past simple-continuous3

Simple past - past continuous
English 3 / exercise
name: _____________
3
A. Choose the correct form.
THOMAS EDISON started / was starting work on the railway when he was twelve, selling
newspapers and snacks. There were long periods with nothing for him to do so he built /
was building himself a little laboratory in the luggage van where he could carry out
experiments when he didn‘ t sell / wasn‘ t selling things to passengers. Another way that
he occupied / was occupying himself was by reading. He joined / was joining a library
and read / was reading every single book in it. One day, when he waited / was waiting at
the station he noticed / was noticing a small boy who played / was playing by the track,
unaware that the train approached / was approaching. Edison ran / was running out and
grabbed / was grabbing the child just in time. The child‘ s father was so grateful that he
offered / was offering to teach Edison to be a telegraph operator. Edison accepted /
was accepting the offer and soon he had / was having regular lessons. After a year, he
was good enough to get a job in the telegraph office. He continued / was continuing to
read and experiment, whenever he had / was having time. At twenty-one he left / was
leaving the telegraph office to devote all his time to being an inventor. He went / was going
on to invent the electric light bulb, the phonograph and the movie camera.
B. Translate these sentences in English. Simple past or past progressive?
1. Sie erzählte mir gestern, sie habe eine schlechte Zeit mt ihrem Ehemann.
____________________________________________________________
2. Während ich einkaufte, putzte meine Frau die Fenster.
_______________________________________________________________________
3. Als der Lehrer eintrat, hörten alle Schüler auf zu reden.
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Während meine Mutter draussen mit der Nachbarin sprach, schlich (to creep) ein Dieb
ins Haus, öffnete alle Schränke und stahl zwei Uhren, eine Halskette und etwas
Bargeld. _____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Um Mitternacht träumte ich von meinen Ferien am Strand von Miami Beach, als unsere
Katze aufs Bett sprang und mich aufweckte.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
past simple-continuous3.doc
Simple past - past continuous
English 3 / exercise
Answer key
3
A. Choose the correct form.
THOMAS EDISON started work on the railway when he was twelve, selling newspapers
and snacks. There were long periods with nothing for him to do so he built himself a little
laboratory in the luggage van where he could carry out experiments when he wasn‘
t
selling things to passengers. Another way that he occupied himself was by reading. He
joined a library and read every single book in it. One day, when he was waiting at the
station he noticed a small boy who was
playing by the track, unaware that the train was
approaching. Edison ran out and grabbed the child just in time. The child‘ s father was
so grateful that he offered to teach Edison to be a telegraph operator. Edison accepted
the offer and soon he had regular lessons. After a year, he was good enough to get a job in
the telegraph office. He continued to read and experiment, whenever he had time. At
twenty-one he left the telegraph office to devote all his time to being an inventor. He went
on to invent the electric light bulb, the phonograph and the movie camera.
B. Translate these sentences in English. Simple past or past progressive?
1. Sie erzählte mir gestern, sie habe eine schlechte Zeit mt ihrem Ehemann.
She told me yesterday that she was having a bad time with her
husband.
2. Während ich einkaufte, putzte meine Frau die Fenster.
While I was shopping my wife was cleaning the windows.
3. Als der Lehrer eintrat, hörten alle Schüler auf zu reden.
When the teacher entered the students stopped talking.
4. Während meine Mutter draussen mit der Nachbarin sprach, schlich (to creep) ein Dieb
ins Haus, öffnete alle Schränke und stahl zwei Uhren, eine Halskette und etwas
Bargeld. While
my mother was talking with the neighbour outside a
thief crept into the house, opened all cupboards and stole two
watches, a necklace and som cash.
5. Um Mitternacht träumte ich von meinen Ferien am Strand von Miami Beach, als unsere
Katze aufs Bett sprang und mich aufweckte.
At midnight I was dreaming of my holidays on the beach of Miami
Beach when our cat jumped on (onto) the bed and woke me up.
past simple-continuous3.doc

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