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Exercise on the past (simple vs continuous) in English - TOEIC® Preparation

Written by William D'Andréa

Here is an exercise to help you master the simple past (preterite) and the past continuous (preterite continuous - or preterite progressive) in English, in order to prepare for your TOEIC®.

You can find the lesson here: Lesson on the past for the TOEIC®

Exercise

Choose the correct form:

  1. While I __ (to watch) TV, my brother __ (to play) outside.
  2. Last year, we __ (to visit) Paris and __ (to see) the Eiffel Tower.
  3. She __ (to cook) dinner when the phone __ (to ring).
  4. When I was a child, I __ (to go) to the park every weekend.
  5. The sun __ (to set) and the birds __ (to sing) when we arrived.

Correction

  1. While I was watching TV, my brother was playing outside.
    • (Past continuous for two simultaneous ongoing actions in the past)
  2. Last year, we visited Paris and saw the Eiffel Tower.
    • (Past simple for completed actions in the past)
  3. She was cooking dinner when the phone rang.
    • (Past continuous for an ongoing action interrupted by another action in the past simple)
  4. When I was a child, I went to the park every weekend.
    • (Past simple for a habitual action in the past)
  5. The sun was setting and the birds were singing when we arrived.
    • (Past continuous to describe the atmosphere or context in a story)
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