A.Past Tense – Simple or Progressive: Fill in the correct form.

1. George ________________ off the ladder while he ________________ the ceiling. (fall, paint)

2. Last night I ________________ in bed when I suddenly ________________ a scream. (read, hear)

3. ________________ TV when I ________________ you? (you watch, phone)

4. Ann ________________ for me when I ________________ . (wait, arrive)

5. Maisie ________________ up the kitchen when John ________________ her to marry him. (clean,
ask)

6. The house ________________ £ 150,000 in 2003. (cost)

7. The fire _______________________ at six in the morning. (still burn)

8. My brother ________________ a new job a week ago (get).

9. Columbus ________________ America over 500 years ago (discover)

10. She ________________ not interested in the book because she ________________ it (be ,not
understand)

11. ________________ at school yesterday? (you be)

12. We ________________ in a house near the sea last summer (live)

13. She ________________ the piano very well when she ________________ young (can play, be)

14. She ________________ the office very early last night (leave).

15. I ________________ a friend while I ________________ the shopping (meet, do)

16. I ________________ for my things when I ________________ someone call my name (pay, hear)

17. I ________________ around and ________________ Judy. (turn, see)

18. She ________________ a bright yellow dress when I ________________ her last (wear, see)

19. We ________________ to have a cup of tea. (decide)

20. While the waiter ________________ up the pieces of glass he ________________ his finger (pick,
cut)

21. Then we ________________ the cafe and ________________ good bye (leave, say)
22. I ________________ the fire at six and it ________________ brightly when Tom came in at seven.
(light, still burn)

23. My dog ________________ along quietly when Mary’s Pekinese ________________ him. (walk,
attack)

24. When I ________________ she ________________ lunch. She said she always ________________ lunch
at 12:30. (arrive, have, have)

25. What ________________ of his last book? –I ________________ it a lot (you think, like)

26. He suddenly ________________ that he ________________ in the wrong direction. (realize,

travel) 27. He ________________ guitar when someone ________________ the window and
________________ out a bucket of water. (play, open, throw)

28. He ________________ us to go out in the boat yesterday because a strong wind

________________ (not allow, blow)

29. The next day, as they ________________ that the police ________________ for them, they
________________ the coats in the woods and ________________ off in different directions. (know,
look, hide, go)

30. When I ________________ home they ________________ around a fire. Jack ________________ a
crossword puzzle, Judy ________________ and the others ________________ . Mother ________________
at me and said : “ Come and sit down” (come, sit, do, knit, read, smile)

B. Past Tense – Simple or Progressive: Fill in the correct form

1. I _________________ Sue in town yesterday, but she _________________ me. She _________________
the other way. (see, not see, look)

2. I _________________ Tom and Jane at the airport a few weeks ago. They _________________ to
Berlin and I _________________ to Madrid. We _______________a chat while we _________________ for
our flights. (meet, go,go,have,wait)

3. I _________________ home yesterday when suddenly a man _________________ out into the road
in front of me. I _________________ quite fast but luckily I _________________ to stop in time and
_________________ him. (cycle, step, go, manage, not hit)

4. Jerry _________________ for me when I _________________ . (wait, arrive)

5. “What _________________ at this time yesterday”? – “I was asleep.” (you do)

6. “_________________ out last night?” – “No, I was too tired”. (you go)

7. “Was Carol at the party last night?” – “Yes she _________________ a really nice dress.” (wear)

8. How fast _________________ when the accident _________________ ? (you drive, happen)

9. John _________________ a photo of me while I ____________________ . (take, not look)

10. We _________________ in a very difficult position. We _________________ what to do. (be, not
know)

11. I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last _________________ him, he _________________ to find a
job in Leeds (see, try)

12. I _________________ along the street when suddenly I _________________ footsteps behind me.
Somebody _________________ me. I was frightened and _________________ to run. (walk, hear,
follow, start)

13. When I _________________ young I _________________ to be a bus driver. (be, want)

14. While Mike _________________ TV Sheila _________________ a book. (watch, read)

15. She _________________ for the bus when I _________________ her yesterday. (wait, see)

16. On Sunday I _________________ for a walk and then I _________________ the museum. (go, visit)
17. He _________________ lunch when the first guests _________________ . (prepare, arrive)

18. She _________________ when she suddenly _________________ a strange noise. (sleep,hear)

19. We _________________ on the lake when a terrible thunderstorm _________________ up. (sail,
come)

20. Some minutes later his friend _________________ to take him to the airport. (come)

21. While his friend _________________ the car, John _________________ about his holidays. (drive,
talk)

22. John _________________ a shower when the telephone _________________ . (have, ring)

23. When they _________________ at the airport, the plane ______________________ high above their
heads. (arrive, already fly)

24. They _________________ to the restaurant and _________________ a cup of coffee. (go, have)

25. While the football teams _________________ up, the fans _________________ their flags. (warm,
wave)
C. Past Tense – Simple or progressive

1. It ______________________ (rain) when we __________________ (come) out of the shopping centre.

2. It _________________(happen) very quickly. The car ______________________ (come) out of the

side road and then the van ______________________ (drive) into the back of it.

