Bài tập thì quá khứ đơn và quá khứ tiếp diễn
I. Phân biệt thì quá khứ đơn (Past Simple) và quá khứ tiếp diễn (Past Continuous): Thì quá khứ đơn
Thì quá khứ tiếp diễn
- Diễn tả hành động đã xảy ra tại một thời điểm cố định - Diễn tả hành động đang diễn ra trong quá khứ trong quá khứ
- Diễn tả hai hành động hoặc nhiều hơn đang diễn ra tại
- Diễn tả hành động đã xảy ra ngay sau hành động
thời điểm nới trong quá khứ khác trong quá khứ
- Diễn tả hành động đang diễn ra thì một hành động
khác xen vào. Hành động làm gián đoạn chia thì quá khứ đơn.
Dấu hiệu: ago, yesterday, last month/ year/ week, in
Dấu hiệu: while, when, all day/ night/ morning, …. 2019, then,…
II. Bài tập luyện tập
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the past simple or the past continuous form the verbs.
1. Peter ___________ (play) a video game when his brother, Jack, ___________ (enter) the room.
2. I ___________ (study) for my English test when my mother ___________ (come) home from work.
3. Emma ___________ (wash) the dishes when the telephone ___________ (ring).
4. I ___________ (ate) a sandwich while my parents ___________ (drink) coffee.
5. I ___________ (watch) a DVD when my cat ___________ (jump) on me.
6. I ___________ (not hear) the thunder during the storm last night because I ___________ (sleep)
7. It (be) ___________ beautiful yesterday when we ___________ (go) for a walk in the
park. The sun ___________ (shine). The birds ___________ (sing).
8. My brother and sister ___________ (talk) anout something when I ___________ (walk) into the room.
9. Tom ___________(go) to his friend’s house, but the boys ___________ (not be)
there. They ___________ (play) soccer in the vacant lot down the street.
10. The little boy ___________ (fall) asleep while his mother ___________ (read) him a story.
11. I really ___________ (enjoy) my holiday last January. While it ___________ (snow)
in Iowa, the sun ___________ (shine) in Floria.
12. It ___________ (snow) when I ___________ (leave) home this morning.
13. It was a sunny afternoon and people ___________ (sit) on the grass in the park.
Then suddenly it ___________ (start) to rain.
14. My brother ___________ (talk) on the phone when I arrived, but when he
___________ (see) me, he ___________ (finish) the call. Perhaps he thought that I
___________ (listen) to his conversation.
15. We ___________ (climb) the wall when the gardener ___________ (see) us.
16. Susan ___________ (play) the piano while Mary ___________ (sing)
17. ___________ (you/ listen) to the teacher when she ___________ (explain) this exercise?
18. Linda ___________ (have) a beautiful dream when the alarm clock ___________ (ring). Xem đáp án
1. Peter ____was playing_______ (play) a video game when his brother, Jack,
____entered_______ (enter) the room.
2. I _______was studying____ (study) for my English test when my mother
_____came______ (come) home from work.
3. Emma ____was washing_______ (wash) the dishes when the telephone ___rang________ (ring).
4. I ___was eating________ (eat) a sandwich while my parents __were drinking____ (drink) coffee.
5. I ___was watching________ (watch) a DVD when my cat _____jumped______ (jump) on me.
6. I _____didn’t hear______ (not hear) the thunder during the storm last night because I
_____was sleeping______ (sleep)
7. It (be) ____was_______ beautiful yesterday when we ____went_______ (go) for a
walk in the park. The sun _______was shining____ (shine). The birds _____was singing______ (sing).
8. My brother and sister ___were talking________ (talk) anout something when I
______walked_____ (walk) into the room.
9. Tom _____went______(go) to his friend’s house, but the boys _____weren’t______
(not be) there. They _____were playing______ (play) soccer in the vacant lot down the street.
10. The little boy _____fell______ (fall) asleep while his mother ____was
reading_______ (read) him a story.
11. I really ____enjoyed _______ (enjoy) my holiday last January. While it ____was
snowing_______ (snow) in Iowa, the sun _____was shining______ (shine) in Floria.
