3. Fill in the blanks with the past simple or continuous of the verbs in brackets: 1. James and Amy (wait) for the 9:30 train when I (see) them. 2. While Sue (cook) spaghetti, Tom (prepare) a tomato salad. 3. The teacher (not/ accept) John's excuses for being late again. 4. I (phone) Paula last Monday, but she (not/be) in; her mum (tell) me she (jog) in the park. 5. " (the teacher/explain) how to solve the maths problem yesterday?" "Yes, she ...". 6. While Alice (draw) a picture, Lewis (have) a relaxing bath. 7. The house (burn) for hours until the fire brigade (put) the fire out. 8. What (Jenny/ do) when her boss unexpectedly (come) into her office? 9. Nobody (can/ hear) what Mary (tell) Sue at the party yesterday. 10. We (not/understand) how to get to the station. 11. They (drive) home when the car suddenly (stop). 12. A strong wind (blow) all night long. 13. Jenny (get) really disappointed when the teacher (tell) her that her history project (not/ be) as good as she had expected, so she (have) to rewrite it. 14. The company (apologize) for the delay of the flight to New York. 15. Why (Andy/not/ wait) for us at the station yesterday? 16. The police (come) as soon as the bank manager (call) them. 17. The children (play) in the street until it (get) dark and they (go) home. 18. The workers (go) on strike because their boss (not/give) them a pay rise. 19. Paul finally (manage) to pass his driving test.

1. James and Amy **were waiting** for the 9:30 train when I **saw** them. 2. While Sue **was cooking** spaghetti, Tom **prepared** a tomato salad. 3. The teacher **didn't accept** John's excuses for being late again. 4. I **phoned** Paula last Monday, but she **wasn't** in; her mum **told** me she **was jogging** in the park. 5. "**Was** the teacher **explaining** how to solve the maths problem yesterday?" "Yes, she was." 6. While Alice **was drawing** a picture, Lewis **had** a relaxing bath. 7. The house **burned** for hours until the fire brigade **put** the fire out. 8. What **was Jenny doing** when her boss unexpectedly **came** into her office? 9. Nobody **could hear** what Mary **told** Sue at the party yesterday. 10. We **didn't understand** how to get to the station. 11. They **were driving** home when the car suddenly **stopped**. 12. A strong wind **blew** all night long. 13. Jenny **got** really disappointed when the teacher **told** her that her history project **wasn't** as good as she had expected, so she **had** to rewrite it. 14. The company **apologized** for the delay of the flight to New York. 15. Why **weren't** Andy and Paul **waiting** for us at the station yesterday? 16. The police **came** as soon as the bank manager **called** them. 17. The children **were playing** in the street until it **got** dark and they **went** home. 18. The workers **went** on strike because their boss **didn't give** them a pay rise. 19. Paul finally **managed** to pass his driving test.