the past tenses

THE PAST SIMPLE, THE PAST PROGRESSIVE AND THE PAST
PERFECT
I. Give the correct form of the verbs in the brackets:
1. He (play) the guitar outside her house when someone opened the window
and (throw) out a bucket of water.
2. I just (open) the letter when the wind (blow) it out of my hand.
3. The burglar (open) the safe when he (hear) footsteps. He immediately (put)
out his torch and (crawl) under the bed.
4. When I (look) for my passport I (find) this old photograph.
5. You looked very busy when I (see) you last night. What you (do)?
6. The boys (play) cards when they (hear) their father's step. They immediately
(hide) the cards and (take) out their lesson books.
7. He (clean) his gun when it accidentally (go) off and (kill) him.
8. He (not allow) us to go out in the boat yesterday as a strong wind (blow).
9. As I (cross) the road I (step) on a banana skin and (fall) heavily.
10. I still (lie) on the road when I (see) a lorry approaching.
11. Luckily the driver (see) me and (stop) the lorry in time.
12. How you (damage) your car so badly? ~
13. I (run) into a lamp-post yesterday. ~
14. I suppose you (drive) too quickly or were not looking where you (go).
15. As he (get) into the bus it (start) suddenly and he (fall) backwards on to the
road.
16. I (call) Paul at 7.00 but it wasn't necessary because he already (get) up.
17. When he (mend) the fuse he (get) a very bad shock.
18. When I (hear) his knock I (go) to the door and (open) it, but I (not
recognize) him at first because I (not wear) my glasses.
19. When I came in they (sit) round the fire. Mr. Pitt (do) a crossword puzzle,
Mrs. Pitt (knit), the others (read). Mrs. Pitt (smile) at me and (say), 'Come and
sit down.'
20. While the guests (dance) thieves (break) into the house and (steal) a lot of
fur coats.

21. The next day, as they (know) that the police (look) for them, they (hide) the
coats in a wood and (go) off in different directions.
22. She was very extravagant. She always (buy) herself new clothes.
23. Her mother often (tell) her that she (spend) too much money but she never
(listen).
24. Whenever the drummer (begin) practising, the people in the next flat (bang)
on the wall.
25. Mr. Smith never (wake) up in time in the mornings and always (get) into
trouble for being late; so one day he (go) to town and (buy) an alarm clock.
26. To get home he (have to) go through a field where a bad-tempered bull
usually (graze).
27. This bull normally (not chase) people unless something (make) him angry.
Unfortunately, as Mr. Smith (cross) the field, his alarm clock (go) off.
28. This (annoy) the bull, who immediately (begin) to chase Mr. Smith.
29. Mr. Smith (carry) an open umbrella as it (rain) slightly. He (throw) the
umbrella to the ground and (run) away as fast as he could.
30. The bull (stop) and (begin) to attack the umbrella. While he (do) this Mr.
Smith escaped.
31. When he (awake) she (sit) by the window. She (look) at something in the
street, but when he (call) her she (turn) and (smile) at him.
32. Why you (interrupt) me just now? I (have) a very interesting conversation
with Mr. Pitt.
33. The murderer (carry) the corpse down the stairs when he (hear) a knock on
the door.
34. When I (look) through your books I (notice) that you have a copy of
Murder in the Cathedral.
35. As they (walk) along the road they (hear) a car coming from behind them.
Tom (turn) round and (hold) up his hand. The car (stop).
36.She didn’t notice that she (never see) that film before.
37.I suddenly (remember) that I (forget) my keys.

38.Bill no longer has his car. He (sell) it.
39.(Have/you/put) Off the fire before you (go) out.
40.I was very pleased to see Mary again. I (not see) for a long time.
41.I thanked her for everything she (do) for me.
42.When I got to the office, I (realize) I (forget) to lock the door
43.Who is that woman? I (never seen) her before.
44. They (go) home after they (finish) their work.
45. She said that she (already, see) Dr. Rice.
46. After taking a bath, he (go) to bed.
47. He told me he (not/eat) such kind of food before.
48. When he came to the stadium, the match (already/begin)
48. Before she (watch) TV, she (do) homework.
49. What (be) he when he (be) young?
. 50After they (go, I (sit) down and (rest)
51. Yesterday, John (go) to the store before he (go) home.
52. She (win) the gold medal in 1986.
53. Our teacher (tell) us yesterday that he (visit) England in 1970.
54. Alan (have) hardly (prepare) for dinner when her husband (go) home
55. No sooner (have) I (watch)TV than the phone (ring)
56. Before I (watch) TV, I (do) my homework.
57. After I (wash) my clothes, I (sleep)
58.Tom was not at home when I (arrive) He (just go) out.
59.She said it (be) the first time she (meet) such a man.
II. Choose the best answer:
1. She _________ a hat last week.
A. buy B. bought C. have bought D. buying
2. The boy _________ a letter yesterday.
A. wrote B. have written C. written D. writes
3. They _________ in the sea for an hour.
A. swim B. swam C. have swum D. swum

4. They _________ a lot of Coke last night.
A. drank B. drink C. have drunk D. drunk
5. She _________ her arm last week.
A. hurt B. hurting C. hurts D. to hurt
6. He _________ all his money last week.
A. spends B. spending C. spent D. has spent
7. She _________ a bath two minutes ago.
A. have B. hasC. having D. had
8. He _________ his wallet last night.
A. lose B. losing C. lost D. losed
9. She _________. On the old chair a minute ago.
A. sat B. sitting C. sitsD. has sat
10. She _________ the clothes yesterday.
A. washes B. wash C. washing D. washed
11. Look! Mr. Nam __________ to Ba.
A. are talking B. is talking C. talking D. talks
12. The children __________ in the park at the moment.
A. playing B. is play C. is playingD. plays
13. My mother __________ a meal now.
A. cooking B. is cooking C. cooks D. cook
14. Be careful! The bus __________.
A. comes B. come C. coming D. is coming
15. What__________ your mother __________ now?
A. do / do B. does / do C. is / doing D. will / do
16. Please be quiet! I_________.
A. is working B. am working C. are working D. is used to want
17. Sometimes I_________ up before the sun rises
A. get B. got C. gets D. am getting
18. Liz _________here since last year.
A. have lived B. was C. has been D. lived

19. I_________ Jerry 3 days ago.
A. won’t meet B. haven’t met C. hasn’t met D. didn’t meet
20. _________ your father_________ a manager in this bank since last year?
A. has/been B. did/work C. was/being D. have /been