12. It ______was snowing_____ (snow) when I ______left_____ (leave) home this morning.
13. It was a sunny afternoon and people ____were sitting_______ (sit) on the grass in
the park. Then suddenly it _____started______ (start) to rain.
14. My brother ____was talking_______ (talk) on the phone when I arrived, but when he
______was seeing_____ (see) me, he ______finished_____ (finish) the call. Perhaps
he thought that I ______listened_____ (listen) to his conversation.
15. We ___were climbing________ (climb) the wall when the gardener ____saw_______ (see) us.
16. Susan ____was playing_______ (play) the piano while Mary ______was singing_____ (sing)
17. ____Did you listen_______ (you/ listen) to the teacher when she _____was
explaining______ (explain) this exercise?
18. Linda _____was having______ (have) a beautiful dream when the alarm clock ___rang________ (ring)
Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer
1. The Smiths aren’t painting/ weren’t painting their house last weekend
2. Tom cleaned/ was cleaning the living room when Jane arrived
3. Did/ Were the students writing an essay in class this morning?
4. Frank was fixing/ fixed his car when his mobile rang
5. Mark didn’t wear/ wasn’t wearing a coat when it started to rain.
6. He is/ was driving to work this morning when Anna called.
7. While my parents were working/ was working, I was studying at home
8. I walked/ was walking home when I tripped/ was tripping and fell
9. At 8 o’clock last night, we were having/ had dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Xem đáp án
1. The Smiths weren’t painting their house last weekend
2. Tom was cleaning the living room when Jane arrived
3. Were the students writing an essay in class this morning?
4. Frank was fixing his car when his mobile rang
5. Mark didn’t wear a coat when it started to rain.
6. He was driving to work this morning when Anna called.
7. While my parents were working, I was studying at home
8. I was walking home when I tripped and fell
9. At 8 o’clock last night, we were having at a Chinese restaurant
Exercise 3: Read the letter and write the missing words. Write one word on each line Dear Georgia,
I’m writing to you from my hotel room (1) ______ New York. You can’t imagine what
happened to me yesterday! I was walking in Mitte at around noon (2) _______ it started
raining. (3) ______ I was running back to the hotel, I saw a famous actor who was eating
in a restaurant. I went in and (4) ______ hello and he gave me two tickets to see his new film. Isn’t that great?
That’s all for now. See you (5) ______ I get back! Love, Rachel Xem đáp án Dear Georgia,
I’m writing to you from my hotel room (1) ___in___ New York. You can’t imagine what
happened to me yesterday! I was walking in Mitte at around noon (2) ___when____ it
started raining. (3) __as____ I was running back to the hotel, I saw a famous actor who
was eating in a restaurant. I went in and (4) __said____ hello and he gave me two
tickets to see his new film. Isn’t that great?
That’s all for now. See you (5) ___when___ I get back! Love, Rachel
Exercise 4: Put the verbs in brackets into the past simple or the past continuous
1. A: How (1) _______________ (Anne/ break) her leg?
B: She (2) ______________ (ride) her horse when she (3) _______________ (fall) and
(4) __________ (land) on her leg.
A: (5) ________________ (she/go) to hospital?
2. A: When (1) ___________ (you/see) Peter?
B: While I (2) ___________ (do) my shopping at the supermarket
3. A: I (1) __________ (call) you last night but you (2) _____________ (not/ answer). Where were you?
B: I (3) __________________ (jog) in the park Xem đáp án
1.A: How (1) _______did Anne break________ (Anne/ break) her leg?
B: She (2) ______was riding________ (ride) her horse when she (3)
_____fell__________ (fall) and (4) __landed________ (land) on her leg.
A: (5) ____Did she go____________ (she/go) to hospital?
2.A: When (1) ___did you see________ (you/see) Peter?
B: While I (2) ___was doing________ (do) my shopping at the supermarket
3.A: I (1) ____called______ (call) you last night but you (2) ___didn’t answer_______
(not/ answer). Where were you?
B: I (3) ____was jogging______________ (jog) in the park.
