Skip navigation

.

 

1. Read a short extract from a story.

 

 

2. Read the Learn this! box. Match sentences 1-6 from the extract in exercise 1 with rules a-c.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Enable JavaScript

 

3. Complete the sentences. Use the past simple or the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

a. While he (listen) to their argument, the boat's engines  (start).

b. Someone (fall) into the water. Harry (realise) who it was and (jump) into too.

c. Still underwater, he (swim) close to the boat, then (come) up silently. Three people (argue) loudly. 

d. The boat (begin) to move away. As he (decide) what to do, he (hear) a scream.

e. Before it started moving, Harry quickly (climb) onto the back of the boat and (hide).

Enable JavaScript

 

4. Put the sentences from exercise 3 in the correct order to continue the story. Then listen and check.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Grammar builder 2D

Enable JavaScript

 

5. Read the Look out! box. Then find the three sentences in exercises 1 and 3 which begin with While or As. Rewrite them using when before the past simple.

a. He was getting near the boat when .

b. .

c. .

Enable JavaScript

 

6. Choose an inturruption from box B for each activity in box A. Then write five sensenteces using the past simple and past continuous. Use While/As or When. 

As they were fighting, harry heard a helicopter

A Activities

fight     climb back onto the boat     help     hide

put on dry clothes     swm to the shore     talk

B interruptions

call for help   feel ill     find a note     see a shark

find a case of money     hear gunshots

remember something important     hear/see a helicopter

Workbook

Question

1. Choose the correct tense to complete the sentences.

1. Jake looked at the weather outside: it was grey, but it...

Answers

didn't rain

wasn´t raining.

Feedback

Question

2. You didn't answer when I phoned you this morning. What...

Answers

did you do?

were you doing?

Feedback

Question

3. Lucy switched off her computer,

Answers

put on her coat and left the office.

was putting on her coat and was leaving the office.

Feedback

Question

4. She closed the window because some children

Answers

made a lot of noise.

were making a lot of noise.

Feedback

Question

5. When I told about the robbery, they...

Answers

didn't believe me.

weren't believing me.

Feedback

Question

6. She didn't hear the doorbell because she...

Answers

had a shower.

she was having a shower.

Feedback

 

2. Complete the sentences. Use the past simple form of one verb and past continuous of the other.

1. I (see) Henry as I (cycle) to the sports centre.

2. While we  (prepare) the picninc, it (start) to rain. 

3. All my friends (leave) the party when I (arrive).

4. As we (walk) by the river, We (hear) a noise.

5. We (not eat) very much while we (stay) in that hotel.

6. I (drink) my dad's coffee while he (not look).

7. She (drop) her new phone as she (put) it in her pocket.

8. I (meet) a really interesting person while I (wait) for the bus.

Enable JavaScript

 

3. Complete the text with the past simple form or past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

In January 2014, a doctor from New Zealand (have) a frightening experience with a shark - but his calm reaction (make) him the star of news reports around the world.

James Grant (fish) with friends one Saturday when a shark attacked him. He (not see) anything, but he (feel) a sudden pain in his leg. At first, he thought that his friends (play) a prank on him. He (turn) around -but nobody (be) behind him. Then he (realise) what (happen).

Luckily, James (carry) a knife so he (use) it to fight off the shark.

Then he (get) out of the water and (look) at his leg. The bites were 5 cm long and they (bleed) a lot. James (clean) his leg.

Then he and his friends (go) to a nearby cafe! While they (enjoy) a drink, somebody (give) James a bandage because his leg (bleed). He (go) to hospital for some treatment, but on Monday he was back at work.

Enable JavaScript

 

4. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first.

1. I hurt my finger while I was playing the guitar.

    I was playing the guitar when I hurt my finger.

 

2. I was walking home when it started to rain.

    While l .

 

3. She broke her leg while she was learning to ski.

    She was learning .

 

4. He was making lunch when he suddenly felt ill.

    As he

5. She was telling me about her party when she started to laugh loudly.

    She started .

 6. I lost my wallet while I was shopping.

    While l .

 

7. As the band were playing their first song, all the lights went out.

    The band were playing .

Enable JavaScript