Simple Past vs Past Continuous

Exercise 1:

Complete the sentences using these paris of verbs. Use the past simple in one gap and the past continuous in the other.

come - show; get-go; hope - give; live - spend; look - see; play-break; start - check in

Example: Just as I was getting into the bath, all the lights went off.

1. I _________ to go away this weekend, but my boss _________ me some work that I have to finish by Monday.

2. WHen I _________ in Paris, I _________ three hours a day travelling to and from work.

3. A friendly American couple _________ chatting to him as he _________ at the hotel reception.

4. I bumped into Lena last week. She _________ a lot better than when I last _________ her.

5. My boss _________ into the office just as I _________ everyone my holiday photos.

6. I _________ badminton four times a week before I _________ my ancle.

7. The smoke alarm _________ when he _________ a candle underneath it.

8. I can't remember how to answer this question. I must confess that I _________ while the teacher _________ it to us.

Exercise 2:

Complete this email with either the past simple or the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets. Where alternatives are possible, think about any difference in meaning.

I _________ (buy) a new alarm clock the other day in Taylor's the jewllers, when I actually _________ (see) somebody shoplifting. I'd just finished paying for my clock and as I _________ (turn) round, an elderly woman _________(slowly put) a silver plate into a bag that she _________ (carry). Then she _________ (walk) over to another part of the shop and _________ (pick up) an expensive-looking watch a number of times. When she _________ (think) that nobody _________ (look), she _________ (drop) it into the bag. Before I _________ (have) a chance to tell the staff in the shop, she _________ (notice) that I _________ (watch) her and (hurry) out. Unfortunately for her, two police officers _________ (walk) past just at that moment and she _________ (run) straight into them.

Past Perfect vs Past Perfect Continuous

Exercise 1 :

Use the past perfect continuous form of the verb in brackets if appropriate; if not, use the past perfect.

1. Mrs. Bishop _________ (try) to have children for years, and only became pregnan at the age of 45.

2. This was the first time we had been to the castle, even though we _________ (visiht) Prague a few times before.

3. She bought her first watch at the age of eight. It _________ (cost) two pounds.

4. Emma Willems _________ (write) novels for ten years before she published her first book.

5. For some time Daniel _________ (worry) about passing the exams and eventually decided to change the course he was taking.

6. My teacher was really annoyed with me. It was the third time I _________ (arrive) late for school that week.

7. I _________ always _________ (believe) it would be easy to get a job, and was disappointed to be rejected.

8. We _________ (talk) about Sarah when, to our amazement, she walked through the door.

Exercise 2:

Use a verb in the appropriate tense (past simple, past perfect, past perfect continuous) (active or passive possible as well)

1. At the time an appropriate site became available, they  _________ (discuss) the proposed new library for almost three years.

2. His condition _________ (improve) considerably when I saw him in the hospital last night.

3. It was announced that the Toulouse train _________ (delay) by ten minutes. 

4. Thomas _________ (diet) for a month when he came to stay with us, and we noticed immediately that he had already lost a lot of weight.

5. Victorai _________ (expect / win) comfortably, but she finished third.

6. WHen I reversed the car out of the garage, I _________ (damage) the read number plate.

7. Andrei _________ (promote) last week.

Further in-depth explanation + (interactive, drop down) exercises: http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/past3b.html

For Fun:

The Eagles: Hotel California (fill in the lyrics) 

Oasis: Champagne Supernova (fill in the lyrics - various tenses)