Past Simple and progressive Quiz | Grammar Tense MCQ [SET: 22]

Past Tense: Simple and Progressive

I _____ my old friend in town the other day. He _____ to ignore me and looked was looking somewhere else. (see, seem)

saw, seemed

was seeing, seems

see, will seem

have seen, will seem

Correct answer: I saw my old friend in town the other day. He seemed to ignore me and was looking somewhere else.

The teacher _____ a photo of us while we _____ up the tree. (take, climb)

took, were climbing

was taking, climbed

take, climb

has taken, have climbed

Correct answer: The teacher took a photo of us while we were climbing up the tree.

We _____ Martha at the airport last week. She _____ for the arrival of her sister while we were traveling to New York. (meet, wait)

met, was waiting

were meeting, waited

meet, wait

will meet, will wait

Correct answer: We met Martha at the airport last week. She was waiting for the arrival of her sister while we were traveling to New York.

He _____ exam papers when I _____ him. (correct, visit)

was correcting, visited

corrected, was visiting

correct, visit

will correct, will visit

Correct answer: He was correcting exam papers when I visited him.

A man _____ on the road while I _____ my bike. Luckily, I managed not to crash into him. (fall, ride)

fell, was riding

was falling, rode

fall, ride

will fall, will ride

Correct answer: A man fell on the road while I was riding my bike. Luckily, I managed not to crash into him.

We _____ a few miles off the coast when a horrible thunderstorm _____ up. We had to get to safety as soon as possible. (sail, come)

were sailing, came

sailed, was coming

sail, come

sailed, came

Correct answer: We were sailing a few miles off the coast when a horrible thunderstorm came up. We had to get to safety as soon as possible.

I haven't seen him for ages. When I last _____ him, he _____ for a new job. (see, look)

saw, was looking

was seeing, looked

see, look

will see, will look

Correct answer: I haven't seen him for ages. When I last saw him, he was looking for a new job.

While the two teams _____ up everyone _____ a flag. It was a very emotional moment. (warm, wave)

were warming, was waving

warmed, waved

warm, wave

will warm, will wave

Correct answer: While the two teams were warming up everyone was waving a flag. It was a very emotional moment.

"What _____ when I _____ to your place yesterday evening?" – "I was feeding the baby". (you do, come)

were you doing, came

did you do, was coming

do you do, come

will you do, will come

Correct answer: "What were you doing when I came to your place yesterday evening?" – "I was feeding the baby".

I _____ down a dark alley when suddenly I heard footsteps. I _____ around and _____ that an old woman with a dog _____ me. (walk, hear, turn, see, follow)

was walking, heard, turned, saw, was following

walked, was hearing, was turning, was seeing, followed

walk, hear, turn, see, follow

will walk, will hear, will turn, will see, will follow

Correct answer: I was walking down a dark alley when suddenly I heard footsteps. I turned around and saw that an old woman with a dog was following me.

"Why _____ out last night?" – "I _____ too tired and _____ to stay at home." (you not go, be, decide)

didn't you go, was, decided

don’t you go, am, decide

haven’t you gone, have been, have decided

wasn’t you going, was being, have decided

Correct answer: "Why didn't you go out last night?" – "I was too tired and decided to stay at home."

The policeman asked me, "How fast _____ when you _____ the old lady in front of you?" (you drive, see)

were you driving, saw

did you drive, were seeing

do you drive, see

have you been driving, have seen

Correct answer: The policeman asked me, "How fast were you driving when you saw the old lady in front of you?"

Mom _____ dinner when we _____ home from football practice. (prepare, get)

was preparing, got

prepared, was getting

prepare, get

prepares, was getting

Correct answer: Mom was preparing dinner when we got home from football practice.

When I _____ young, I always _____ to be a pilot. (be, want)

was, wanted

am, want

was being, wants

will be, will want

Correct answer: When I was young, I always wanted to be a pilot.

Last Sunday afternoon I _____ for a walk in the park and _____ a cup of coffee at a local restaurant. (go, have)

went, had

was going, was having

go, have

will go, will have

Correct answer: Last Sunday afternoon I went for a walk in the park and had a cup of coffee at a local restaurant.

When they _____ to the airport the plane _____ off. (get, just take)

got, was just taking

were getting, had just taken

get, is just taking

will get, will just take

Correct answer: When they got to the airport the plane was just taking off.

I _____ on a bench in the park when a man _____ up to me and wanted to know what time it was. (sit, come)

was sitting, came

sat, was coming

sit, come

has sit, as come

Correct answer: I was sitting on a bench in the park when a man came up to me and wanted to know what time it was.