Exercise 5: Give the correct forms of the verbs given in the brackets
1. Susan ___________ (study) in her room when she heard the noise.
2. What ____________ (they, do) at eleven p.m. last night - it was so noisy?
3. I was eight years old when my elder sister __________ (teach) me how to ride a bike.
4. John ______________ (not go) to school last week because he was ill.
5. I didn't know anything about the plane crash in my neighborhood because I ________ (work) inside at that time.
6. Yesterday at 9.30 p.m my parents ______________ (sit) in the garden
______________ (drink) some Coke.
7. The chambermaid ______________ (make) my bed in the hotel and
______________ (clean) the bathroom.
8. Someone ______________ (knock) on the door while ______________ (read) the newspaper.
9. My brother ______________ (buy) a lot of books when he ______________ (live) in Cambridge.
10. William ______________ (not meet) Sally at the airport last Sunday.
11. Jerry ______________ (have) dinner when the lights ______________ (go) out.
12. The girl ______________ (feel) ill so she ______________ (not go) to work.
13. I ______________ (make) a pudding when the light ______________ (go) out.
14. We suddenly ______________ (realize) that we ______________ (travel) in the wrong direction.
15. While I ______________ (swim) someone ______________ (steal) my clothes and
I ______________ (have to) walk to the hotel in my swimsuit.
16. The floor ______________ (be) covered with balls of wool. Obviously Grandmother
______________ (knit) something.
17. I ______________ (find) this coin as I ______________ (dig) in the garden. It looks very old.
18. When I first ______________ (meet) him, he ______________ (work) in a cafe.
19. When I ______________ (read) a book, I ______________ (hear) a knock, I
______________ (go) to the door and ______________ (open) it, but I
______________ (not recognize) my friend at first because I ______________ (not wear) my glasses.
20. When I ______________ (come) in they ______________ (sit) round the fire. Xem đáp án
1. Susan ____was studying_______ (study) in her room when she heard the noise.
2. What _____were they doing_______ (they, do) at eleven p.m. last night - it was so noisy?
3. I was eight years old when my elder sister _____taught_____ (teach) me how to ride a bike.
4. John _______did not go_______ (not go) to school last week because he was ill.
5. I didn't know anything about the plane crash in my neighborhood because I ____was
working____ (work) inside at that time.
6. Yesterday at 9.30 p.m my parents ____were sitting__________ (sit) in the garden
______drinking________ (drink) some Coke.
7. The chambermaid ______made________ (make) my bed in the hotel and
______cleaned________ (clean) the bathroom.
8. Someone _______knocked_______ (knock) on the door while ______was
reading________ (read) the newspaper.
9. My brother ____bought__________ (buy) a lot of books when he _______lived/ was
living_______ (live) in Cambridge.
10. William ______didn’t meet________ (not meet) Sally at the airport last Sunday.
11. Jerry _______was having_______ (have) dinner when the lights ______went________ (go) out.
12. The girl _____felt_________ (feel) ill so she _____didn’t go_________ (not go) to work.
13. I _____was making_________ (make) a pudding when the light ____went__________ (go) out.
14. We suddenly ________realized______ (realize) that we _______were
travelling_______ (travel) in the wrong direction.
15. While I ______was swimming________ (swim) someone _______stole_______
(steal) my clothes and I _____had to_________ (have to) walk to the hotel in my swimsuit.
16. The floor _______was_______ (be) covered with balls of wool. Obviously
Grandmother ______was knitting________ (knit) something.
17. I ______found________ (find) this coin as I ______was digging________ (dig) in
the garden. It looks very old.
18. When I first ______met________ (meet) him, he ____was working__________ (work) in a cafe.
19. When I ______was reading________ (read) a book, I _______heard_______ (hear)
a knock, I _________went_____ (go) to the door and ______opened________ (open)
it, but I _____didn’t recognize_________ (not recognize) my friend at first because I
_________didn’t wear_____ (not wear) my glasses.
20. When I _______came_______ (come) in they _____were sitting_________ (sit) round the fire.
Exercise 6: Supply the correct tenses of the verbs in brackets
One afternoon, a big wolf (wait) ____________ in a dark forest for a little girl to come
along carrying a basket of food to her grandmother. Finally a little girl did come along and
she (carry) ____________ a basket of food. 'Are you carrying that basket to your
grandmother?' asked the wolf. The little girl said yes, she (be)____________. So the wolf
(ask) ____________her where her grandmother lived and the little girl
(tell)____________ him and he (disappear)____________ into the wood.
