Exercise 5. Ask questions to the following statements. Begin with an interrogative word given in brackets.

Model: I was visiting my friend from 5 till 6 yesterday. (who)

Whom were you visiting from 5 till 6 yesterday?

1. At 5 sharp Helen was talking to the dean (when). 2. The foreigner was speaking slowly because he wanted us to understand him (why). 3. They were playing cards when the phone rang (what). 4. The customs official was inspecting Bill’s luggage when he heard an explosion (what). 5. When James came, Mary was looking for something (who). 6. Mr Rock was giving a lecture on Mark Twain at 9 o’clock yesterday morning (what lecture). 7. From six to ten yesterday morning the boss was interviewing the new people (who). 8. We were playing tennis at five o’clock yesterday (when). 9. Mrs Russel was looking for her watch when I came in (whose). 10. Philip was going to the bank when we met him (where). 11. While I was talking on the telephone Mary was looking through the magazines (when). 12. Linda was waiting for the bus when she saw her mother (who). 13. While she was crossing the street, Renata ran into her ex-boyfriend (what). 14. When I saw Emma she was talking to a tall young man (who). 15. I was visiting Granny at the hospital from 3 to 4 o’clock yesterday (how long). 16. We were watching television at 8 o’clock yesterday (what).

 

 

Exercise 6. Make sentences with “ when” for these situations saying that one action was interrupted by another action.

Model: I watched television. I fell asleep.

I fell sleep when I was watching television.

 

1. Mason went out. I came in. 2. We had a lecture on art yesterday. The rector of the University came in the middle of it. 3. We were at a disco last night. In the middle of it somebody shouted, "Fire!" 4. The doorbell rang. Jack left the house. 5. We waited for the bus. We saw an accident. 6. John called. I went to bed. 7. He bought a ticket. The train left. 8. Robert drove to London yesterday. Halfway there the car broke down. 9. We had a dictation yesterday. The bell rang in the middle of it. 10. The Browns were at the dinner table. The telegram arrived. 11. Robert went to the bus stop and waited. At that time it began to rain. 12. We played cards. The light went out. 13. My Dad lost a finger. He operated a lift truck. 14. The shop lost money. It sold poor-quality foods. 15. I didn’t hear you. I listened to the radio. 16. Mike had an accident. He drove too fast.

 

 

Exercise 7. Make up sentences with ‘ while’ for these situations describing two actions going simultaneously.

Model: I shaved. The children had breakfast.

I was shaving while the children were having breakfast.

 

1. The children played. Mrs Brown talked to her neighbour. 2. You talked to Mary. I talked to Henry. 3. I made tea. Jimmy cleaned the car. 4. I had a holiday in France. My parents worked hard. 5. Alison got ready. Graham fetched the car. 6. It rained. I walked up the hill. 7. The house burnt down. We slept. 8. The children enjoyed playing chess. Their mothers chatted in another room. 9. The two men fought. A lot of women and children watched them and shouted. 10. Mr Smith read the papers. His wife listened to the news. 11. The boss looked through business papers. The secretary typed the report. 12. John fixed his CD player. His brother did his homework. 13. Group 1 wrote a grammar test. Group 2 took a written exam in English. 14. Jane made coffee. I did my morning exercises. 15. The doctor examined the patient. The nurse wrote out a prescription. 16. I copied the text. My friend wrote out the new words.

 

 

Exercise 8. Translate these sentences using the Past Continuous Tense.

