Choose the correct verbs so that each tense appears once.
Simple past, past progressive, past perfect simple, past perfect progressive


We(went/ were going/had gone / had been going) to the cinema last week-

A bird shat on the window that I ( cleaned/was cleaning / has cleaned/ had been cleaning ) - just before.


Yesterday at nine he ( sat / was setting/had sat / had been setting) in front of his computer.

When their mum came home, the boys( watched/ was watching/ had watched/ had been watching) TV for two hours.




؟Complete the sentences for situations in the past. Decide which tense you need to use.



Yesterday, a plumber (come).......... to our house.

He (want)................ to repair our washing machine that (break)........ down a few days before.

Before he (ring)....... at my door, he (look)....... for a parking space for about ten minutes.

While the plumber (repair) ....... the washing machine, I (watch) ..... the news.

Suddenly, I (realise)..... that they (show) ...... our street on TV.

The reporter (say)...... that a car (crash)...... into a stop sign just before reaching the crossroads.


While I (listen)...... carefully to what (happen)........ , someone (knock)....... at my door.

I (open) ...... the door and (see) ...... a police officer standing there.

He (ask)...... for the plumber.

As it (turn)....... out, it (be)...... our plumber’s car that (roll)...... down the street.


In his haste, the plumber (forget)...... to set the handbrake.