When the little girl (open) ____________ the door of her grandmother's house, she
(see)____________ that there was somebody in bed with a nightcap and nightgown on.
She (approach)____________ no nearer than twenty-five feet from the bed when she
(see)____________ that it was not her grandmother but the wolf , for even in a nightcap
a wolf does not look like anybody's grandmother. So the little girl (take) ____________
an automatic pistol out of her basket and (shoot) ____________the wolf dead. Xem đáp án
One afternoon, a big wolf (wait) ____was waiting________ in a dark forest for a little girl
to come along carrying a basket of food to her grandmother. Finally a little girl did come
along and she (carry) ____was carrying________ a basket of food. 'Are you carrying
that basket to your grandmother?' asked the wolf. The little girl said yes, she
(be)_____was_______. So the wolf (ask) _____asked_______her where her
grandmother lived and the little girl (tell)____told________ him and he
(disappear)_____disappeared_______ into the wood.
When the little girl (open) ______opened______ the door of her grandmother's house,
she (see)____saw________ that there was somebody in bed with a nightcap and
nightgown on. She (approach)_____had approached_______ no nearer than twenty-
five feet from the bed when she (see)____saw________ that it was not her
grandmother but the wolf , for even in a nightcap a wolf does not look like anybody's
grandmother. So the little girl (take) ______took______ an automatic pistol out of her
basket and (shoot) _____shot_______the wolf dead.
Exercise 7: Complete this email with either the past simple or the past continuous form of
the verbs in brackets. Where alternatives are possible, think about any difference in meaning.
I (1. buy) ____________ a new alarm clock the other day in Taylor’s the jewellers, when
I actually (2. see) ____________ somebody shoplifting. I’d finished paying for my clock
and as I (3. turn) ____________ round, an elderly woman (4. slowly put) ____________
a silver plate into a bag that she (5. carry) ____________. Then she (6. walk)
____________ over to another part of the shop and (7. pick up) ____________ an
expensive-looking watch a number of times. When she (8. think) ____________ that
nobody (9. look) ____________, she (10. drop) ____________ it into the bag. Before I
(11. have) ____________ a chance to tell the staff in the shop, she (12. notice)
____________ that I (13. watch) ____________ her and (14. hurry)____________ out.
Unfortunately for her, two police officers (15. walk) ____________ past just at that
moment and she (16. run) ____________ straight into them. Xem đáp án
I (1. buy) ____was buying________ a new alarm clock the other day in Taylor’s the
jewellers, when I actually (2. see) _____saw_______ somebody shoplifting. I’d finished
paying for my clock and as I (3. turn) _____turned/ was turning_______ round, an
elderly woman (4. slowly put) ______was slowly putting/ out______ a silver plate into a
bag that she (5. carry) _____was carrying_______. Then she (6. walk)
_____walked_______ over to another part of the shop and (7. pick up) ____picked
up________ an expensive-looking watch a number of times. When she (8. think)
____thought________ that nobody (9. look) _____was looking_______, she (10. drop)
_____dropped_______ it into the bag. Before I (11. have) _____had_______ a chance
to tell the staff in the shop, she (12. notice) _______noticed_____ that I (13. watch)
_____was watching_______ her and (14. hurry)_____hurried_______ out.
Unfortunately for her, two police officers (15. walk) ___were walking/ walked_________
past just at that moment and she (16. run) ______ran______ straight into them.
Exerccise 8: Complete the sentences using these pairs of verbs. Use the past simple in one
gap and the past continuous in the other. come - show get - go hope - give live - spend look - see play - break start - check in
1. Just as I was getting into the bath all the lights went off.
2. I……………………..to go away this weekend, but my boss…………………..me some
work that I have to finish by Monday.
3. When I………………………..in Paris, I……………………three hours a day travelling to and from work.
4. A friendly American couple…………………..chatting to him as he…………………at the hotel reception.
5. I bumped into Lena last week. She……………………….a lot better than when I
last…………………..her.