 

1. Вчера в четыре часа дня я делал задание по английскому языку. 2. Мы ужинали, когда мой старший брат пришел из университета. 3. Пока секретарь отправляла сообщение, я разговаривал с главным инженером. 4. – С кем ты разговаривал, когда я тебя встретила? – Со своим двоюродным братом. 5. – Чем ты занимался в понедельник с 8 до 10 вечера? – Готовился к экзамену. 6. Вчера в восемь часов они oбсуждали планы на лeтние каникулы. 7. Вчера вечером мы все были дома. Весь вечер я читал твою книгу. Моя жена смотрела телевизор, а дети играли в шахматы. 8. Петр просматривал журналы, в то время как его сын и дочь смотрели телепередачу. 9. Когда часы пробили одиннадцать, он все еще работал. 10. Ведь в прошлом году вы в это время путешествовали? 11. Мне очень жаль, что я не смог прийти. Ведь вы меня ждали. 12. Когда он проснулся, его жена сидела у окна. 13. Когда она приехала из Москвы, мы оба ждали ее на вокзале. 14. Что он делал, когда вы к нему обратились? 15. Вчера все утро шел дождь. 16. Пока директор разговаривал с представителем фирмы, секретарь разбирала утреннюю почту.

 

 

Exercise 9. Use correct forms of the verbs in brackets: the Past Simple or
the Past Continuous Tense.

 

1. Jane (wait) for me when I (arrive). 2. Last night I (read) in bed when suddenly I (hear) a scream. 3. – What you (do) this time yesterday? – I was asleep. 4. When she (come) into the room, I (listen) to the radio. 5. We (go) down in the lift when it suddenly (stop). 6. Tom (have) a photograph of me while I (not to look). 7. He (write) a letter when I (see) him. 8. We (not to go) out because it (rain). 9. Malcolm (fall) off the ladder when he (paint) the ceiling. 10. Harry (do) his work while his brother (play) games. 11. They (have) dinner when you (call) to see them? 12. I (not to drive) very fast when the accident (happen). 13. While the teacher (give) a lesson, a small dog (walk) into the classroom. 14. My hat (flow off) when I (cross) the bridge. 15. Just as I (get) interested in my work, I (have) to go home. 16. We (have) coffee in the coffee shop when we (hear) a shot.

 

 

Exercise 10. Complete these sentences using the Past Simple or Past Continuous Tense.

 

1. While I was speaking to the dean, my friend_______. 2. When we went out ______. 3. Who were you talking to when _____. 4. I was ringing the door bell when______. 5. The weather got worse while we _____. 6. When my daughter came into the kitchen I ____. 7. _______ his father was sleeping. 8. While I was talking to my new colleague _______. 9. I was having tea when _______ 10. From 5 till 6 on Friday I ______.11. My roommates were playing chess when ____. 12. All day long yesterday we _______. 13. When I got up my wife ______. 14. What was Jane doing while Mary _______. 15. When I arrived home _______ 16. While Andrew was playing the piano his friends _______.

 

 

Exercise 11. Use correct forms of the verbs in brackets: the Past Simple or
the Past Continuous Tense.

 

1. – Carol (be) at a party last night? – Yes, she (wear) a really nice dress. 2. Anne (break) a plate last night. She (do) the washing up when it (slip) out of her hand. 3. The phone (ring) still when I (rush) into the room. 4. Jack (do) his homework when his father (come) home from work. 5. The sick child (sleep) when the doctor (come). 6. When Sid (be) young he (work) from morning till night. 7. Last night at 9:35 the Headmaster of School No. 479 (walk) from the office to his car when suddenly somеbody (attаck) him from behind. 8. We (be) in a very difficult set-up. We (not to know) what to do. 9. I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I (see) him last, he (try) to find a job in London. 10. I (walk) along the street when suddеnly I (hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody (follow) me. I (be) frightenеd and (start) to run. 11. When I (be) young, I (want) to be a bus driver. 12. The travellers (reach) the town just as the sun (set). 13. The old man never (go) out when it (rain). 14. I (walk) along the road when I (see) Dave. So I (stop) and we (have) a chat. 15. While some students (record) the texts on the tape the others (answer) their homework. 16. What speed the car (do) at the time of the accident? 17. – When I last (see) you, you (think) of moving to a new flat. – That’s right, but in the end I (decide) to stay where I (be). 18. Yesterday evening the phone (ring) three times while we (have) dinner. 19. While the eggs (boil) I (go) into the hall and (phone) Joe. 20. He even (not to notice) that Helen (wear) a new dress.

