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Past Simple and Past Continuous

Completed actions · Background description · When / While
About this worksheet
Exercises practising Past Simple and Past Continuous. Total: 28 points. Vocabulary from the B1 word bank is used throughout.
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Exercise 1
Past Simple or Past Continuous?
8 points
Tap the correct option.
1
While we waited / were waiting at the departure lounge, they announced a delay.
2
When the referee blew / was blowing the whistle, the spectators cheered.
3
She uploaded / was uploading photos when the app crashed.
4
The team trained / was training every day until the championship.
5
I took notes / was taking notes throughout the whole lecture.
6
While she explored / was exploring the wildlife reserve, she spotted a rare bird.
7
He set off / was setting off early and arrived before noon.
8
The pollution levels rose / were rising steadily throughout that decade.
Exercise 2
Complete with the correct past tense
10 points
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.
Exercise 3
Correct the mistakes
5 points
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.
Exercise 4
Rewrite using when or while
5 points
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.

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