B1 Past and Past Perfect Tense T052

Fill in the correct form of the verb in brackets: Past or Past Perfect Tense /Simple or
Progressive)

1. My friend Tim ___________________ well yesterday because he ___________________ too

many sweets. (NOT FEEL / EAT)
2. After she ___________________ , she ___________________ much better. (REST, FEEL)
3. She ___________________ him for a year before they finally ___________________ on holidays
together. (KNOW, GO)
4. I asked him what ___________________ because I _______________________ noise the whole
morning. (HAPPEN, HEAR)
5. The next morning, I realised that someone ___________________ my new bike. (STEAL)
6. I ___________________ to the meeting last Monday because nobody ___________________
me. (NOT GO, INVITE)
7. Dan was so excited because he ______________________ €1,000 in the lottery. (JUST WIN)
8. After she ___________________ her first major tournament, she ___________________ from a
series of injuries. (WIN, SUFFER)
9. Our manager told us that the company ___________________ bankrupt. (GO)
10. I ___________________ to pass the test because I ________________________ hard for a whole
week. (MANAGE, STUDY)
11. When we finally ___________________ at the stadium the match _______________________ on
for half an hour. (ARRIVE, GO)
12. Before we ___________________ for Spain, I ___________________ to teach her some Spanish.
(LEAVE, OFFER)
13. We ______________________ for 10 minutes when we finally ___________________ the train
station. (WALK, SEE)
14. The suspect ___________________ the house when the police ___________________ . (JUST
LEAVE, ARRIVE)
15. Sampson ___________________ his report by the time father ___________________ home
(FINISH, COME)
16. She wasn't hungry because she ___________________ lunch. (JUST HAVE)
17. We _______________________ for a while before we ___________________ some fish. (FISH,
CATCH)
18. I told the police that I ______________________ the man in the photo before. (NOT SEE)

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 B1 Past and Past Perfect Tense T018

Complete the sentences using the past or past perfect tense simple. Use the past
perfect progressive if necessary.

1. We were all happy because we __________________ in our homework in time. (HAND)

2. Mrs Shilton __________________ a primary school teacher for twenty years before she
became headmaster of the school. (BE)
3. When we got there, we saw that they ______________________ for over 20 minutes. (REST)
4. We ________________________ dance moves for over two hours, so you can imagine we
were very tired. (PRACTICE)
5. The film ______________________ when we finally got to the cinema. (ALREADY START)
6. By the time I __________________ to school the lesson had already started. (GET)
7. I ____________________________ up for a few minutes when the doorbell rang and our
friends arrived. (ONLY WASH)
8. He __________________ about the accident before he saw it on TV. (HEAR)
9. I __________________ the office after I had finished writing my last email. (LEAVE)
10. The car __________________ down shortly after we had got on the motorway. (BREAK)
11. We _________________________ for an hour when we finally arrived at the remote village.
(WALK)
12. I saw the film after I __________________ the book. (READ)
13. I had already thought of that before you __________________ it up. (BRING)
14. She was so tired because she _________________________ football the whole afternoon.
(PLAY)
15. As soon as the girls had cleaned the house the visitors __________________. (ARRIVE)
16. By the time I was 16 I ______________________ to become a scientist. (ALREADY DECIDE)
17. Suddenly I realised that I _________________________ at the wrong person. He was
absolutely innocent. (SHOUT)
18. I ____________________ from my job because I had received an offer from another
company. (RESIGN)
19. The teacher gave us a break because we ______________________ on the project for
several hours. (WORK)
20. After dad had finished mowing the lawn, he ____________________ repairing the car.
(START)

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 B1 Past Perfect and Past Simple T009

Complete the sentences using the simple form of the past or past perfect tense.

1. By the time we __________________ to the stadium, the performance ______________________,

so we missed the first two songs. (GET, ALREADY START)

2. When we __________________ in Spain the airport management told us that they

__________________ our luggage. (ARRIVE, LOSE)

3. After I __________________ a large meal, I __________________ to feel sick. (HAVE, START)

4. The shoes were very clean because I __________________ hours cleaning them. (SPEND)

5. It __________________ his first trip to India. He __________________ there several times before.
(NOT BE, BE)

6. My neighbour told me that she __________________ a new car a month before. (BUY)

7. Yesterday I __________________ downtown to see Peter. I __________________ him for

months. (GO, NOT MEET)

