Verb Tense Exercise 3 Simple Past / Past Continuous

1. A: What (you, do) were you doing when the accident occurred? 
B: I (try) was trying to change a light bulb that had burnt out. 

2. After I (find) found the wallet full of money, I (go, immediately) immediately went to the police and (turn) turned it in. 

3. The doctor (say) said that Tom (be) was too sick to go to work and that he (need) needed to stay at home for a couple of days. 

4. Sebastian (arrive) arrived at Susan's house a little before 9:00 PM, but she (be, not) wasn't there. She (study, at the library) was at the library studying for her final examination in French. 

5. Sandy is in the living room watching television. At this time yesterday, she (watch, also) was also watching television. That's all she ever does! 

6. A: I (call) called you last night after dinner, but you (be, not) weren't there. Where were you? 
B: I (work) was working out at the fitness center. 

7. When I (walk) walked into the busy office, the secretary (talk) was talking on the phone with a customer, several clerks (work, busily) were busily working at their desks, and two managers (discuss, quietly) were quietly discussing methods to improve customer service. 

8. I (watch) was watching a mystery movie on TV when the electricity went out. Now I am never going to find out how the movie ends. 

9. Sharon (be) was in the room when John told me what happened, but she didn't hear anything because she (listen, not) wasn't listening. 

10. It's strange that you (call) called because I (think, just) was just thinking about you. 

11. The Titanic (cross) was crossing the Atlantic when it (strike) struck an iceberg. 

12. When I entered the bazaar, a couple of merchants (bargain, busily) were busily bargaining and (try) were trying to sell their goods to naive tourists who (hunt) were hunting for souvenirs. Some young boys (lead) were leading their donkeys through the narrow streets on their way home. A couple of men (argue) were arguing over the price of a leather belt. I (walk) walked over to a man who (sell) was selling fruit and (buy) bought a banana. 

13. The firemen (rescue) rescued the old woman who (be) was trapped on the third floor of the burning building. 

14. She was so annoying! She (leave, always) was always leaving her dirty dishes in the sink. I think she (expect, actually) actually expected me to do them for her. 

15. Samantha (live) was living in Berlin for more than two years. In fact, she (live) was living there when the Berlin Wall came down.

My Biography

My name is Paula Giraldo, born in en 1992 in the City of Ibagué,

Study my second in the college Comfenalco.

I am 24 years, law firm at the University Cooperativa de Colombia sede Ibagué.

I live with my parents and my younger brother.

Currently working in Tiempo 

Past continuous: affirmative, negative, questions, short answers

1. Completa las frases en la forma afirmativa o negativa del past continuous.

Yesterday …
Paco wasn’t feeling (feel) well.

1 We weren´t chating not chat) with friends.

2 I  wasn't plaing (not play) the guitar.

3 You was studying  (study) French.

4 She wasn´t watching (not watch) TV.

5 They were laughing (laugh) at you.

6 It wasn't snowing (not snow).

7 Sarah was listening (listen) to a CD.

8 Jo and Tom were dancing (dance).


2 Lee la tabla. Luego escribe frases en la forma afirmativa o negativa del past continuous.

What were you doing at 8 o’clock yesterday?

I              play the flute
you         not watch TV
he           not read
she         laugh with her friends
it            not snow
we          have dinner
they       chat
Emma    study
Luke      not work



  2.    I was playing the flute.

1    you weren´t  watching TV

2    He wasn't reading

3   She was laughing with her friends

4   It wasn't snowing

5   we were having dinner

 6 They were chating

7   Emma was study 

8   Luke wasn't working


Lee la tabla. Luego corrige las frases.
Escribe una frase negativa y una afirmativa.


                          Nuria                Lori and Dan
18:30 – 19:30    read                   work
19:30 – 20:30    study                 have dinner
20:30 – 22.00    listen to a CD    watch TV


At seven o’clock …
Nuria was listening to music.

Nuria wasn’t listening to music.
She was reading.


At eight o’clock …

1 Nuria was working.

Nuria  wasn't working
She was studying


2 Lori and Dan were studying.

 Lori and Dan weren´t studying
we were having dinner

At nine o’clock …

3 Nuria was watching TV.

Nuria wasn't watching TV
She was listening to a CD


4 Lori and Dan were having dinner.

  Lori and Dan weren't studying
  Were were working

4.Completa las preguntas, las respuestas cortas y las frases.

   Were Maggie and Pedro having (have) dinner?
No, they weren’t .
They were dancing (dance).

1   Was Dev readinng(read)?
     No, .He wasn't
     He was watching TV.(watch) TV.

2   Jess and Paula were chating (chat)?
     Yes,We were chating .
     We were chating(chat) with Marco.

3  Fiona was shouting(shout)?
    Yes, She was.
    She was shouting(shout) at her
    boyfriend.

4 Antonia was playing (play) the flute?
   No, she wasn't playing .
   She was playing  (play) the guitar.

My anecdote

When i was in school.One day we were playing with my friends throwing small stones.
A car came and we accidentally broke the windshield. To surprise he was a teacher.

Shakira´s Biography

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, populary know as shakira is a Colombian composer, producer and singer of great recognition and succes worlowide, born in barranquilla on february 2, 1997.

Her debud album was "pies descalzos" released in 1995 however, it achieved worldwide recognition with the album " laundry service".
Shakira is also know for dancing arabic dance and for her support for philantropic causes, in fact, shakira created a foundation called "pies descalzos" which allows children to access a quality education in colombia, in turn, she is goodwill ambassador of the unicef.