Grammar 7th grade worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this grammar exercise step by step. We are focusing on the correct use of Past Simple and Past Continuous tenses.

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1. Complete sentences by using Past Simple and Past Continuous

We use:
- Past Continuous for actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past.
- Past Simple for completed actions or events that happened at a specific point in the past.

#### a) My dad __________ (listen) to classical music when I __________ (arrive) home from school.

- The action of listening was ongoing when another action (arrival) happened.
- So:
→ was listening (Past Continuous)
→ arrived (Past Simple)

✔ My dad was listening to classical music when I arrived home from school.

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#### b) My cousin __________ (meet) his wife, Bianca, while he __________ (live) in Italy.

- "Meet" is a completed action in the past.
- "Live" describes an ongoing state during which the meeting occurred.
- So:
→ met (Past Simple)
→ was living (Past Continuous)

✔ My cousin met his wife, Bianca, while he was living in Italy.

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#### c) While they __________ (try) to fix the computer, all the lights __________ (go out).

- "Trying" is an ongoing action; "lights going out" is a sudden event.
- So:
→ were trying (Past Continuous)
→ went out (Past Simple)

✔ While they were trying to fix the computer, all the lights went out.

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#### d) When you __________ (see) Paul, he __________ (wear) a black jacket?

- "See" is a momentary action — use Past Simple.
- "Wearing" describes what he was doing at that moment, so Past Continuous.

→ saw (Past Simple)
→ was wearing (Past Continuous)

✔ When you saw Paul, he was wearing a black jacket?

*(Note: This sentence is a question — the structure is correct.)*

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#### e) While Dad __________ (print) an article, the printer __________ (run out) of paper.

- "Printing" is ongoing action → was printing
- "Running out" is a sudden event → ran out

✔ While Dad was printing an article, the printer ran out of paper.

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✔ Answers for Part 1:

a) was listening, arrived
b) met, was living
c) were trying, went out
d) saw, was wearing
e) was printing, ran out

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2. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in Past Simple and Past Continuous

Let’s go through the story carefully.

> A few months ago, Becky O'Brien, 16, was at the beach with her two young cousins. She (look after) was looking after them for the afternoon.

✔ Already given: was looking after

> While the two boys (play) __________ with a ball...

- They were playing continuously → were playing

✔ were playing

> Becky (open) __________ her book and (read) __________.

- Two actions happening together, both completed but part of a sequence. Since she opened and read as a continuous activity, we can use Past Simple for both.

✔ opened, read

> Suddenly, while she (read) __________, the ball (fly) __________ past her head and (land) __________ behind some rocks.

- "She read" — this was in progress when something interrupted → was reading
- "Ball flew" and "landed" — sudden actions → flew, landed

✔ was reading, flew, landed

> 'Be careful' she (shout) __________ to the boys.

- Shouting is a short, completed action → shouted

✔ shouted

> Then she (get up) __________ to find the ball.

- Completed action → got up

✔ got up

> As she (look) __________ for the ball, she (see) __________ something.

- "Looking" = ongoing → was looking
- "See" = sudden discovery → saw

✔ was looking, saw

> She (stop) __________ and (look) __________ at it closely.

- Stopped suddenly → stopped
- Looked closely → looked

✔ stopped, looked

> It was a very large tooth. She (look) __________ at part of a dinosaur over 100 million years old.

- Looking at it again — completed observation → looked

✔ looked

> Later, archaeologists (remove) __________ the dinosaur and (take) __________ it to a local museum.

- Both are completed actions in the past → removed, took

✔ removed, took

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✔ Full Answer for Part 2:

> A few months ago, Becky O'Brien, 16, was at the beach with her two young cousins. She was looking after them for the afternoon. While the two boys were playing with a ball, Becky opened her book and read. Suddenly, while she was reading, the ball flew past her head and landed behind some rocks. 'Be careful,' she shouted to the boys. Then she got up to find the ball. As she was looking for the ball, she saw something. She stopped and looked at it closely. It was a very large tooth. She looked at part of a dinosaur over 100 million years old. Later, archaeologists removed the dinosaur and took it to a local museum.

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🔍 Summary of Key Rules Used:

| Tense | Use |
|------|-----|
| Past Simple | Completed actions, finished events, short actions |
| Past Continuous | Actions in progress at a specific time, background actions |

✔️ Use Past Continuous for longer actions that were happening when a shorter action occurred (often introduced by *while*, *as*, *when*).
✔️ Use Past Simple for actions that interrupt or happen within the ongoing action.

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✔ Final Answers:

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1.

a) was listening, arrived
b) met, was living
c) were trying, went out
d) saw, was wearing
e) was printing, ran out

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2.

- were playing
- opened, read
- was reading, flew, landed
- shouted
- got up
- was looking, saw
- stopped, looked
- looked
- removed, took

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