 

 

Exercise 12. Use correct forms of the verbs in brackets: the Past Simple or the Past Continuous Tense.

 

1. He (begin) to walk down the road, but he couldn’t see where he (go). 2. While I (look) through my papers I (find) a lot of unpaid telephone and electricity bills. 3. After breakfast he (rise) from the table and (light) a cigarette. 4. Mrs Oliver (have) her breakfast in bed when the telephone (ring). 5. One cold winter day two boys (walk) across a forest when one of them suddenly (see) something behind a tree. 6. The weather (be) foggy. Cars and buses (move) slowly. 7. In 2000 Peter (be) in Siberia, he (build) a railway together with his friends. Later he (write) a book about it. 8. Who (speak) over the telephone at 5 yesterday? The line (be) busy for an hour and a half. 9. She (get) into bed, (lay) her head on the pillow and in two minutes she (sleep) like a child. 10. I (look) through the classroom window. A geometry lesson (go) on. The teacher (draw) diagrams on the blackboard. Most of the boys (listen) to the teacher but a few (whisper) to each other. 11. They (build) that bridge when I (be) here last year. They haven’t finished it yet. 12. While I (wonder) whether to buy the dress or not, someone else (come) and (buy) it. 13. While I (swim) someone (steal) my clothes and I (have) to walk home in my swimsuit. 14. Why you (interrupt) me just now? I (have) a very interesting talk with Mr Pitt. 15. While the guests (dance) the thieves (break) into the house and (steal) a lot of fur coats. 16. He (take) a cushion, (put) it behind and (lean) back.

 

 

Exercise 13. Use correct forms of the verbs in brackets: the Past Simple or the Past ContinuousTense.

 

1. Linda (be) busy when we (go) to see her yesterday. She (study) for an exam. We (not to want) to disturb her, so we (not to stay) very long. 2. Jane (have) a book open in front of her but she (not to read) it. 3. Ann (not to see) me wave to her. She (look) in the other direction. 4. I (ask) the driver to slow down. He (drive) too fast. 5. Rose and Jim (meet) for the first time when they (study) at university. 6. When the telephone (ring), I (have) a shower. 7. Fred (look) very nice. He (wear) a very nice suit. 8. The old man who (sit) on the bench beside me (keep) silent for some time. Then he (ask) me if I (know) him. 9. When I (come) home, I (see) my friend, who (stand) at the door of our room. He (wait) for me because he (have) no key and could not get in. 10. – You (see) him yesterday?
– No, I (have) no time. I (have) a ticket to the circus and (decide) to go there. –But when the circus show (begin)? – It (begin) at 8 o’clock. – And what you (do) till 8? – From 6 to 7:45 I (translate) a newspaper article. 11. I (meet) Tom and Ann at the airport a few weeks ago. They (go) to Berlin and I (go) to Madrid. We (have) a chat while we (wait) for our flights. 12. I (cycle) home yesterday when suddenly a man (step) out into the road in front of me. I (go) quite fast but luckily I (manage) to stop in time and (not to hit) him. 13. I (buy) a guide book in London. It (catch) my eye when I (pass) a shop window. I (return), (call) at the shop and (buy) it. 14. When I (go) out this morning, the sun (shine) and the birds (sing). It (be) a beautiful morning. I (walk) to the nearest park and (sit down) on the grass. But while I (sit) there, black clouds (gather) and (hide) the sun. It (begin) to rain heavily, so I (run) home. My hat (fall off) as I (run). 15. I (go) into my boss’s room to see what he (do). 16. The students (talk) excitedly when the teacher (come) in, but they (stop) at once when the teacher (speak). He (walk) across the room and (begin) to write questions on the blackboard. While he (write), the students (sit) down, (take) out their pens and (prepare) themselves for the test. The teacher (finish) writing, (sit) down in front of the class and (open) a book. He (read) his book the whole time while the students (answer) questions. When the bell (ring) at four o’clock, most of them still (write). The teacher (tell) them to stop working and he (collect) their test papers. As they (leave) the room he (begin) to correct the test papers.