6. My boss…………………………..into the office just as
I…………………………everyone my holiday photos.
7. I…………….badminton four times a week before I……………………..my ankle. Xem đáp án
1. Just as I was getting into the bath all the lights went off.
2. I…………was going…………..to go away this weekend, but my
boss………gave…………..me some work that I have to finish by Monday.
3. When I……………lived…………..in Paris, I………was spending……………three
hours a day travelling to and from work.
When I……………was living…………..in Paris, I………spent……………three hours a
day travelling to and from work.
4. A friendly American couple………started…………..chatting to him as he………was
checking in…………at the hotel reception.
5. I bumped into Lena last week. She…………was looking…………….a lot better than
when I last………saw…………..her.
6. My boss……………came……………..into the office just as I……was
showing……………………everyone my holiday photos.
7. I……was playing……….badminton four times a week before
I………broke……………..my ankle.
Exercise 9: Choose the correct alternative “When/ While”
1. I had a bad dream _____________ I was sleeping on the sofa
2. I was talking to my husband in the park _____________ two cars crashed behind us.
3. You called me last night _____________ I was studying for an important exam.
4. The students were doing an exercise _____________ the bell rang.
5. Anna was doing her homework _____________ the lights went out. Xem đáp án
1. I had a bad dream _____while________ I was sleeping on the sofa
2. I was talking to my husband in the park ______when_______ two cars crashed behind us.
3. You called me last night _____while________ I was studying for an important exam.
4. The students were doing an exercise ____when_________ the bell rang.
5. Anna was doing her homework ______when_______ the lights went out.
Exericise 10: Circle the correct verb form in each of the following sentences
1. Mary (prepared/ was preparing) lunch when they (came/ was coming)
2. The sun (shone/ was shining) brightly when I (got up/ was getting up) this morning.
3. Ann finally (told/ was telling) us the whole story about Peter
4. We (drove/ were driving) to Berlin in Robert’s new car
5. Last weekend Susan (fell/ was falling) and (broke/ was breaking) her leg
6. Who was that nice girl you (talked/ were talking) to when I (walked/ was walking) by the pub?
7. When I (entered / was entering) the cafeteria Mary (had / was having) lunch with Peter. Xem đáp án
1. Mary was preparing lunch when they came
2. The sun was shining brightly when I got up this morning.
3. Ann finally told us the whole story about Peter
4. We were driving to Berlin in Robert’s new car
5. Last weekend Susan fell and broke her leg
6. Who was that nice girl you were talking to when I walked by the pub?
7. When I entered the cafeteria Mary was having lunch with Peter.
Exercise 11: Complete the gaps in Past Simple or Past Continuous
1. We ______________ to the cinema yesterday. (to go)
2. I ______________ my homework for the whole evening yesterday. (to do)
3. Emily ______________ the piano at 4 p.m yesterday. (to play)
4. When John came home, his little brother ______________ TV. (to watch)
5. They ______________ a new house last month. (to buy)
6. We ______________ our relatives in the USA two years ago. (to visit)
7. As Sophie ______________ (walk) up Regent Street, she ______________ (meet) an old friend from college.
8. Who ______________ (you/ speak) to on the phone when I ______________ (come) in?
9. Mary ______________ (read) in bed when she ______________ (hear) a strange noise downstairs.
10. The fireman ______________ (rescue) a 75-year-old woman who ______________
(be) trapped on the second floor of the burning building.
