Exercise1:
Match the sentences with the situations listed in a - k below.
1. I met him yesterday.
2. When did you talk to him?
3. He always drank red wine.
4. I bought this car in Montreal.
5. Did the telephone ring?
6. I worked in that bank for 3 years. (* I was working ... INCORRECT)
7. I went to a music school when I was young. (*I was going .... INCORRECT)
8. My grandfather once saw W. Churchill.
9. I wondered if you could give me a lift.
10. He always had coffee for breakfast.
11. If I had more time, I would read more books.
12. It is high time you went home.
13. He laughed and poured himself out another whisky and soda. He returned slowly to his chair.
14. The Goths invaded Rome in AD. 410.
15. Harry called a moment ago.
16. I never met my grandfather.
17. She left just now.
18. He behaves as if he owned the place.
19. She smoked 20 cigarettes a day.
20. I wondered if you could help me.
21. I wish I had a better memory.
22. Did you wish to see me now?
23. He played the piano a lot when he was a student. (* He was playing INCORRECT)
24. I would never do anything that went against my conscience.
The simple past tense is used in the following situations:
a. actions completed in the past at a definite time
b. actions completed in the past at a definite time even if the time is not mentioned, but understood from the context
c. actions whose time is not given, but which occupied a period of time now terminated
d. repeated actions in the past:
e. single actions whose time is not given, but which occurred in a period of time now terminated
f. the immediate past
g. past habits
h. polite inquiries
i. in narrative -- for events
j. in conditional sentences type 2
k. in various subordinate clauses if the main clause contains would
l. unreal past in phrases after: as if, as though, it's time, if only, wish, would sooner / rather
Exercise 2:
On the basis of the following examples list as many uses of the Past Progressive Tense as possible:
1. When I got up this morning the sun was shining.
2. The phone rang when I was having a bath.
3. What were you doing yesterday at 7 p.m.?
4. When she came I was cleaning the windows.
5. I was reading while he was washing up.
6. I was wondering if you could give me hand with this.
7. I was talking to the Prime Minister the other day and he said ....
8. The bride was wearing a white gown. The bridegroom was trembling and looking pale. Suddenly a tall man entered ......
9. He was always losing things when he worked here.
10. Sara was working on her essay last night.
11. It was raining all the afternoon.
12. It was getting darker.
13. Are you going to New York? I thought you were going to Boston.
14. She was busy because she was leaving the next morning.
Practical grammar Year 1
Agnieszka Piasecka