26. Past tense (continued)

26.1 Complete the following (elementary)

1. Columbus (discover) America more than 400 years ago.
2. I (not see) you for more than a week.
3. I (not eat) caviare since I was in Moscow.
4. Since when (you know) him?
5. How long ago (be) the moon landing?
6. Old George (not be) here for years!
7. They (come) here a month ago.
8. He (not speak) to me for over three weeks.
9. You (have) a new one every day for the last six weeks.
10. How long ago (you arrive) here?
11. We (finish) our supper half an hour ago.
12. She (not have) a holiday for four years.
13. I (not play) the violin since I was a little boy.
14. They (visit) Westminster Abbey a few days ago.
15. My brother (not write) to me for months.
16. My servant (leave) me two weeks ago.
17. I (not see) you since we met a year ago.
18. My youngest brother (get) a new job a week ago.
19. We (not pay) for over three weeks.
20. I (buy) one like it a month ago.

26.2 Complete the following using for, since and ago - remember that for is used only with the PRESENT PERFECT when the length of time is up till now.

1. Our friends havn't been here since ....
2. Since I last wrote to you, I ...
3. I finished school in 1065, then for three years I ...
4. For the last five years I ...
5. At a beauty competition a month ago, Maisie ...
6. Cyril hasn't ridden a bicycle since ....
7. Twenty years ago ...
8. I've been learning the piano since ...
9. I've been learning English for ...
10. She has been waiting in the library since ...
11. Two hours ago I ...
12. Since I met you I ...
13. SInce last eyar ...
14. For two hours now they ...
15. Seventeen years ago ...
16. I was very ill last summer, and for two weeks ...
17. Since the beginning of the month ...
18. For the last ten days we ...
19. Less than a minute ago ...
20. I haven't had such an enjoyable time since ...

26.3 Complete the following (elementary)

If the actions are consecutive use the SIMPLE PAST. The same with habitual actions in the past. The PAST CONTINUOUS is used when we are not interested in the completion of a past action, simply that it was happening when something else happened.

1. I (read) a book when he came in.
2. The sun (shine) when we went out.
3. He (sit) in the garden when the house fell down.
4. When you came in I (write).
5. I came in while he (write).
6. It (rain) this morning when I got up.
7. He (work) all day yesterday.
8. Who (talk) to in the club last night when I asked you for a cigarette?
9. We (live) in France when the war began.
10. When I arrived at his house he still (sleep).
11. The boy jumped off the bus while it (move).
12. The fire still (burn) at six o'clock this morning.
13. He (walk) across the bridge when his hat blew off.
14. She cut her finger while she (cut) the bread and buitter.
15. The bus started while I (get) on.
16. When I (listen) to the radio last night, I heard a loud scream.
17. The light went out while we (have) supper.
18. She finished the house work while she (cook) the lunch.
19. The children (do) their homework when their father came back from the office.
20. I took another cake when you (not look).

26.4 Complete the following (elementary)

1. He (sit) in a café when (see) him.
2. When I (go) out the sun (shine).
3. The boy (fall down) while he (run).
4. When the war (begin) we (live) in London.
5. the light (go out) while I (have) tea.
6. I (have) tea when the light (go out).
7. My friends (sing) when I (come) into the room.
8. While you (play) the piano I (write) a letter.
9. When I (be) at school I (learn) Spanish (to be has no continuous form).
10. He (eat) his dinner when I (go) to see him.
11. When my grandmother (go) for a walk she always (wear) gloves.
12. When it (rain) she (carry) an umbrella.
13. She (die) while she (run) after a bus.
14. We (drink) coffee every day when we (be) in France.
15. You (wear) your new hat when I (meet) you.
16. When I (have) a dog I always (take) him out for a walk in the evening.
17. When the phone (ring), I (have) a bath.
18. I (lay) the table for dinner while you (wash) your hands.
19. When we (live) in that house we (have) three servants.
20. Large crowds (wait) at the station when the Prime Minister (arrived).

26.5 Put the verbs into the suitable past tense (intermediate).

Note that is is possible to have two present continuous verbs following each other.

1. I (speak) to her several times, but she always (read) and (not hear) me.
2. He (lose) his watch while he (see) the sights of the city.
3. He (teach) English for two months when he (live) in Germany and (work) as a journalist
4. I (open) the door just as Cyril (ring) the bell.
5. The house (burn) fast, so we (broke) a window to get out.
6. Maisie (cook) fish when I first (ask) her to marry me.
7. We (walk) to the station when it (begin) to rain.
8. We (run) under a bridge when the storm (break).
9. My sister (drop) two cups while she (wash up) last night; neither of them broke.
10. She (put) on her raincoat when it (start) to rain.
11. When the teacher (come) in, the boys (play).
12. The ship (sink), so all the passengers (jump) into the boats.
13. He (think) of something else all the time you (talk) to him.
14. He (eat) three sandwiches while you (talk) to him.
15. When I (see) him, he (sing) and (smoke) a cigar at the same time.
16. Maisie (peel) potatoes when Cyril (ask) her to marry him.
17. The dog (bite) hre on the ankle while she (catch) it.
18. Whle he (get) off the tram, he (fall) and (cut) his face.
19. He (lean) against the door and (listen) to the radio when I first (try) to speak to him.
20. While he (write) a letter the telephone (ring); as he (go) to answer it, he (hear) a knock at the door; the telephone still (ring) while he (walk) to the door; but just as he (open) it, it (stop).