B1 • Grammar • 50 Questions
Past Simple vs Past Continuous
Complete each sentence with the past simple or past continuous.
1. I when it . (walk home / start to rain)
2. She when the phone . (cook dinner / ring)
3. They when the lights . (play football / go out)
4. We when we . (drive to work / see the accident)
5. Ben when the alarm . (sleep / sound)
6. The children when the fire drill . (study / begin)
7. I when Mia . (wait for the bus / arrive)
8. He when he . (cycle through the park / fall)
9. You when the bell . (talk to the teacher / ring)
10. The dog when it . (run across the garden / find the ball)
11. We when the visitor . (eat lunch / knock)
12. Ruby when she . (read in bed / hear a noise)
13. The students when the computer . (write quietly / freeze)
14. I when I . (shop for groceries / meet Sam)
15. They when the snow . (travel south / begin)
16. Dad when the hose . (wash the car / break)
17. We when the power . (watch the match / fail)
B1 • Grammar • Questions 18–34
Past Simple vs Past Continuous
18. She when she . (cross the street / drop her bag)
19. The baby when the door . (sleep / slam)
20. I when the kettle . (make tea / stop working)
21. The hikers when the fog . (climb the hill / appear)
22. Tom when his friend . (repair his bike / call)
23. We when the rain . (leave the building / start)
24. Anna when she . (paint the wall / spill the paint)
25. The class when the speaker . (listen carefully / pause)
26. While I , my brother . (prepare dinner / set the table)
27. While she , her friends . (study / play outside)
28. While we , the sun . (walk along the beach / set)
29. While they , music . (clean the room / play)
30. While Ben , Mia . (drive / read the map)
31. While the children , the teacher . (draw / organise the books)
32. While I , you . (write the email / talk on the phone)
33. While he , the coffee . (make breakfast / brew)
34. While we , the snow . (wait at the station / fall)
B1 • Grammar • Questions 35–50
Past Simple vs Past Continuous
35. While Ruby , her parents . (practise piano / cook dinner)
36. While the team , the coach . (warm up / check the field)
37. While I , the dog . (water the plants / sleep nearby)
38. While they , their children . (paint the fence / ride bikes)
39. While she , we . (explain the task / take notes)
40. While the birds , the wind . (sing / blow gently)
41. While Dad , Mum . (read the news / pack the lunches)
42. While we , the rain . (travel by train / hit the windows)
43. While Tom , I . (fix the shelf / hold the ladder)
44. While the students , the teacher . (work in pairs / observe them)
45. While I , everyone . (look for my keys / wait by the door)
46. While she , he . (wash the dishes / dry them)
47. While the tourists , the guide . (take photos / describe the building)
48. While we , our manager . (plan the event / answer emails)
49. While the cat , the dog . (watch the birds / lie in the sun)
50. While you , I . (sleep / finish the assignment)
Answer Key · Past Simple vs Past Continuous
1. was walking / started
2. was cooking / rang
3. were playing / went out
4. were driving / saw
5. was sleeping / sounded
6. were studying / began
7. was waiting / arrived
8. was cycling / fell
9. were talking / rang
10. was running / found
11. were eating / knocked
12. was reading / heard
13. were writing / froze
14. was shopping / met
15. were travelling / began
16. was washing / broke
17. were watching / failed
18. was crossing / dropped
19. was sleeping / slammed
20. was making / stopped
21. were climbing / appeared
22. was repairing / called
23. were leaving / started
24. was painting / spilled
25. was listening / paused
26. was preparing / was setting
27. was studying / were playing
28. were walking / was setting
29. were cleaning / was playing
30. was driving / was reading
31. were drawing / was organising
32. was writing / were talking
33. was making / was brewing
34. were waiting / was falling
35. was practising / were cooking
36. was warming up / was checking
37. was watering / was sleeping
38. were painting / were riding
39. was explaining / were taking
40. were singing / was blowing
41. was reading / was packing
42. were travelling / was hitting
43. was fixing / was holding
44. were working / was observing
45. was looking / was waiting
46. was washing / was drying
47. were taking / was describing
48. were planning / was answering
49. was watching / was lying
50. were sleeping / was finishing
Continue practising
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