Past-tenses-revision

Complete the sentences with the correct past form.

an action that happened at 1. By the time we ________ (get) to the theatre, the play ________
a definite time in the past (already, start).
Last year we bought a dog.
2. Last night I ________ (dream) about going to the Moon.
3. When Ginny ________ (see) me yesterday, I ________ (cross)

actions that happened the street.
immediately one after the other 4. My dad ________ (paint) the living room for two hours before my
in the past
Lou took a shower, brushed his teeth brother ________ (come) to help him.
and went to bed. 5. Nora ________ (lie) in a hammock while Phil ________ (weed)

the garden.
6. Before the Smiths ________ (buy) their new house, they

________ (look) for a suitable one for a year.

7. Laura ________ (send) us a postcard from her holiday in Italy.

an action that was in progress 8. As Claire ________ (dust) the furniture, she ________ (break)
at a stated time in the past her mum’s vase.
Yesterday at 4 I was talking to Meg
on the phone. 9. My sister ________ (never, be) to the circus before last week.

10. Pam and I ________ (study) for the history exam when
the lights ________ (go) off.

two actions that were 11. The alarm clock ________ (not, ring) yesterday morning

happening at the same time and I ________ (be) late for work.

Liz was vacuuming while her 12. Mr. Roberts ________ (work) in the company for six years
sons were tidying their room. before it ________ (go) bankrupt.

13. You ________ (not, sleep) when I ________ (return) last night.

an action that was in progress 14. When ________ (they, visit) you last time?

(longer action) when another 15. Yesterday at this time, Karen ________ (write) a letter

action interrupted it of application to the manager of L’Oréal.
When I came in, Sue was reading. 16. I ________ (not, pay) attention to the teacher and my

friends ________ (not, pay) attention, either.

17. When we ________ (go) out for a walk last Sunday

morning, the sun ________ (shine) and it ________ (be) quite

an action that happened warm.

before another action in the past 18. We ________ (never, see) the Pyramids before our trip to
Before we left, we had booked a Egypt in 2005.
hotel room.
19. ________ (Simon and Alice, get) married last summer?
20. They ________ (wait) for more than an hour before Lady

complete past action that had Gaga ________ (appear) on the stage.
visible results in the past 21. Michael and Robert ________ (rollerblade) in the backyard
We felt relieved after they had arrived
safely. when Sally ________ (phone).
22. I ________ (meet) Harry at Brenda’s birthday party last month.

23. Where ________ (you, spend) your last winter holidays?

24. My cousin and I ________

(sit) on a park bench when we

an action continuing over a period up to a specific time in ________ (hear) a thunder.
the past 25. By six o’clock Ted
Pete had been working as a doctor for 25 years before he retired last year.
________ (pack) all his
stuff in his backpack.

action of certain duration that had visible results in the past 26. I ________ (sunbathe)
Mark had been studying Spanish for five years before he moved to Toledo. for two hours before it
________ (start) to rain.

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