Past simple vs Past continuous – used to/would
44
4
Choose the correct item.
1
Jack was washing up when he ..... a glass.
A
breaks
B
broke
C
was breaking
2
When we lived in Bristol, we ..... the zoo
every month.
A
use to visit
B
visit
C
would visit
3
The cat ..... on my lap while I was reading
my book.
A
is sitting
B
sat
C
was sitting
4
..... to Ken’s party last weekend?
A
Did you go
B
Are you going
C
Were you going
5
The Smiths ..... a car, but now they do.
A
didn’t use to have
B
don’t have
C
weren’t having
6
I woke up, had a shower and ..... breakfast.
A
make
B
was making
C
made
7
Tracey was cycling to college ..... she fell off
her bike.
A
while
B
as
C
when
8
We ..... the news at 9:30 last night.
A
were watching
B
watched
C
watch
9
Diane ..... the violin when she was younger.
A
plays
B
played
C
was playing
10
It was a cold, dark morning. The wind .....
hard and the children were walking to school
through the snow.
A
blows
B
blew
C
was blowing
11
John was checking his emails when his
computer ..... .
A
crashed
B
is crashing
C
was crashing
12
I broke my favourite mug ..... I was doing the
dishes last night.
A
when
B
while
C
then
19
Complete the second sentence so that it
means the same as the first. Use up to
three words.
1
I started painting my room at 9am and
finished at 2pm.
I
was painting
my room from 9am until 2pm.
2
While Max was running to the bus stop, he
dropped his keys.
Max was running to the bus stop .............
....................... his keys.
3
How long is it since you started college?
When .......................................... college?
4
Penny was cleaning when Lucy called.
As ........................................, Lucy called.
5
Sharon was dancing and Peter was singing.
Peter was singing ........................ dancing.
20
Speaking
Look at the pictures. In pairs, continue the
story. Use these ideas to help you:
• be/freezing cold day • the sun/shine
• Luke and Charlie/hike/Alps
• walk/along mountain path/when/hear noise
• look up/see avalanche
• hide/in cave/while snow/crash down
• when/avalanche stop/crawl out/from cave
• feel relieved to be safe
A
B
C
D
Writing
Imagine you are Luke. Use the information
from the Speaking activity to write your story.
It was a freezing cold day. The sun was
shining. My friend Charlie and I …
A: It was a freezing cold day. The sun was
shining.
B: Luke and Charlie were hiking in the Alps ...
