Past Simple and Past Continuous
Sarah picked up her phone and called her best friend. (identify the rule)
one action followed by another
Emma _____ upset because she _____ her phone before the school trip. (be, lose)
was, had lost
She's good at _____ difficult problems. (solve)
She's good at solving difficult problems.
My classmates decided to ..... a school club where students could share their creative projects.
set up
I just finished my homework.
I've just finished my homework.
My family lived in a small village when I was a child. (identify the rule)
a finished action or situation in the past
They _____ completely wet because they _____ in the rain for nearly an hour. (be, walk)
were, had been walking
_____ a foreign language takes time and patience. (learn)
Learning a foreign language takes time and patience.
It’s difficult to ..... with all the new trends in technology.
keep up with
I was cleaning the kitchen for two hours and now it's spotless.
I've been cleaning the kitchen for two hours and now it's spotless.
The sun was shining, birds were singing, and children were playing in the park. (identify the rule)
describing a scene
When I _____ the fridge, I realised that my brother _____ the last piece of cake. (eat, open)
opened, had eaten
She saved money _____ a new laptop. (buy)
She saved money to buy a new laptop.
We had to ..... the school trip because the weather forecast was terrible.
put off
She has been knowing her best friend since primary school.
She has known her best friend since primary school.
While the guests _____ (discuss) the latest school news in the living room, someone _____ (prepere) dinner in the kitchen and music _____ (play) in the background.
were discussing, was preparing, was playing
By the time the mountaineers _____ the summit, the indigenous guides _____ the safest route to the peak. (identify, reach)
reached, had (already) identified
We should avoid _____ our phones during the lesson. (use)
We should avoid using our phones during the lesson.
He ..... the invitation because he had too much homework to do.
turned down
I've been writing five emails this morning, and I've sent them all.
I've written five emails this morning, and I've sent them all.
I _____ (explain) my idea to the group when I suddenly _____ (realise) that nobody was listening.
was explaining, realised
By the time the rescue team _____ the hikers, they _____ for shelter for several hours, trying to protect themselves from the freezing wind and heavy rain. (find, search)
found, had been searching
She's old enough _____ alone. (travel)
She's old enough to travel alone.
If you want to ..... in your career, you need to keep learning new skills.
get ahead
I've known Alex for five years and we've been meeting every weekend since we became friends.
I've known Alex for five years and we've met every weekend since we became friends.