Past simple and past continuous – English Grammar Test for A2
Grammar » Grammar Test for A2 » Past simple and past continuous - English Grammar Test for A2
(a) read
(b) was reading
(c) reads
2 They ______ (go) to the park yesterday afternoon.
(a) go
(b) were going
(c) went
3 While she ______ (cook), the phone rang.
(a) cooked
(b) was cooking
(c) cooks
4 He ______ (not/finish) his homework before dinner.
(a) didn’t finish
(b) wasn’t finishing
(c) not finished
5 I ______ (see) him at the supermarket yesterday.
(a) saw
(b) was seeing
(c) see
6 They ______ (play) football when it suddenly started to rain.
(a) played
(b) were playing
(c) play
7 She ______ (drop) her keys while she ______ (get off) the bus.
(a) dropped / was getting off
(b) was dropping / got off
(c) dropped / got off
8 At 8 p.m. yesterday, I ______ (study) English.
(a) studied
(b) was studying
(c) studies
9 While I ______ (walk) home, I ______ (meet) an old friend.
(a) was walking / met
(b) walked / met
(c) was walking / was meeting
10 He ______ (fall) asleep during the film.
(a) fell
(b) was falling
(c) falls
11 We ______ (stay) in London for two weeks last summer.
(a) stayed
(b) were staying
(c) stay
12 While she ______ (take) a shower, the phone rang.
(a) took
(b) was taking
(c) takes
13 He ______ (hurt) his ankle while he ______ (run).
(a) hurt / was running
(b) was hurting / ran
(c) hurt / ran
14 They ______ (watch) TV when their mother came in.
(a) watched
(b) were watching
(c) watches
15 I ______ (not/go) to school yesterday.
(a) didn’t go
(b) wasn’t going
(c) not went
16 We ______ (sit) in the café when the lights went out.
(a) sat
(b) were sitting
(c) sit
17 She ______ (open) the window when a bird flew in.
(a) was opening
(b) opened
(c) opens
18 He ______ (repair) his bike when I saw him.
(a) repaired
(b) was repairing
(c) repairs
19 They ______ (arrive) late to the meeting yesterday.
(a) arrived
(b) were arriving
(c) arrives
20 While she ______ (paint), her brother ______ (listen) to music.
(a) painted / listened
(b) was painting / was listening
(c) painted / was listening
21 What ______ (you/do) yesterday evening?
(a) did / do
(b) were / doing
(c) do / do
22 Where ______ (she/go) last weekend?
(a) did / go
(b) was / going
(c) does / go
23 Who ______ (you/talk) to when I saw you?
(a) did / talk
(b) were / talking
(c) was / talking
24 When ______ (they/arrive) at the station?
(a) did / arrive
(b) were / arriving
(c) do / arrive
25 What ______ (he/do) while you ______ (cook)?
(a) did / do / was cooking
(b) was / doing / was cooking
(c) was / doing / cooked
26 Why ______ (she/leave) the party early?
(a) did / leave
(b) was / leaving
(c) does / leave
27 What ______ (you/read) yesterday at 9 p.m.?
(a) did / read
(b) were / reading
(c) was / reading
28 Where ______ (they/sit) when you met them?
(a) did / sit
(b) were / sitting
(c) sat
29 What ______ (happen) while you ______ (wait) for the bus?
(a) did / happen / were waiting
(b) was / happening / waited
(c) did / happen / waited
30 What ______ (the children/play) when it started to rain?
(a) did / play
(b) were / playing
(c) was / playing
31 She was play the piano when I came in. (Correct the error)
32 They was watching TV at 7 p.m. yesterday. (Correct the error)
33 While I cooked, the phone was ringing. (Correct the error)
34 He didn’t went to school yesterday. (Correct the error)
35 We was walking in the park when it rained. (Correct the error)
36 I was see him at the supermarket yesterday. (Correct the error)
37 They were listened to music when the teacher came. (Correct the error)
38 She didn’t knew the answer. (Correct the error)
39 While he was read, the baby cried. (Correct the error)
40 I was finished my homework before dinner. (Correct the error)
41 A: What ______ (you/do) when the teacher came in?
B: I ______ (talk) to my friend.
42 A: ______ (you/see) Tom yesterday?
B: Yes, he ______ (play) football.
43 A: What ______ (she/do) when the phone rang?
B: She ______ (cook).
