Put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form. Only use the past perfect where this is absolutely necessary. 1 While I (try) … to get my car started, a passing car (stop) and the driver (offer)to help me.
2 The police (pay)no attention to Jos complaint because she (phone)them so many times before.
3 Mary (not wear)her glasses at the time, so she (not notice)what kind of car the man (drive)
4 Nick (lie)down on the grass for a while, next to some tourists who (feed)the ducks.
5 Tony (admit)that he (hit)the other car, but said that he (not damage)it.
6 Sorry, I (not listen)to you. I (think)about something else.
7 Helen (feel)very tired, and when she (finish) her work, she (fall)asleep.
8 The police (get)to Toms house as fast as they could, but the burglars (disappear)
9 I (phone)you last night but you (not answer)What (you do)?
10 We (not go)out yesterday because it (rain)
Explanation: The action of trying to start the car happened in the past, so we use the past continuous tense "was trying". The passing car stopping and the driver offering help happened at the same time, so we use the past simple tense "stopped" and "offered".
2. The police paid no attention to Jos' complaint because she had phoned them so many times before.
Explanation: The police not paying attention happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "paid". Jos' phone calls happened before the police not paying attention, so we use the past perfect tense "had phoned".
3. Mary was not wearing her glasses at the time, so she did not notice what kind of car the man was driving.
Explanation: Mary not wearing her glasses and not noticing happened at the same time in the past, so we use the past simple tense "was not wearing" and "did not notice". The action of the man driving the car also happened in the past, so we use the past continuous tense "was driving".
4. Nick lay down on the grass for a while, next to some tourists who were feeding the ducks.
Explanation: Nick laying down on the grass happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "lay". The action of the tourists feeding the ducks happened at the same time, so we use the past continuous tense "were feeding".
5. Tony admitted that he hit the other car, but said that he did not damage it.
Explanation: Tony admitting and hitting the other car happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "admitted" and "hit". The action of not damaging the car also happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "did not damage".
6. Sorry, I wasn't listening to you. I was thinking about something else.
Explanation: The action of not listening happened in the past, so we use the past continuous tense "wasn't listening". The action of thinking about something else also happened in the past, so we use the past continuous tense "was thinking".
7. Helen felt very tired, and when she finished her work, she fell asleep.
Explanation: Helen feeling very tired happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "felt". The action of finishing her work and falling asleep happened at the same time, so we use the past simple tense "finished" and "fell".
8. The police got to Tom's house as fast as they could, but the burglars had disappeared.
Explanation: The action of the police getting to Tom's house happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "got". The action of the burglars disappearing happened before the police getting there, so we use the past perfect tense "had disappeared".
9. I phoned you last night but you did not answer. What were you doing?
Explanation: The action of phoning happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "phoned". The action of not answering also happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "did not answer". The question asks about the action happening during the same time, so we use the past continuous tense "were you doing".
10. We did not go out yesterday because it was raining.
Explanation: The action of not going out and it raining happened in the past, so we use the past simple tense "did not go" and "was raining".