8. I __________________ Matrix for the first time yesterday. I __________________ it before. (SEE,
NEVER SEE)

9. She __________________ him for very long when she __________________ to get married.
(NOT KNOW, DECIDE)

10. When he __________________, the party was over. Everyone __________________. (ARRIVE,
ALREADY LEAVE)

11. I was happy after I __________________ my first lesson as an instructor. (FINISH)

12. I visited the hospital where the ambulance __________________ my mother. (TAKE)

13. Everyone __________________ the house by the time I __________________ home. (LEAVE,
COME)

14. As soon as he __________________ the old clock on the wall it __________________ again
(REPAIR, BREAK)

15. I __________________ a new car because my old one ____________________ (BUY, BE STEAL)

16. The teacher asked me why I __________________ my homework. (NOT DO)

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 B1 Past and Past Perfect Tense T028

Fill in the correct form of the verb in brackets: Past or Past Perfect Tense /Simple or
Progressive)

1. After I _____________________ the letter, I _____________________ that I _____________________

the wrong address on it. (POST, REALISE, WRITE)
2. John asked me where I _____________________ the day before. (BE)
3. At this time yesterday, we ___________________________ for 6 km. (ALREADY WALK)
4. When I _____________________ through the streets of Madrid, I _____________________ about
the magnificent time I _____________________ there as a student. (WALK, THINK, SPEND)
5. It was the first time that she _____________________ me to dinner. (INVITE)
6. As soon as the maid _____________________ scrubbing the kitchen floor, she _______________
working in the garden. (FINISH, START)
7. We started to worry about Jimmy because we _____________________ him all afternoon.
(CALL)
8. They _____________________ their way out of town before the sun _____________________.
(ALREADY MAKE, RISE)
9. We _____________________ for two hours when we finally got to our hotel. (DRIVE)
10. When I _____________________ home, I saw that the children _______________________.
(ARRIVE, LEAVE)
11. While I _____________________ in the garden it __________________ me that I __________________
off the oven. (WORK, STRIKE, NOT TURN)
12. I _____________________ my best friend to the party, but he couldn't come because he
_____________________ other plans. (INVITE, ALREADY MAKE)
13. I _____________________ out of the window because I _____________________ I
_____________________ some noises. (LOOK, THINK, HEAR)
14. We _____________________ TV when we saw that a devastating earthquake ________________
California. (WATCH, HIT)
15. The police told me that someone __________________ into our neighbour's house. (BREAK)
16. When I finally _____________________ at the airport, he told me that he _____________________
for half an hour. (ARRIVE, WAIT)
17. Patricia _____________________ English for three years when she _____________________ and
_____________________ a job. (STUDY, QUIT, GET)
18. We _____________________ to China because our flight _____________________ on short notice.
(NOT GO, CANCEL)

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 B1 Past Tense Simple and Progressive T024

Fill in the correct form of the past tense.

1. I ________________ my old friend in town the other day. He ________________ to ignore me
and ________________ somewhere else. (SEE, SEEM, LOOK)
2. The teacher ________________ a photo of us while we ________________ up the tree. (TAKE,
CLIMB)
3. We ________________ Martha at the airport last week. She ________________ for the arrival of
her sister while we ________________ to New York. (MEET, WAIT, TRAVEL)
4. "What ________________ to him? – He ________________ totally surprised when I
________________ him. " – (YOU SAY, LOOK, SEE)
5. He ________________ exam papers when I ________________ him. (CORRECT, VISIT)
6. A man ________________ on the road while I ________________ my bike. Luckily, I
________________ not to crash into him. (FALL, RIDE, MANAGE)
7. We ________________ a few miles off the coast when a horrible thunderstorm
________________ up. We ________________ to get to safety as soon as possible. (SAIL,
COME, HAVE)
8. I haven't seen him for ages. When I last ________________ him, he ________________ for a
new job. (SEE, LOOK)
9. While the two teams ________________ up everyone ________________ a flag. It
________________ a very emotional moment. (WARM, WAVE, BE)
10. "What ___________________ when I ________________ to your place yesterday evening?" – "I
________________ the baby". (YOU DO, COME, FEED)
11. I ________________ down a dark alley when suddenly I ________________ footsteps. I
________________ around and ________________ that an old woman with a dog
________________ me. (WALK, HEAR, TURN, SEE, FOLLOW)
12. "Why ___________________ out last night?" – "I ________________ too tired and ______________
to stay at home." (YOU NOT GO, BE, DECIDE)
13. The policeman asked me, " How fast ________________ when you ________________ the old
lady in front of you?" (YOU DRIVE, SEE)
14. Mom ________________ dinner when we ________________ home from football practice.
(PREPARE, GET)
15. When I ________________ young, I always ________________ to be a pilot. (BE, WANT)
16. Las Sunday afternoon I ________________ for a walk in the park and ________________ a cup
of coffee at a local restaurant. (GO, HAVE)
17. When they ________________ to the airport the plane ________________ off. (GET, JUST TAKE)
18. I ________________ on a bench in the park when a man ________________ up to me and
________________ to know what time it ________________. (SIT, COME, WANT, BE)

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 B1 Past Tense : Simple and Progressive T048

Fill in the correct form of the past tense: simple or progressive.