3. I ______________________ (be) ill last week.

4. He ______________________ (break)his leg when he ______________________ (ski) .

5. I ______________________ (look)out of the window and saw that people __________________ (walk)
in the park.

6. Emma ______________________ (pass) her exam a few weeks ago.

7. When we ______________________ (see) the spaceship we ___________________(stop) the car.

8. When ______________________ (you buy) the car? – I ______________________ (buy) it a few years
ago.

9. He ______________________ (sit) in the garden when a wasp ______________________(sting) him in

the nose.

10. Claire ______________________ (go) to Egypt last month.

11. She ______________________ (have) a beautiful dream when the alarm clock ________________
(ring).

12. The car ______________________ (stop) at the lights.

13. We ______________________ (drive) home in the middle of the night when we ______________
(see) a flashing light.

14. Soft music ______________________ (play) when I ______________________ (go) into the room. 15.
______________________ (you buy) that bag while I ______________________ (look) after the children?

16. It ______________________ (be) peaceful and the birds ______________________ (sing).

17. Was _________________________(Jimmy, already wait) for you when you ______________________
(get) there?

18. I ______________________ (ring) at about 3 o’clock yesterday, but you ______________________

(not pick) up the phone. – What ______________________ (you do) ? – I ______________________ (help)
Dad in the garden so I probably ______________________ (not hear)it.
19. I ______________________ (lie) in the bath when the phone ______________________ (ring). It
______________________ (stop) after a few rings.

20. It ______________________ (be) cold when we ______________________ (leave) the house that day.

D. Fill in the correct form of the Present Perfect tense!

1. The earth __________________ here for billions of years (be).

2. We ________________________ cards for the last few hours (play).

3. We ________________________ problems with our new car recently (have)

4. ____________________________ on anything interesting lately ?(you work)

5. Cuba ________________________ a socialist country since 1959 (be)

6. I ________________________ care of my neighbour’s cats while they are away (take)

7. I ________________________ my car for three years (have).

8. ________________________________ an important fight? (the boxer , ever, win)

9. John and Mary ________________________ with each other since the day they got married
(quarrel). 10. It ________________________ hard since last night (rain).

11. I’m tired because I ________________________ well lately. (not feel)

12. _________________________________ your problems? (your parents, always, understand)

13. The patient ________________________ penicillin for several days now (take)

14. A big earthquake ________________________ San Francisco since 1906. (not hit)

15. They ___________________________ in San Francisco since they arrived in the USA 20 years
ago. (live)

16. He got ill five weeks ago and ________________________ yet. (not recover)

17. Everyone in the Middle East ________________________ about the situation for decades
(worry). 18. We ________________________ very cold weather this year (have)

19. Where ________________________ the money? (you, hide)

20. At last ,my favourite team ________________________ against its most important rival (win)
21. I ________________________ for 6 years. (marry)

22. Dad ________________________ a number of jobs in the last few years (have).

23. The bank is still closed. It ________________________ yet. (not open)

24. Our daughter ___________________________ lipstick since she was 16 (wear).

25. She is angry because her boyfriend ________________________ up yet and she
________________________ for half an hour. (not show, wait).

26. I’m still waiting for an answer. They ________________________ up their minds yet. (not
make)

27. How many times ________________________ the cat today? (Kim feed)

28. The kids ________________________ on my nerves. They ________________________ too much noise
(get, make).

29. My company ________________________ a lot of money in the last few years. They
________________________ hard on an important project. (make, work).

30. They ________________________ our new refrigerator yet, but they will any day now. (not
deliver)

E. PAST or PAST PERFECT (Simple and progressive) - Complete the following

sentences with the correct form of the verb !

1. When I ___________________ (WALK) through Bologna I ___________________ (THINK) about the

wonderful times I ___________________ (SPEND) there as a student.

2. They ___________________ (ALREADY LEAVE) the village before the sun ___________________
(RISE).

3. As soon as she ___________________ (FINISH) cleaning the floors she ___________________

(START) gardening.

4. After I ___________________ (POST) the letter I ___________________ (REALISE) I ___________________

(WRITE) the wrong address.

5. We ___________________ (DRIVE) for two hours when we saw the hotel.

6. It was the first time that he ___________________ (INVITE) me for lunch.

7. John ___________________ (ASK) me if I ___________________ (BE) away on holiday.

8. When I ___________________ (GET) home last night my family ___________________ (ALREADY
GO) to bed.

9. We ___________________ (BE) worried about John because we ___________________ (CALL)

several times but he never answered.

10. When I ___________________ (ARRIVE) home I ___________________ (SEE) that someone

___________________ (BREAK) into my house.

11. She ___________________ (MEET) James on the street yesterday and he ___________________
(TELL) her that he ___________________ (BE) ill for the past two weeks.

