Past simple and past continuous: grammar exercise To talk about two simultaneous short actions we use simple tenses To talk about a longer background action which was going on when something else happened, we use the past continuous tense We usually use the past simple tense to refer to the shorter action that interrupted the longer background action Complete the following sentences using an appropriate past simple or past continuous tense When I ………………………… (drive) to work, I ………………………… (see) Peter When I …………………………… (have a bath), the telephone ………………………… (ring) I ………………………… (sleep) when someone ………………………… (knock) on the door While she ……………………… (play) games, I ……………………… (work) As I …………………………… (open) my eyes, I …………………………… (see) a strange sight James ………………………… (tidy) the lounge while I ………………………… (cook) supper While they ………………………… (play) caroms, somebody ………………………… (break) into the house I ……………………… (think) of it just when you ………………………… (open) your mouth When she ………………………… (have a bath), the child ………………………… (begin) to cry 10 She ………………………… (take) out her pen and ……………………… (start) writing Answers When I was driving to work, I saw Peter When I was having a bath, the telephone rang I was sleeping when someone knocked on the door While she was playing games, I was working (OR While she played games, I worked.) As I opened my eyes, I saw a strange sight James tidied the lounge while I cooked supper While they were playing caroms somebody broke into the house I thought of it just when you opened your mouth When she was having a bath, the child began to cry 10 She took out her pen and started writing Stay on top of your writing! Download our grammar guide from www.englishgrammar.org to stay up-to-date Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)