1. Mrs Smith __________________ past the house in Sunset Street when she _______________
fire on the ground floor. (DRIVE, SEE)
2. While he __________________ off the coast the pilot __________________ sharks approaching
the swimmers. (FLY, SEE)
3. Alice __________________ herself while she __________________ football. (HURT, PLAY)
4. She __________________ while she __________________ after the bus. (FALL, RUN)
5. I __________________ my wallet while I __________________ my bike. (LOSE, RIDE)
6. We __________________ dinner when the lights __________________ out. (HAVE, GO)
7. She __________________ of something else while you __________________ to her. (THINK,
TALK)
8. The fireman __________________ the fire on the balcony below when he suddenly
__________________ someone shouting. (FIGHT, HEAR)
9. I __________________ her while I __________________ out of the window. (SEE, LOOK)
10. While the teacher __________________ instructions, the students __________________ at a
spider climbing up the wall. (GIVE, LOOK)
11. Sally __________________ dinner last night when someone __________________ at the door.
(HAVE, KNOCK)
12. I __________________ to study at seven last night. Fred __________________ at 7.30. So I
__________________ when Fred __________________ (BEGIN, COME, STUDY, ARRIVE).
13. My roommate's parents __________________ him last night while __________________
watching TV. (CALL, WATCH)
14. When my husband __________________ home, I __________________ the laundry. (COME,
DO)
15. While they __________________ home it __________________ to rain, so they
__________________ at a small cafe and __________________ a cup of coffee. (WALK, BEGIN,
STOP, HAVE)
16. When I __________________ home at around 2 o'clock, Mum __________________ in her
garden. She __________________ some flowers and dad __________________ the oil of the car
in the garage. (GET, BE, PLANT, CHANGE)

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 B1 Past Tense Simple and Progressive T023

Fill in the correct form of the past tense.

1. My friend Harry _______________ off the ladder while he _______________ the ceiling of his
room. (FALL, PAINT)
2. We _______________ the house in 2003. At that time it _______________ £ 150,000. (BUY,
COST)
3. Dad _______________ interested in buying a new car. (NOT BE)
4. My sister __________________ for me at the airport terminal when I _______________. (WAIT,
ARRIVE)
5. A few nights ago, I _______________ a book when suddenly I _______________ a noise
outside. A few teenagers __________________ loud music. (READ, HEAR, PLAY)
6. The fire ____________________ when the first firefighters _______________ at the scene.
(STILL BURN, ARRIVE)
7. My brother _______________ for a job when he _______________ across an interesting ad in
the newspaper. (LOOK, COME)
8. I _______________ someone call my name. I _______________ around and _______________
my dad standing at the back of the queue. I _______________ so surprised. (HEAR,
TURN, SAW, BE)
9. My sister _______________ a bright summer dress when I _______________ her at the
performance. (WEAR, SEE)
10. I _______________ preparing dinner at 4.pm and I _______________ still at it when my wife
_______________ home. (START, BE, COME)
11. Our housekeeper _______________ the vase. As she _______________ up the pieces, she
_______________ her middle finger. (BREAK, PICK, CUT)
12. We suddenly _______________ that we _______________ in the wrong direction. (REALISE,
DRIVE)
13. She _______________ a great skier when she was young. (BE)
14. I _______________ an old friend in town while I _______________ the shopping. (MEET, DO)
15. While the children _______________ with others my husband and I _______________ to
have a cup of coffee. (PLAY, DECIDE)
16. Magellan _______________ around the world for the first time 500 years ago. (SAIL)
17. I _______________ my dog for a walk in the park when suddenly another dog
_______________ him. (TAKE, ATTACK)
18. When I _______________ back from town everyone was at home. Mum _______________
homework. Dad _______________ the car and my sister Julia _______________ on her
school project. (COME, CORRECT, WASH, WORK)

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 B1 Past Tense: Simple and Progressive T043

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the Past Tense. Use simple and
progressive forms in each of the sentences.

