PAST SIMPLE VS PAST CONTINUOUS
I ___ (walk) home when I ___ (see) a strange man outside the shop.
was walking / saw
Past continuous (was walking) = ongoing background action.
Past simple (saw) = sudden event that interrupts
I ___ (not / like) coffee when I was a child, but now I drink it every morning.
didn’t use to like
Past habit or state that no longer applies → used to
By the time I arrived at the station, the train ___ (leave).
Answer: had left
Explanation: The train’s departure happened before the past moment of my arrival, so we use past perfect for the earlier event.
I ___ (study) for three hours, so I need a short break.
Answer: have been studying
Explanation: Emphasizes the duration of the activity that is still relevant → Present Perfect Continuous.
Please ___ your shoes before entering the house.
take off
“Take off” = remove (clothes, shoes, etc.).
She ___ (read) a book while her brother ___ (play) the piano
was reading / was playing
Both ongoing actions happening simultaneously → past continuous
She finds it difficult to ___ (wake up) early for work.
get used to waking up
Present difficulty adapting → get used to + gerund.
She ___ (already/finish) her homework when her friends called.
Answer: had already finished
Explanation: Homework completion occurred before the friends’ call, which is in the past simple.
She ___ (finish) her assignment, so now she can relax.
Answer: has finished
Explanation: Focus is on the completed action, not the process → Present Perfect Simple.
The paint on the old wall is starting to ___ after many years.
come off
The paint “comes off” = detaches or falls off.
We ___ (have) dinner when the phone suddenly ___ (ring).
were having / rang
Dinner in progress = past continuous.
Phone ringing = sudden event → past simple.
At first, living in a big city was strange, but I gradually ___ (get) used to the noise.
got used to
Past process of adapting → get used to + noun/gerund.
I ___ (see) the movie before, so I knew what would happen.
Answer: had seen
Explanation: Seeing the movie happened before the moment of knowing → past perfect for the earlier action.
He ___ (write) three reports today.
Answer: has written
Explanation: Focus on number of completed reports → Present Perfect Simple.
They really ___ a difficult project last month and impressed the whole company.
brought off
“Bring off” = to succeed in doing something difficult. Past tense here because the project was completed last month.
He ___ (not/listen) to the teacher while she ___ (explain) the grammar rules.
wasn’t listening / was explaining
Two simultaneous actions → past continuous for both.
She didn’t like the new apartment at first, but now she ___ (feel) comfortable there.
is getting used to feeling
Ongoing adaptation → get used to + gerund.
After she ___ (finish) her homework, she ___ (call) her best friend to chat.
Answer: had finished / called
Explanation: The homework was completed before the past moment of calling → past perfect for the first action, past simple for the second action.
We ___ (prepare) for the exam for several weeks now.
Answer: have been preparing
Explanation: Emphasizes ongoing preparation → Present Perfect Continuous.
We plan to ___ for Paris early tomorrow morning to avoid traffic.
set off
“Set off” = to start a journey or depart.
The children ___ (sleep) when the earthquake ___ (strike).
were sleeping / struck
Sleeping = ongoing state/action → past continuous.
Earthquake = sudden event → past simple.
He moved to London last month. He is still ___ (drive) on the left side of the road.
getting used to driving
Present adaptation process → get used to + gerund.
They ___ (leave) the café before it ___ (start) raining heavily.
Answer: had left / started
Explanation: Leaving the café happened before the rain began → past perfect for the earlier action, past simple for the later event.
She ___ (already/see) that film twice.
Answer: has already seen
Explanation: Completed experiences are emphasized → Present Perfect Simple.
The excitement from the party didn’t last long; it quickly ___ .
wore off
“Wear off” = to gradually disappear, lose effect.