11. When I ______________ (open) the door, two people ______________ (stand) there.
12. Your package ______________ (arrive) while we ______________ (have) dinner.
13. Gran ______________ (do) really well when I ______________ (see) her yesterday.
14. The teacher ______________ (ask) me a question while I ______________ (look) out of the window
15. We ______________ (not drive) very fast when the police officer ______________ (stop) us.
16. While I ______________ (drive), I ______________ (have) an accident.
17. Kate ______________ (have) dinner and then she ______________ (do) her homework.
18. The thieves ______________ (hide) in the kitchen when the police ______________ (come) in.
19. Sam ______________ (plan) a party and then he ______________ (phone) his friends.
20. While we ______________ (clean) the house, we ______________ (break) some glasses.
21. Alan ______________ (look) out of the window when he ______________ (see) a UFO. Xem đáp án
Exercise 12: Give the correct form of verbs in bracket
1. I ( not permit) _____________ to go out after 10 pm
2. The black dress ( make) _____________ me look older than my mother.
3. This little girl (expect) _____________ by her parents to win the competition.
4. My manager ( not let) _____________me use the computer in the office for personal purposes.
5. Your hydro bill (pay) _____________ by Mr. Smith yesterday.
6. This building (design) _____________ by a well-known architect in 2001.
7. last year, It ( rumour) _____________ that people would build a new bridge here.
8. The teacher (order) _____________ me to finish my report before yesterday.
9. his shoes ( often shine) _____________ by his wife.
10. Our way ( light) _____________ by a full moon. Xem đáp án
1. I ( not permit) ______am not permitted_______ to go out after 10 pm
2. The black dress ( make) _______makes______ me look older than my mother.
3. This little girl (expect) _______is expected______ by her parents to win the competition.
4. My manager ( not let) _______doesn’t let______me use the computer in the office for personal purposes.
5. Your hydro bill (pay) ______was paid_______ by Mr. Smith yesterday.
6. This building (design) _____was designed________ by a well-known architect in 2001.
7. last year, It ( rumour) ______was rumoured_______ that people would build a new bridge here.
8. The teacher (order) ______ordered_______ me to finish my report before yesterday.
9. his shoes ( often shine) _____are often shone________ by his wife.
10. Our way ( light) ________is lit_____ by a full moon.
Exercise 13: Make sentences from the prompts using past simple and past continuous
1. I / drop / my mobile phone / when / I / walk / to school.
_______________________________________________________
2. What / Jamie / do / when / you / see / him?
_______________________________________________________
3. It / not rain / when / we / leave / the house / this morning.
_______________________________________________________
4. Emily / not ride / her bike / when / the accident / happen.
_______________________________________________________
5. they / sleep / when / you / phone / them?
_______________________________________________________
6. Who / you / talk / to / when / I arrive?
_______________________________________________________ Xem đáp án
1. I dropped my mobile phone when I was walking to school.
2. What was Jamie doing when you saw him?
3. It wasn’t raining when we left the house this morning.
4. Emily wasn’t riding her bike when the accident happened.
5. Were they sleeping when you phoned them?
6. Who were you talking to when I arrived?
Exercise 14: Complete the gaps in Past Simple or Past Continuous
SILALINE : . I ____ (not see) you at school yesterday ____(be)you unwell?
VIVEK:yes. I _____ (not come) to school yesterday. I ____ (suffer) from stomach
ache.so I ______(go) doctor instead.
SHALINE: I am sorry to hear that What ____(do) the doctor say? _______(be) it something serious?
VIVEK : It____ (be , not ) serious, thankfully It_____ (be) the heat that got to me.
SHALINI : Yes I_____ (not feel) too well myself yesterday. Mother_____ (ask) me to
drink a lot of lemonade That_____ (help).
VIVEK : That’s good to know. By the way ,I ____(talk) to Mohit, when he_____ (tell) me
about yesterday’s assignment
SHALINI : Yes, Ms Shome ________(give) us an assignment yesterday It is based on
yesterday’s class. Don’t worry, you can refer to my notes.
VIVEK: Thank you so much, Shalini. Xem đáp án
SHALINE: I didn’t see you at school yesterday. Were you unwell?
VIVEK: Yes. I didn’t come to school yesterday. I was suffering from stomach ache.so I went doctor instead.
SHALINE: I am sorry to hear that.What did the doctor say? Was it something serious?
VIVEK :It wasn’t serious, thankfully It was the heat that got to me.
SHALINI : Yes I was not feeling too well myself yesterday. Mother asked me to drink a lot of lemonade That helped.
VIVEK : That’s good to know. By the way ,I talked to Mohit, when he told me about yesterday’s assignment.
SHALINI : Yes, Ms Shome gave us an assignment yesterday. It is based on yesterday’s
class. Don’t worry, you can refer to my notes.
VIVEK: Thank you so much, Shalini.