> Other English exercises on the same topics: -ing | Past | Plu-perfect | Find the correct tense [Change theme]
	> Double-click on words you don't understand.

Past simple, continuous or perfect

Diana was listening to the children who were playing in the garden, as she took the cake out of the box. She had told them to stay outside.

She placed the cake on the table and took out some birthday candles.She was laying the table when the doorbell rang.

She stopped what she was doing and went to the door.Her friend Susan was outside.Her face was red because she had been at the gym.

Susan followed Diana to the kitchen and sat at the table.She looked at the cake and said, "Chocolate.Lovely.

It's my favourite".Diana was pleased. She had chosen the flavour a few days before going to the baker's.

When the doorbell rang she was still wondering if she had made the right choice.

Explanation.

PAST SIMPLE

1.We use past simple to talk about actions in a past event, to say what happened next.

Example

She took the cake out of the box and placed it on the table.

PAST CONTINUOUS

2(a).We use past continuous to talk about an action that had begun, but hadn't finished at a time in the past.

Example

Sara was listening to the children who were playing outside.

2(b) We often use past simple and past continuous together when a short action comes in the middle of a longer one.

Example.

She was laying the table when the doorbell rang. (She hadn't finished laying the table.This was 'interrupted by the door bell ringing)

PAST PERFECT

3.We use the past perfect before a past situation.

Example

She had chosen the flavour. (Her choice was made before she entered the baker's)

Compare.

When he got to the cinema the film started. = He was on time.

When he got to the cinema the film had started = He missed the beginning.

Twitter Share
English exercise "Past simple, continuous or perfect" created by ddec with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from ddec]
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

Please log in to save your progress.

1. 1.The children had eaten when their mother came in. She said 'hello'. (Which action happened first?)had eatensaid hellocame inI don't know

2. Tom had cooked dinner. The food was ready, but Susan was still laying the table.(Which action wasn't finished?)had cookedwas layingwas readyI don't know

3. Tom and Patrick were laughing and talking to each other when a young boy spoke to them.(Which was the shortest action?)spokewere laughingwere talkingI don't know

4. The manager entered his office, put on his jacket and turned off the computer.(Which action happened first?)enteredput onturned offI don't know

5. When their mum arrived the children were eating.They had put on their pyjamas.(Which action happened first?)had put onwere eatingarrivedI don't know

6. When Susan had sent the report she went to the office.Her colleague was working on his computer.(Which action is not finished?)wenthad sentwas workingI don't know

7. He was standing in the queue and looking at his phone when a message arrived? (Which action is the shortest?)arrivedwas lookingwas standingI don't know

8. He tried the sandwich. It didn't taste nice. He had added sauce to it. He added salt. (When did he add the sauce to the sandwich?while making the sandwichafter tasting the sandwich.after putting in the saltI don't know

9. At 6 o'clock yesterday, I tidied the bedroom. I had tidied the kitchen. I was tidying the living room.(Which room was tidied second?)the living roomthe bedroomthe kitchenI don't know

10. Their father had eaten when he came home. He worked for a few hours. Then he went out for a smoke. (When did the father eat?)before he came homeafter he workedafter he had a smoke.I don't know