 

 

Exercise 14. Translate these sentences using either the Past Simple or
Past ContinuousTense.

 

1. Когда я добрался до станции, уже темнело. 2. – Кто помог тебе перевести статью? – Я перевел ее сам. 3. Мы вызвали врача, когда поняли, что ее состояние ухудшается. 4. Когда он зажег свет, он увидел, что на кровати кто-то спал. 5. Когда поезд прибыл, мы все стояли на платформе. 6. Я завтракал в маленьком кафе на станции, когда я увидел его в окне. Он стоял под большими часами и ждал кого-то. 7. Когда я пришла, они обедали. 8. – Когда ты oкончил школу? – В 2005 году. 9. Он не замечал, что происходит вокруг. 10. Вчера в 9 часов я смотрел телевизор. 11. Когда мы вышли на улицу, ярко светило солнце. 12. Я читал книгу, когда услышал телефонный звонок. 13. Вчера мы весь день работали в саду. 14. Я встретил Анну на прошлой неделе, но мы не разговаривали, так как она спешила на работу. 15. Пока дети спали, миссис Смит готовила обед. 16. Барбара позвонила, когда я завтракал. 17. Вчера на уроке мы писали диктант и читали новый текст. 18. – Чем ты занимался, когда позвонил Бен? – Я готовил домашнее задание. 19. По вечерам он имел обыкновение читать вслух сказки своему сынишке. 20. Она посмотрела на отца, затем повернулась и вышла из комнаты.

The Past Perfect Tense

Характеристика действия	1. Выражает действие, которое было совершено и закончено к определенному моменту в прошлом. 2. Выражает действие, которое было совершено ранее другого действия в прошлом.
Примеры словосочетаний-сигналов	- before he came - by 3 o’clock yesterday - by the end of …
Формула образования	had + Participle II
Утвердительное предложение	She had finished to operate the computer before her boss came back to the office. Она закончила работать на компьютере до того, как ее начальник вернулся на работу.
Отрицательное предложение	Shehad not finishedto operate the computer before her boss came back to the office. Она не закончила работать на компьютере до того, как ее начальник вернулся на работу.
Вопросительное предложение	Had shefinished to operate the computer before her boss came back to the office? Закончила ли она работать на компьютере до того, как ее начальник вернулся на работу?

 

 

Exercise 1. Comment on the use of the Past Perfect Tense in these sentences. Translate them.

 

1. By seven o’clock I had packed my suitcases and was ready to leave. 2. I went to the movies after I had done my test. 3. When I arrived at the party, Nick had already gone home. 4. As soon as they had finished breakfast the children ran out to play. 5. He did not want to go to the cinema because he had seen the film on TV. 6. I had hardly left home when it began to snow heavily. 7. Last month I was in England. I had done a lot of sightseeing before I left London. 8. Richard had already gone when the boss phoned. 9. By the time Mr Jones came home his son had fixed the TV. 10. The children had no sooner had lunch than they wanted chocolates.

 

 

Exercise 2. Complete these sentences using the Past Perfect Tense.

1. When he came back, the telegram (arrive already). 2. I was not hungry because I (have lunch just an hour before). 3. After we (make a fire) it became warm. 4. When I (throw out all the old newspapers and magazines) I could arrange my new books nicely on the shelf. 5. Nobody knew when he came in becausе he (enter the housе through the back door). 6. Mr and Mrs Ford couldn’t buy the cells they wanted because they (spеnd all their money on their vacation). 7. Peter didn’t give blood last January because he (give blood three months before). 8. The man at the station said that the train (leave already). 9. He understood that he (get off at the wrong station). 10. The rain (already stop) when we started. 11. I thought he knew English well because he (live in England for some years). 12. It happened to him because he (always be too sure of himself). 13. After he (pay the money for the plane ticket) he had very little left in his pocket. 14. I met her soon after I (learn the news). 15. She hoped that I (pay for the tickets already). 16. When I left school my elder sister (work as a teacher for two years).