All Past Tenses

HardB2+

Set 1 — Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Choose between Past Simple (completed action / habit / sequence) and Past Continuous (in progress at a specific time / background / interrupted).

Set:

She ___ to work every day when she lived in London. (habit)

was cyclinghad cycledcycledhad been cycling

At 8 p.m. last night, I ___ dinner. (specific time in progress)

cookedhad cookedwas cookinghad been cooking

He ___ the door, walked in, and sat down. (sequence of actions)

was openinghad been openinghad openedopened

While she ___, her phone rang. (background activity interrupted)

readhad readhad been readingwas reading

They ___ football when it started to rain. (interrupted activity)

playedhad playedwere playinghad been playing

Last summer, he ___ three different countries. (completed trip)

was visitinghad been visitingvisitedhad visited

The sun ___ and the birds were singing when she woke up. (both in progress)

shoneshinedwas shininghad been shining

I ___ her on the street and we had a long chat. (single completed event)

was meetinghad been meetingmethad met

She ___ for a company in Paris for ten years before retiring. (habitual duration)

was workingworkedhad workedhad been working

While I ___ my homework, my brother was watching TV.

didwas doinghad donehad been doing

All Past Tenses

HardB2+

Set 1 — Past Simple vs Past Continuous

Choose between Past Simple (completed action / habit / sequence) and Past Continuous (in progress at a specific time / background / interrupted).

Set:

She ___ to work every day when she lived in London. (habit)

was cyclinghad cycledcycledhad been cycling

At 8 p.m. last night, I ___ dinner. (specific time in progress)

cookedhad cookedwas cookinghad been cooking

He ___ the door, walked in, and sat down. (sequence of actions)

was openinghad been openinghad openedopened

While she ___, her phone rang. (background activity interrupted)

readhad readhad been readingwas reading

They ___ football when it started to rain. (interrupted activity)

playedhad playedwere playinghad been playing

Last summer, he ___ three different countries. (completed trip)

was visitinghad been visitingvisitedhad visited

The sun ___ and the birds were singing when she woke up. (both in progress)

shoneshinedwas shininghad been shining

I ___ her on the street and we had a long chat. (single completed event)

was meetinghad been meetingmethad met

She ___ for a company in Paris for ten years before retiring. (habitual duration)

was workingworkedhad workedhad been working

While I ___ my homework, my brother was watching TV.

didwas doinghad donehad been doing