Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense:

I. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past or the past continuous tense.1. He (play) the guitar outside her house when someone opened the window and (throw) out a bucket of water.

2. You looked very busy when I (see) you last night. What you (do)?

3. He (clean) his gun when it accidentally (go) off and (kill) him.

4. He (not allow) us to go out in the boat yesterday as a strong wind (blow).

5. When I (hear) his knock I (go) to the door and (open) it, but I (not recognize) him at first because I (not wear) my glasses.

6. When I came in they (sit) round the fire. Mr Pitt (do) a crossword puzzle, Mrs Pitt (knit), the others (read). Mrs Pitt (smile) at me and (say) Come and sit down.

7. Her mother often (tell) her that she (spend) too much money but she never (listen).

8. Mr Smith never (wake) up in time in the mornings and always (get) into trouble for being late; so one day he (go) to town and (buy) an alarm clock.

9. To get home he (have to) go through a field where a bad-tempered bull usually (graze).

10. This bull normally (not chase) people unless something (make) him angry. Unfortunately, as Mr Smith (cross) the field, his alarm clock (go) off.

11. This (annoy) the bull, who immediately (begin) to chase Mr Smith.12. Mr Smith (carry) an open umbrella as it (rain) slightly. He (throw) the umbrella to the ground and (run) away as fast as he could.

13. The bull (stop) and (begin) to attack the umbrella. While he (do) this, Mr Smith escaped.

14. When he (awake) she (sit) by the window. She (look) at something in the street, but when he (call) her she (turn) and (smile) at him.

15. When I (arrive) at the station Mary (wait) for me. She (wear) a blue dress and (look) very pretty. As soon as she (see) me she (wave) and (shout) something, but I couldnt hear what she (say) because everybody (make) such a noise.

II. Put the verbs in brackets in the simple or continuous past tense according to the meaning. Remember that there are verbs that do not have a continuous form. Check the aspect.

1. He (recognize) the voice that (shout) the loudest as that of the landlady.

2. I (go) to ask you to help me, but you (sleep) so peacefully when I (look) into your room that I (decide) to do it alone.

3. He (not keep) his appointment with you last Tuesday morning because at the time of the appointment he (be seen) by the Personnel Manager about a new job.

4. When the dog (bite) Mary again, mother (prepare) dinner and we (listen) to the radio. Mary (shout) blue murder and (have) hysterics again.

5. We (have) to go round the back door because Grandfather (have) his front door painted.

6. I (see) that the Browns (have) a lot of alterations made to their house, but I (not know) if the parents (go) to pay for them.

7. I (walk) down the street some minutes ago when I (see) a curiously dressed man. He (wear) a sports-coat with black trousers, and one of his shoes (be) black and the other (be) brown.

8. When they (get married) he (find) a job as a caretaker on a large estate.

9. She (wear) green and it (suit) her very well. Her face (be) mildly pretty but, because she (cry) and mascara (run) down her cheeks, she (not seem) as attractive as I (expect).

10. The person who (drive) the car on the day of the accident (not be) insured.

11. While she (wonder) whether to buy the suit or not, someone else (come) and (buy) it.

12. Ann (work) in the branch where the big robbery (take) place. She actually (work) there at the time of the raid?

13. While the schoolmaster (write) on the blackboard, he (not notice) that the boys in the back row (steal out) of the room on tiptoe.

14. He (come) into the room, (light) a cigarette, (open) the window and (lean) out.

15. A traffic warden just (stick) a parking ticket to my windscreen when I (come) back to the car. I (try) to persuade him to tear it up but he (refuse).

III. Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past or past continuous tense.

1. I lit the fire at 6:00 and it (burn) brightly when Tom came in at 7:00.

2. I (make) a cake when the light went out. I had to finish it in the dark.

3. I didnt want to meet Paul so when he entered the room I (leave).

4. He (watch) TV when the phone (ring). Very unwillingly he (turn) down the sound and (go) to answer it.

5. I (share) a flat with him when we were students. He always (complain) about my untidiness.

6. I just (open) the letter when the wind (blow) it out of my hand.

7. The burglar (open) the safe when he (hear) footsteps. He immediately (put) out his torch and (crawl) under the bed.

8. The boys (play) cards when they (hear) their fathers step. The immediately (hide) the cards and (take) out their lesson books.

9. How you (damage) your car so badly?

I (run) into a lamp-post yesterday.

I suppose you (drive) too quickly or were not looking where you (go).

As he (get) into the bus it (start) suddenly and he (fall) backwards on to the road.

10. The next day, as they (know) that the police (look) for them, they (hide) the coats in a wood and (go) off in different directions.

IV. Translate the following into English. Use the past tense simple or continuous whenever necessary.

A venit vntul dinspre Dunre, vnt cald. i vntul a adus nori. i norii au adus ploaie, ploaie gras, ploaie cald, ploaie de primvar. Ploaia bun a nviorat pmntul. Cmpul nesfrit a nviat. Pretutindeni miroase a iarb proaspt, a iarb nou, a frunze noi i a gru care a crescut mai mult de dou palme deasupra pmntului. Peste oamenii mpucai i ngropai adnc a rsrit iarb, iarb nou, iarb proaspt.(Zaharia Stancu Descul)

A doua zi, duminic diminea, la cafeneaua din centru, spiritualul cronicar high life citea mai multor tineri din localitate carnetul lui: Cum se pitrece la noi. Tinerii l ascultau cu mult admiraie i poate cu mai mult invidie.

Pn cnd se comenta articolul i autorul cuta s explice amicilor si ce nseamn divina Hebe, iat c deodat intr d. subprefect, Raoul Gregoraschko, soul infatigabilei silfide. D. Subprefect salut n dreapta i n stnga cu gravitate, apoi se oprete drept n faa lui Edgar Bostandaki i spune cu un ton neobinuit de aspru.

(I.L. Caragiale High life)