Fill in the gaps with the past simple or past continuous form of the verbs in brackets

1. I ______________ (walk) home when I ______________ (meet) Maria.

2. John __________________ (wait) for me when I ________________ (arrive).

3. I haven’t seen Andrew for ages. When I last _________________ (see) him, he ___________________ (try) to find a job in Dublin.

4. He _________________ (read) the newspaper when the phone _______________ (ring).

5. I _________________ (make) a sandwich when Mike _______________ (arrive).

6. We ________________ (not go) out because it ________________ (rain).

7. When I was young, I _____________ (want) to be a doctor.

8. He usually wears sandals but when I last ______________ (see) him he _________________ (wear) boots.

9. My brother ______________ (see) you in the park two days ago. You__________________ (play) football with Stuart.

10. While I _________________ (work) in the garden, I _________________ (hurt) my back.

Correct answers:

1) was walking; met.
2) was waiting; arrived.
3) saw; was trying.
4) was reading; rang.
5) was making; arrived.
6) didn’t go; was raining.
7) wanted.
8) saw; was wearing.
9) saw; were playing.
10) was working; hurt.

Downloadable PDF – past simple or past continuous – quiz with answers