1. Angela ______________ herself while she _________________ up a tree. (HURT, CLIMB)

2. The police car _________________ the robbers when they _________________ a lamppost.
(CHASE, HIT)
3. I _________________ when there _________________ a knock at the door. (STUDY, BE)
4. My brother _________________ on the ice while he _________________. (FALL, SKATE)
5. Margie _________________ dinner when the fire alarm _________________. (HAVE, RING)
6. Mom _________________ herself while she ____________________ onions. (INJURE, CUT)
7. Dad ___________________ the car when a storm suddenly _________________ up. (REPAIR,
COME)
8. Mona _________________ asleep while she _________________ a book. (FALL, READ)
9. I _________________ an old friend while I ___________________ home from the shop.
(MEET, WALK)
10. She _________________ at the ceiling when the door _________________. (STARE, OPEN)
11. I _________________ myself while I _________________ milk on the stove. (BURN, PUT)
12. While the children ___________________ the weather _________________ to clear up.
(REST, START)
13. When I __________________ at the station a car _________________ to take me home.
(ARRIVE, WAIT)
14. I _________________ my cousin while I ___________________ in Paris. (VISIT, STAY)
15. While the pilot ___________________ to stabilize the plane the master alarm
________________ off. (TRY, GO)
16. I _________________ an ambulance while I _________________ out of the window. (SEE,
LOOK)
17. The children ___________________ a movie when their aunt _________________. (WATCH,
ARRVE)
18. We _________________ about our jobs when the phone _________________. (TALK, RING)

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 B1 Past Tense : Simple and Progressive T055

Fill in the correct form of the past tense: simple or progressive.

1. While I ____________________ whether to buy the CD player, a woman ____________________

in and ____________________ it. (WONDER, COME, SNATCH)
2. The teacher asked me," What _____________________ all afternoon yesterday?" (YOU, DO)
3. Our neighbour's dog ____________________ the postman while he ____________________ a
letter. (ATTACK, DELIVER)
4. The chairman ____________________ the conference room and ____________________ that
everyone ____________________ nervously with their neighbour. (ENTER, REALISE, CHAT)
5. We _______________________ last night because our neighbours ____________________ loud
music. (CAN NOT SLEEP, PLAY)
6. Why __________________________ the crime? (YOU, NOT REPORT)
7. When they ____________________ home, they ____________________ the burglars as they
____________________ the house. (GET, SEE, LEAVE)
8. The match official ____________________ the game because it ____________________.
(POSTPONE, RAIN)
9. I ____________________ on the report the whole afternoon yesterday. (WORK)
10. I ____________________ to the police office to report the break-in. (HURRY)
11. While Mom ____________________ the tree, the children ____________________ their favourite
Christmas TV show. (DECORATE, WATCH)
12. As we ____________________ on the motorway to Cardiff, I suddenly ____________________
that I had left the cellar door open. (DRIVE, REMEMBER)
13. When I ____________________ Mary at the dinner party last night, she ____________________ a
wonderful dress. (SEE, WEAR)
14. He ____________________ his leg when he ____________________ off the horse. (BREAK, FALL)
15. We ____________________ outside the café when, all of a sudden, we ____________________ an
explosion. Everyone ____________________ what they ____________________ and
____________________ towards the crossing. (SIT, HEAR, STOP, DO, LOOK)
16. When I ____________________ up this morning, I ____________________ out of the window and
____________________ that it ____________________. It ____________________ me so happy.
(WAKE, LOOK, SEE, SNOW, MAKE)

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 B1 Past Tense: Simple and Progressive T056

Fill in the correct form of the past tense: simple or progressive.

1. While the policeman __________________ out of the window, he __________________ that a

blue SUV __________________ down the road. (LOOK, NOTICE, PARK)
2. I __________________ on my report when the phone __________________. My wife ____________
to know when I __________________ home. (WORK, RING, WANT, COME)
3. He __________________ down the street when he __________________ his old schoolteacher
on the other side. (WALK, SEE)
4. During the time I __________________ in South Africa I never __________________ a serious
crime. (SPEND, SEE)
5. While they __________________ lunch at the new restaurant, a journalist __________________
up to them and __________________ to ask a few questions. (HAVE, COME, WANT)
6. The farmer __________________ the whole neighbourhood with fruit and vegetables.
(SUPPLY)
7. The hairdresser __________________ up her shop, __________________ into the car and
__________________ home. (LOCK, GET, DRIVE)
8. My brother __________________ to contact me at the office, but he __________________ me
because I __________________ lunch with a customer. (TRY, CANNOT REACH, HAVE)
9. Jack __________________ over the carpet because he __________________ attention to where
he __________________. (TRIP, NOT PAY, GO)
10. Where __________________ when I __________________ across you yesterday? (YOU GO,
COME)
11. I __________________ him off at the airport when the police __________________ and
__________________ him. (SEE, COME, ARREST)
12. The old man __________________ on the pavement, so James __________________ to help him.
(FALL, STOP)
13. How __________________ your leg? – Well, I __________________ on the ladder when,
suddenly, I __________________ my balance and __________________. (YOU BREAK, STAND,
LOSE, FALL)
14. She __________________ in France at the time she __________________ the bad news. (LIVE,
RECEIVE)
15. I __________________ the new Prime Minister while I __________________ the press
conference. (MEET, ATTEND)
16. While I __________________ on the motorway, more and more police cars
__________________ in my direction. (DRIVE, COME)

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