Answer Key with Explanations
Part A: Choose the Correct Form
-
entered / was talking
➡️ "entered" = short action that interrupts; "was talking" = background ongoing action. -
was preparing / went
➡️ She was in the middle of preparing → ongoing. Lights suddenly went out → short completed action. -
was travelling
➡️ Emphasises duration over a period ("at this time last year"). -
never admitted / was cheating
➡️ "admit" is a simple completed action (state verb). "was cheating" = ongoing action in progress during exam. -
were playing / was cooking
➡️ Both actions were simultaneous and continuous in the background. -
was reading / had recommended
➡️ Reading = ongoing, background action. Recommendation happened earlier, before reading → Past Perfect. -
was speaking / interrupted
➡️ Speaking = longer action; interruption = short completed action. -
were always arguing
➡️ Past Continuous + always = irritation/annoying habit. -
didn’t notice / was following
➡️ "didn’t notice" = single complete fact; "was following" = background action she failed to see. -
had started / were dancing
➡️ "had started" = action completed before another action; "were dancing" = ongoing background.
Part B: Rewrite the Sentences
-
✅ While she was cooking, the phone rang.
➡️ Background = cooking; interruption = ringing. -
✅ I knew the answer but I was too shy to say it.
➡️ "know" is a state verb → not used in continuous. -
✅ He dropped the glass while he was washing it.
➡️ Washing = ongoing; drop = sudden interruption. -
✅ They were always complaining about the service at that restaurant.
➡️ Continuous + always = irritation. -
✅ We were playing chess while the rain was falling.
➡️ Both ongoing simultaneous actions.
Part C: Error Correction
-
❌ was met → ✅ met
➡️ "meet" = simple past, not passive here. -
❌ was entered → ✅ entered
➡️ "entered" = short completed action. -
❌ were studied → ✅ were studying
➡️ "study" needs continuous to show ongoing. -
❌ was hearing → ✅ heard
➡️ "hear" is a state verb → not normally continuous. -
❌ was never liked → ✅ never liked
➡️ "like" = state verb, use simple.
Part D: Mixed Tenses (Challenge)
-
was walking / realised / had left
➡️ Background = walking. Realised = short event. Leaving wallet = happened earlier → Past Perfect. -
were discussing / arrived
➡️ Background = discussing. Arrival = interruption. -
had already finished / asked
➡️ Report finished before boss asked → Past Perfect + Past Simple. -
was trying / were playing
➡️ Trying = ongoing; playing = ongoing disturbance. -
were sleeping / was still working
➡️ Majority = sleeping (background). Narrator = still working.