The document contains examples of sentences using either the past simple or past continuous tense. It provides pairs of sentences where the first example uses one tense and the second example uses the other, with a blank for the verb. The context of each pair of sentences demonstrates when to use the past simple versus the past continuous tense in describing simultaneous or sequential past actions.

1. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
arrive have
When Sam _____________ we
_______________ a drink.
arrived
were having

2. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
make get
She _________________ a pizza when
I __________ home from work.
was making
got

3. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
open stop
When I ____________ the door,
they _____________ talking.
opened
stopped

4. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
arrive have
When Ann _____________ we
________ dinner.
arrived
were having

5. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
work see
She _______________ in a shop
when I last ________ her.
was
working saw

6. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
go help
As he _______________ away I
____________ him pack his case.
was going
helped

7. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
arrive she/make
When you ____________
__________________ dinner?
arrived
was she making

8. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
you/do go
What _________________ when
the alarm clock _______ off?
were you doing
went

9. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
sit ring
While I _________________ in a
café my mobile ___________
was sitting
rang

10. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
read paint
While Tom ________________ ,
Alice ____________________.
was reading
was painting

11. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
start fish
It ______________ to rain while
John _________________.
started
was fishing

12. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
dance stop
They __________________ when
suddenly the music _____________
were dancing
stopped

13. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
break sleep
The burglar ____________ into the
house while they ________________
broke
were sleeping

14. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
clean come
He _________________ the floor
when the neighbour ____________
was cleaning
came

15. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
you/study call
________________________ when
I_______________?
Were you studying
called

16. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
not/hear say
I _______________ what they
________________because of the
noise.
didn’t hear
were saying

17. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
see carry
When I ____________ her, she
___________________ some plans
saw
was carrying

18. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
go play
I ____________ to the bank while
my wife ________________ golf.
went
was playing

19. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
post see
They _______________ the letter
when they ________ the accident.
were posting
saw

20. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
bring slip
He ________________ the wine
when he _____________ over.
was bringing
slipped

21. PAST SIMPLE or
PAST CONTINUOUS
you/do break
What __________________ when the
fire _____________ out?
were you doing
broke