12. I ___________________ (LOOK) out of the window last night because I ___________________
(HEAR) some noises.

13. I ___________________ (INVITE) Susan to the party but she couldn’t come because she
___________________ (ALREADY MAKE) other plans.

14. They ___________________ (WATCH) TV when the earthquake occurred.

15. When room service arrived, we ___________________ (ALREADY WAIT) for nearly half an
hour.

16. He ___________________ (STUDY) English for three years when he started a new course.

F.PAST or PAST PERFECT Tense : Fill in the correct verb forms!

1. They __________________ (GO) home after they __________________ (FINISH) their homework.

2. She just __________________ (JUST GO) out when I called at her house.

3. The sun had set before I __________________ (BE) ready to go.

4. When she came into the room she saw that her husband __________________ (ALREADY
DRINK) a lot of alcohol.

5. He __________________ (LEARN) English before he left for England.

6. When my husband came home I __________________ (ALREADY BE) in bed for two hours.

7. My friend __________________ (NOT SEE) me for many years when I met him last week.

8. After I __________________ (HEAR) the news, I __________________ (HURRY) to see him.

9. He thanked me for what I __________________ (DO).

10. They drank small cups of tea after they __________________ (FINISH) dinner.
11. He told me he__________________ (CATCH) a young lion and __________________ (SHOOT) two
others.

12. When I __________________ (GET) there everyone __________________ (ALREADY GO).

13. When I saw him last he __________________ (BE) married for 6 years.

14. We heard that a fire __________________ (BREAK OUT) in the neighboring house.

15. After he __________________ (READ) the letter he __________________ (BURN) it.

16. He wanted to go to London because he __________________ (NEVER BE) there before.

17. When Queen Victoria __________________ (DIE) in 1901 she __________________ (REIGN) for
over 60 years.

18. She told me that she __________________ (NEVER GO) to Canada.

19. The results were better than I __________________ (EXPECT)

20. Mr. Smith retired last year after he __________________ (BE) with his company for over 30
years.

G. Past or Past Perfect Tense – Simple: Fill in the correct form.

1. Mary ___________________ (give) me Tony's address before she left.

2. When the boys arrived at the cinema, the film ___________________ (already, start).

3. Before we reached the station we saw that we ___________________ (lose) our way.

4. All the tickets ___________________ (be) sold before the concert began.

5. They took a shower after they ___________________ (finish) the game.

6. I asked Mr Green how many books he ___________________ (read)

7. Mum asked me why I ___________________ (not tidy) up my room.

8. Bob was sorry that he ___________________ (told) me the story.

9. Alan watched TV after he ___________________ (have) lunch.

10. The sun ___________________ (shine) yesterday after it ___________________ (be) cold for many
weeks.

11. Uncle David ___________________ (go) to the doctor after he ___________________ (be) ill for a
month.
12. Before the police ___________________ (catch) the thief, he ___________________ (steal) two
more watches.

13. Mum once ___________________ (paint) a picture although she ___________________ (never,
learn) it.

14. I ___________________ (not tell) my teacher that my mum ___________________ (help) me with
my homework.

15. I ___________________ (be) very angry when I ___________________ (see) that my brother
___________________ (eat) my apple.

16. The bike ___________________ (be) much more expensive than he ___________________ (think)
at first.

17. Dad ___________________ (drive) me home after I ___________________ (fall) into the water.

18. Marion ___________________ (ask) me what ___________________ (happen) to me last week.

19. We ___________________ (eat) two Big Macs before we ___________________ (go) home.

20. Paul ___________________ (not say) that he ___________________ (take) Albert's watch.

21. The days ___________________ (become) colder after it ___________________ (snow).

22. Martin ___________________ (tell) me that he ___________________ (be) in London.

23. I ___________________ (feel) great after I ___________________ (pass) the exam.

24. It ___________________ (be) Freddy who ___________________ (clean) the room.

25. When I ___________________ (get) off the bike I ___________________ (see) that one of those tires
___________________ (lose) air.

26. I ___________________ (be) sorry that I ___________________ (not be) nicer to him.

27. Nobody ___________________ (come) to the meeting because Angela ___________________

(forget) to tell them about it.

28. I know that I ___________________ (see) her somewhere before.

29. Because she ___________________ (not check) the oil for so long, the car ___________________
(break) down.

30. She couldn't find the book that I ___________________ (lend) her.
31. They never ___________________ (never find) where he ___________________ (hide) the money.
32. It was a firm that I ___________________ (never hear) of.

33. When she ___________________ (come ) in we all knew where she ___________________ (be)

34. The lesson ___________________ (already start) when I ___________________ (arrive).

35. When I ___________________ (get) to the park I found out that I ___________________ (lose) my
keys.

36. She told me that she ___________________ (work) in Germany.

37. When he ___________________ (paint) the kitchen he ___________________ (decide) to have a

rest.

38. After I ___________________ (finish) the report, I saw that it ___________________ (be) too late.