Exercises on tenses
A. Past simple or past progressive
We (wait) for Jane, when suddenly Louis (come) around the corner.
I (cycle) through the park, when I (hear) a strange noise.
He (pass) her a message when the teacher (look / not) .
I (fall) asleep while I (watch) TV last night.
When Mike and Jane (paint) the walls, their dog (knock) over the paint pot.
Tom (break) his leg when he (play) frisbee.
The phone (ring) when I (sit) on the toilet.
I (jog) in the park, when two squirrels (cross) my way.
Robert (fall) off the ladder when he (pick) cherries.
Archimedes (discover) the theory of buoyancy while he (take) a bath.
When we (travel) around Ireland, we (meet) some very nice people.
While she (speak) on the phone, the milk (boil) over.
When I (leave) the house this morning, the sun (shine) .
Caroline (burn) her hand when she (iron) her clothes.
Two days ago, a murder (happen) in Market Street at about seven pm.
Yesterday, Sherlock Holmes (arrive) at the crime scene to investigate.
He (ask) one of the tenants in the house.
A: What (do / you) yesterday at seven?
B: I (watch) a football match on TV.
A: (be) you alone?
B: Yes, I (be) .
A: (hear / you) anything suspicious?«
B: Yes, about seven o`clock, two people (argue) in the hallway. But the football match (be) so interesting. So I just (turn) up the telly and then (hear / not) anything anymore.
A: What (do / you) yesterday at 8 pm?
B: I (sit) in the pub with Sam. Why?
A: I (drive) to the sports centre at that time to play squash with a few friends. As we only three players, I (try) to ring you to ask if you would like to come as well. But I (reach / not)you at home.«
B: Why (ring / not / you) my mobile?
A: I actually (want) to ring your mobile, but by accident I (dial) William`s number. He (do / not) anything special at that moment and really (like) the idea of playing squash with us.
When I (do) the washing-up, I (break) a plate.
While Tom (play) the piano, his mother (do) the washing-up.
He (drink) some juice and then he (eat) a few chips.
I (have) dinner when I suddenly (hear) a loud bang.
When my father (work) in the garden, an old friend (pass) by to see him.
She (go) to school, (take) out her textbook and (begin) to learn.
When it (start) to rain, our dog (want) to come inside.
When Jane (do) a language course in Ireland, she (visit) Blarney Castle.
When I (be) on my way home, I (see) an accident.
I (not / understand) what they (talk) about.
When I (get) up yesterday, the sun (shine) .
It (be) a beautiful morning.
So I (decide) to cycle around a little.
I (go) to the shed and (take) out my bike.
While I (cycle) past some villages, I (see) some people in their gardens.
One man (mow) the grass while his wife (pick) strawberries. After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud suddenly (appear) and it (start) to rain. Luckily, a farmer (notice) me and (tell) me to come in. While it (rain) outside, I (sit) in the farmer`s house. After a while, the sun (come) out again. I (thank) the farmer for his hospitality and (move) on.
B. Past simple or past perfect
My friend (eat) up all the biscuit we (bake) .
The teacher (correct) the tests we (write) .
I (give) them some of the candies I (buy) .
My sister (see / not) the note that I (lay) on the kitchen table for her.
We (want) to watch a film that we (see / not) before.
Bob (wake) up early in the morning