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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #97911: Past Simple or Past Continuous





    > Other English exercises on the same topics: -ing | Past [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Past simple or present perfect - Past tenses - Past simple (video) - Modal: may/might - Past simple or past continuous - Placement test 1 - Adjectives-ing and ed - FOR and its use
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    Past Simple or Past Continuous


    Past Simple

    - Used when talking about something that happened in the past at a specific time. The actions are now finished:

    Tom and Mary visited me last Saturday.

    - For a duration in the past:

    I lived in Russia for 2 years.

    - When showing habits in the past:

    When I was a child I rode a bike every day.

    - It is also used for past facts or generalizations:

    Tamara was a very lazy girl when she attended school.

    - When talking about a series of completed actions in the past:

    I ate dinner, left home and visited them.


    Past Continuous

    - Used when talking about an action that was happening before. To show that a longer action in the past was interrupted by another action ( past simple ):

    While I was vacuuming my house, the telephone rang.

    - When describing an action in progress at a precise  moment in the past:

    At 11 o'clock yesterday, I was watching TV.

    - For two actions when they were happening at the same time:

    I was writing a report while she was playing the piano.

    Voir tests similaires ici  / Other similar tests here  test  test  test





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    English exercise "Past Simple or Past Continuous" created by greg100 with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from greg100]
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    1. - the film at seven o'clock last night? - No, I wasn't. I was reading a book.

    2. John his homework while his sister was drawing a picture.

    3. Nick's parents became angry because he his university entrance exam.

    4. Yesterday I went to visit him, then I had dinner and later on I them.

    5. Kate felt a rumble in her tummy while she .

    6. My friend Eric always fishing on Saturdays when he was a child.

    7. I my grandfather's farmland all day yesterday.

    8. What last week after work?

    9. I breakfast at 8 o'clock, took a bath and then went to work.

    10. Marcus to preschool today because he felt dizzy.

    11. We stayed at home all day because it hard.

    12. This time last year they around the world.

    13. I was talking with Peter while my son in the garden.

    14. I in this city for ten years. I don't live there anymore.

    15. I tried to explain that to my parents but they .

    16. We biology while they were watching a film.

    17. He was reading a book when his mother .

    18. The sun , so we went for a walk.

    19. We wanted to buy this car but it too much.










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