PRACTICE WITH PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS

PRACTICE WITH PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS

Exercise 1 Use the verbs in the box to complete the sentences. Some of the sentences are positive statements, some are questions.

a. wake	d. complain	g. discover
b. accept	e. hear	h. study
c. know	f. place	i. visit

1. Columbus America: the Indians already where it was.
2. you economics when you were at the university?
3. She the job because the salary was too low.
4. Last week a number of customers about slow service.
5. you the Tower when you were in London?
6. When you the thunder? – At night something me up.

Exercise 2

(a) Write in the missing form of each of the irregular verbs below. Each verb can be used with the expressions on the right.

Definition	Simple Past	Expressions
run	ran	... a business, ... out of something, ... up a bill
do		... a job well, ... your best, business with
make		a profit, a mistake, a complaint
	went	abroad, out for a meal, bankrupt
write		a letter, a report, out a cheque
	had	lunch, a meeting, problems
pay		by credit card, cash, in advance
	sold	something at a profit, as a loss, out

(b) Choose a past tense and one of the expressions above to complete the following sentences.

Mr. Duncan made some calls from his hotel room and ... a large phone bill.
Harper & Grant, Ltd. ... with that company a few years ago, but then we stopped dealing with them.
The company lost money in its first year, but last year it ...
He couldn’t find a suitable job in his country, so he ... to look for work.
When the consultants had finished their study, they ... for the directors, giving a list of recommendations.
The engineers ... with the gearbox, so they made some modifications to it.
They didn’t want cash or a cheque, so I ...
The product was very popular. We ... on the first day and ordered some more stock.

Exercise 3 Make questions from the prompts.

1. John completed his preliminary desk research on Friday. When ?

2. Harper and Grant set up a company in the 1950s.
When ?

3. Parents warned their children that tradeoffs involved in going to college include using time and money now to gain greater advantages in the future. What ?

4. Earlier the term market denoted a place set aside for buying and selling. What ?

5. When Mr. Black realized the real cost of things he found the right solution. What ?

Exercise 4 Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. Mary met her husband while she in the States.
2. It’s all very well complaining you haven’t any money, but while you were traveling around the world, I sixteen hours a day for my exams.
3. How long is it since you a holiday?
4. The only time I ever a horse, I off in the first five minutes.
5. At six o’clock this morning I a wonderful dream, but then the alarm off.
6. I out of the window and saw that we over the mountains.

Exercise 5 Complete the text with the verbs in the box (there is one verb too many).

a. ask	d. grin	g. order
b. come	e. hold	h. play
c. dance	f. not dance	i. throw

On the dance floor half a dozen couples themselves around. Most of them cheek to cheek, if dancing is the word. The men more white tuxedos and the girl wore bright eyes, ruby lips, and tennis or golf muscles. One couple cheek to cheek. Mitchell’s mouth was open, he his face was red and shiny, and his eyes had that glazed look. Betty her head as far as she could get away from him without breaking her neck. It was very obvious that she had had about all of Mr. Larry Mitchell that she could take.
A Mexican waiter in a short green jacket and white pants with a green stripe down the side up and I a double Gibson and if I could have a club sandwich. (from Raymond Chandler)

Exercise 6 Complete the following paragraph with suitable verbs. Use either the Past Simple or the Past Continuous Tense.

John Blake was born in London in 1969. He to work in France when he was. While he in a restaurant in Paris, he Luisa, an Italian student. He her to marry him, but she wouldn’t. Heartbroken, he to England. Three years later, John along a street in London when he Luisa. She London with a friend called Marie. When John and Marie , they fell in love at first sight, and got married the following year.

Exercise 7 Most of the sentences contain one mistake. Correct each one. Use Present Simple and Continuous and Past Simple and Continuous. Put “v” if correct.

1. The coffee is smelling wonderful.

2. Last year we visited the States.

3. The ship sank because the engineer wasn’t calling for help until it was already sinking.

4. The reason I get fat is that I’m always tasting things while I’m cooking.

5. How is Jennifer? Does her health improve?

6. You’re quite right, I’m completely agreeing with you.

7. What did you after you left school?

8. Now I understand what you are trying to say!

9. I can’t imagine why you were believing all those rumours.

10. Martine looked forward to a peaceful weekend, when his brother arrived with all his friends from the football club.

11. Philippa heard the result of the election as she was driving to work, so she phoned me when she got there.

12. Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve spilt some tea. Where are you keeping the paper towels?

Компьютерный дизайн и программирование: Е.В. Кабакова, A.C.Носиков