is used to describe a completed action.

4. I didn't want to meet him, so when he entered the room I (leave) it.

Here, we use the past simple tense for both actions. - I didn't want to meet him, so when he entered the room I left it.

The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions in the past.

5. This (annoy) the dog, who immediately (begin) to chase Mr. Holms.

We use the past simple tense for both actions. - This annoyed the dog, who immediately began to chase Mr. Holms.

The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions in the past.

6. While Nick and I (walk) along the street yesterday evening, one of us (mention) Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Here, we use the past continuous tense for the first action and past simple tense for the second action. - While Nick and I were walking along the street yesterday evening, one of us mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that was in progress at a specific moment in the past, while the past simple tense is used to describe a completed action.

7. I (share) a room with him when we were students. He always (complain) about his headache.

In this case, we use the past simple tense for both actions. - I shared a room with him when we were students. He always complained about his headache.

The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions in the past.

8. Where he (live) when you (see) him last?

We use the past simple tense for both actions. - Where he lived when you saw him last?

The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions in the past.

In summary, the past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were in progress at a specific moment in the past, while the past simple tense is used to describe completed actions in the past.