All past tenses – English Grammar Test for B2
Grammar » Grammar Test for B2 » All past tenses – English Grammar Test for B2
→ Use Past Perfect.
2 While she cooked, he watched TV.
→ Use Past Continuous for both actions.
3 We started the meeting. After that, the manager arrived.
→ Use Past Perfect.
4 He studied English for two years. Then he moved to Canada.
→ Use Past Perfect Continuous.
5 She was tired because she worked all day.
→ Use Past Perfect Continuous.
6 I met him. Before that, I never saw him.
→ Use Past Perfect.
7 The children played football when it began to rain.
→ Use Past Continuous.
8 He went to the office at 8. He left at 5.
→ Emphasize the duration with Past Perfect Continuous.
9 The train left. Then we arrived at the station.
→ Use Past Perfect.
10 She read the book. After that, she wrote a report.
→ Use Past Perfect.
11 While I cleaned the kitchen, my sister washed the dishes.
→ Use Past Continuous for both actions.
12 He completed the project before the deadline.
→ Use Past Perfect.
13 They argued loudly when the teacher entered.
→ Use Past Continuous.
14 I watched TV for three hours yesterday evening.
→ Use Past Continuous.
15 We lived in Paris for five years before we moved to London.
→ Use Past Perfect.
16 He was nervous because he didn’t prepare well.
→ Use Past Perfect.
17 When I arrived, they were in the middle of dinner.
→ Rewrite with Past Continuous.
18 By the time I got home, my mother cooked dinner.
→ Use Past Perfect.
19 She played the piano. He painted a picture at the same time.
→ Use Past Continuous.
20 I didn’t see her because she left early.
→ Use Past Perfect.
21 The ground was wet. It rained all night.
→ Use Past Perfect Continuous.
22 I went to Spain last summer.
→ Change to Past Continuous to describe background action.
23 She wrote three letters before lunchtime.
→ Use Past Perfect.
24 He worked in the garden. He was tired afterwards.
→ Use Past Perfect Continuous.
25 We waited for hours. Finally, he arrived.
→ Use Past Perfect Continuous.
26 I just went out when the phone rang.
→ Use Past Perfect.
27 She was reading when the lights went out.
→ Keep same meaning but use Past Continuous.
28 He lived in the city until 2000.
→ Use Past Perfect.
29 At that time last year, I travelled across Europe.
→ Use Past Continuous.
30 He worked in the company for ten years before he resigned.
→ Use Past Perfect.
Answer
1 I had finished my homework before I went to bed. – Past Perfect shows earlier action.
2 She was cooking while he was watching TV. – Two simultaneous Past Continuous actions.
3 We had started the meeting before the manager arrived. – Past Perfect for earlier event.
4 He had been studying English for two years before he moved to Canada. – Past Perfect Continuous for duration.
5 She was tired because she had been working all day. – Cause shown with Past Perfect Continuous.
6 I had never seen him before I met him. – Past Perfect for earlier experience.
7 The children were playing football when it began to rain. – Past Continuous for background action.
8 He had been working in the office from 8 to 5. – Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes length.
9 The train had left when we arrived at the station. – Past Perfect for earlier event.
10 She had read the book before she wrote a report. – Past Perfect for earlier event.
11 I was cleaning the kitchen while my sister was washing the dishes. – Two simultaneous past actions.
12 He had completed the project before the deadline. – Past Perfect for completion before point.
13 They were arguing loudly when the teacher entered. – Past Continuous interrupted by another action.
14 I was watching TV for three hours yesterday evening. – Past Continuous shows duration in the past.
15 We had lived in Paris for five years before we moved to London. – Past Perfect for duration before another event.
16 He was nervous because he hadn’t prepared well. – Past Perfect negative indicates cause.
17 When I arrived, they were having dinner. – Past Continuous shows ongoing action.
18 By the time I got home, my mother had cooked dinner. – Past Perfect emphasizes earlier completion.
19 She was playing the piano while he was painting a picture. – Two Past Continuous actions in parallel.
20 I didn’t see her because she had left early. – Past Perfect for earlier action.
21 The ground was wet because it had been raining all night. – Past Perfect Continuous explains result.
22 I was going to Spain last summer. – Past Continuous sets background past action.
23 She had written three letters before lunchtime. – Past Perfect emphasizes completion.
24 He had been working in the garden, so he was tired. – Past Perfect Continuous for cause.
25 We had been waiting for hours before he finally arrived. – Past Perfect Continuous for long action.
26 I had just gone out when the phone rang. – Past Perfect with “just” indicates immediacy.
27 She was reading when the lights went out. – Past Continuous for interrupted action.
28 He had lived in the city until 2000. – Past Perfect describes time before another past point.
29 At that time last year, I was travelling across Europe. – Past Continuous for ongoing past action.
30 He had worked in the company for ten years before he resigned. – Past Perfect for duration.