44 A: What ______ (you/do) while I ______ (sleep)?
B: I ______ (listen) to music.
45 A: Where ______ (you/go) last summer?
B: We ______ (travel) to Spain.
46 A: What ______ (he/do) yesterday morning?
B: He ______ (visit) his grandmother.
47 A: What ______ (you/do) at 10 o’clock last night?
B: I ______ (study) English.
48 A: Who ______ (you/meet) yesterday?
B: I ______ (meet) Sarah at the bus stop.
49 A: What ______ (he/do) when you saw him?
B: He ______ (repair) his bike.
50 A: What ______ (they/do) last night?
B: They ______ (have) dinner at a restaurant.
51 Anna ______ (stay) at home last Saturday because she ______ (not/feel) well.
52 While she ______ (read), she ______ (hear) a noise outside.
53 A man ______ (stand) near her car and ______ (try) to open the door.
54 She ______ (call) the police immediately.
55 While she ______ (talk) on the phone, the man ______ (run) away.
56 A few minutes later, the police ______ (arrive).
57 While the police ______ (write) the report, her neighbor ______ (come).
58 He ______ (say) he ______ (see) the man earlier.
59 The police ______ (thank) Anna and ______ (promise) to look for the thief.
60 At the end, Anna ______ (feel) safer.
Answer
1 (b) was reading – Ongoing action interrupted.
2 (c) went – Completed past action.
3 (b) was cooking – Background action.
4 (a) didn’t finish – Negative Past Simple.
5 (a) saw – Completed event.
6 (b) were playing – Continuous action interrupted.
7 (a) dropped / was getting off – Sudden + ongoing.
8 (b) was studying – Ongoing action at specific time.
9 (a) was walking / met – Background + sudden event.
10 (a) fell – Sudden completed action.
11 (a) stayed – Completed past event.
12 (b) was taking – Ongoing interrupted action.
13 (a) hurt / was running – Accident + ongoing action.
14 (b) were watching – Ongoing background action.
15 (a) didn’t go – Past Simple negative.
16 (b) were sitting – Continuous background.
17 (a) was opening – Action in progress.
18 (b) was repairing – Background action.
19 (a) arrived – Completed past action.
20 (b) was painting / was listening – Two parallel actions.
21 (b) were / doing – Past Continuous Wh-question.
22 (a) did / go – Past Simple Wh-question.
23 (b) were / talking – Ongoing action.
24 (a) did / arrive – Completed event.
25 (b) was / doing / was cooking – Ongoing simultaneous actions.
26 (a) did / leave – Completed event.
27 (b) were / reading – Ongoing action at specific time.
28 (b) were / sitting – Scene description.
29 (a) did / happen / were waiting – Correct combo: Simple + Continuous.
30 (b) were / playing – Ongoing action.
31 Correction: was play → was playing – Continuous requires V-ing.
32 Correction: was → were – Plural subject needs “were”.
33 Correction: was ringing → rang – Sudden action → Past Simple.
34 Correction: didn’t went → didn’t go – “Didn’t + base verb”.
35 Correction: was → were – Plural subject “we” → “were walking”.
36 Correction: was see → saw – Past Simple form.
37 Correction: were listened → were listening – Continuous = V-ing.
38 Correction: knew → know – After “didn’t” use base verb.
39 Correction: was read → was reading – Continuous = V-ing.
40 Correction: was finished → finished – Completed action.
41 were you doing / was talking – Ongoing actions.
42 Did you see / was playing – Past Simple + Continuous.
43 was she doing / was cooking – Ongoing background.
44 were you doing / was sleeping / was listening – Continuous simultaneous.
45 did you go / travelled – Past Simple.
46 was he doing / visited – Past Simple.
47 were you doing / was studying – Continuous at specific time.
48 did you meet / met – Past Simple.
49 was he doing / was repairing – Continuous background.
50 did they do / had – Completed action.
51 stayed / didn’t feel – Past Simple actions.
52 was reading / heard – Continuous + Simple.
53 was standing / was trying – Continuous background.
54 called – Completed past action.
55 was talking / ran – Continuous + sudden Simple.
56 arrived – Completed action.
57 were writing / came – Continuous + Simple.
58 said / saw – Past Simple for reported events.
59 thanked / promised – Completed actions.
60 felt – Final past state.