Past Simple and Past Continuous

Grammar Reference

Past Simple and Past Continuous — Exercises

Past Simple or Past Continuous?

Tap the correct option.

1. While we waited / were waiting at the departure lounge, they announced a delay.
   (were waiting / waited) 
2. When the referee blew / was blowing the whistle, the spectators cheered.
   (blew / was blowing) 
3. She uploaded / was uploading photos when the app crashed.
   (was uploading / uploaded) 
4. The team trained / was training every day until the championship.
   (trained / was training) 
5. I took notes / was taking notes throughout the whole lecture.
   (took notes / was taking notes) 
6. While she explored / was exploring the wildlife reserve, she spotted a rare bird.
   (was exploring / explored) 
7. He set off / was setting off early and arrived before noon.
   (set off / was setting off) 
8. The pollution levels rose / were rising steadily throughout that decade.
   (were rising / rose) 

Complete with the correct past tense

Use Past Simple or Past Continuous of the verb in brackets.

1. While the athletes (warm up), the coach (arrive).
   
2. The tourist (get) lost while she (look for) the accommodation.
   
3. When I (check) my screen time, I (not believe) it.
   
4. The students (hand in) their assignments just before the deadline (pass).
   
5. While scientists (investigate) the habitat, they (discover) a new species.
   

Correct the mistakes

Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.

1. I was having a great time while I travelled abroad last summer.
   
2. While the referee was blew the whistle, everyone stopped.
   
3. She was knowing the answer but didn't say anything.
   
4. When I was a student, I used to get up at 6am and was going to the gym.
   
5. He set off when it was raining, so he got completely wet.
   

Rewrite using when or while

Combine the two ideas using when or while. More than one answer may be possible.

1. She was checking in. The fire alarm went off.
   
2. I looked out of the window. I saw a stunning wildlife reserve.
   
3. They were downloading the app. The internet went down.
   
4. The spectators were cheering. The athlete crossed the finish line.
   
5. I was revising for my deadline. My flatmate came in and started talking.
   

Past Simple and Past Continuous — Answer Key

Past Simple or Past Continuous?

1. were waiting
2. blew
3. was uploading
4. trained
5. took notes
6. was exploring
7. set off
8. were rising

Complete with the correct past tense

1. were warming up
2. got
3. checked
4. handed in
5. were investigating

Correct the mistakes

1. I had a great time while I was travelling abroad last summer
2. When the referee blew the whistle
3. She knew the answer
4. went to the gym
5. correct

Rewrite using when or while

1. Sample answer: While she was checking in, the fire alarm went off.
2. Sample answer: When I looked out of the window, I saw a stunning wildlife reserve.
3. Sample answer: While they were downloading the app, the internet went down.
4. Sample answer: When the athlete crossed the finish line, the spectators were cheering.
5. Sample answer: While I was revising for my deadline, my flatmate came in and started talking.