Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past Continuous
My roommate … (play) the drums loudly while I … (try) to finish my homework.
was playing
was trying
By the time we arrived at Wimbledon, the tennis final … (almost finish).
had almost finished
Tanya … (never think) of becoming a doctor before she … (meet) the volunteers in Africa.
had never thought
met
12 Years a Slave is an award-winning film that tells the story of an African American called Solomon Northup who ... (use/be) a free man until one day in 1841 when his life ... (change) completely.
used to be
changed
Jake Edmonds ... (always/be) the most popular boy on campus, there was no doubt about it. If you had to describe him in a few words, you'd say he was attractive, sociable and had a great sense of humour. Also, as he ... (play) sports and winning since he was a child, he had earned the respect of teachers and students alike. He had it all!
had always been
had been playing
The author … (have) a great idea, … (turn on) his computer and … (start) writing.
had
turned on
started
Before I … (see) the documentary on TV last night, … (never hear) of the Tuareg people.
saw
had never heard
I … (drive) for three hours before I …(realise) I was totally lost!
had been driving
realised
Northup ... (live) in New York for years when one day, two men ... (offer) him a temporary job as a musician in Washington, a place Northup (never/be) to before.
had been living
offered
had never been
At weekends Jake was always busy. Why wouldn't he be? He had so many friends and none of us ... (ever/ask) what he got up to. What nobody realised, however, was that he ... (hide) a secret from all of us for a very long time.
had ever asked/ever asked
had been hiding
The passengers … (wait) in the departure lounge to board their plane when they … (hear) about the cancellation.
were waiting
heard
When the fire fighters finally … (reach) the area, the forest fire … (already burn) a number of houses.
reached
had already burnt
Ed was very worried because his younger brother ... (miss) all morning.
had been missing
However, once they arrived, the two men ... (drug) — him and sold him into slavery.
drugged
One Saturday night, as we … (walk) to our halls of residence after night out, we … (notice) Jake running along the street. We … (shout) his name, ran after him and even … (call) him on his phone, but he didn't answer. The following day, he … (refuse) to discuss it.
were walking
noticed
shouted
called
refused
I ... (not/use/enjoy) walking to work, but now I do.
didn't use to enjoy
Back in 2012, when she ... (graduate) from university, Mackenzie ... (not/use/be) very sociable.
graduated
didn't use to be
Tom felt great; it ... (be) the first time he ... (travel) by plane.
was
had travelled
During the years that followed, Northup's life as a slave ... (become) unbearable. He was no longer a free man and to endure many years of humiliation and cruelty.
became
To cut a long story short, we later found out that with the help of his grandmother, Jake … (raise) his little brother for a number of years. University during the day, homework at night and playtime with his younger brother in the afternoons.
had been raising
While the actors … (rehearse) for the play, the star … (fall off) the stage and … (break) her arm.
were rehearsing
fell off
broke
… (you/notice) that my hair was different before I … (mention) it to you?
Had you noticed
mentioned
My relatives ... (use/live) in Saudi Arabia, but by now they ... (relocate) to the UK
used to live
have relocated
Northup was a slave for 12 years before he was finally rescued and ... (have) the chance to go back to his family.
had
He … (use) the words embarrassed and dishonest to describe his behaviour towards us. The only words we could think of were unselfish, mature and responsible. Jake … (teach) us that things aren't always the way they seem and we in turn showed him how important it is to confide in his friends.
used
taught