Вставьте правильные формы глаголов: Tom Smith was a writer. He 1) ... (to write) detective stories for magazines. One evening he 2) ... (to be not able) to invent an end for a story. He 3) ... (to sit) with his typewriter in front of him, but he 4) ... (to have) no ideas. Then he 5) ... (to go) to the cinema. When he 6) ... (to leave), a burglar 7) ... (to break) into his flat and 8) ... (to read) his story. The visitor 9) ... (to leave) Tom a note: “I have read your story and I 10) ... (not to think) much of it. I 11) ... (not to go) to steal anything tonight, but I will return, when you become a successful writer.” Tom 12) ... (to study) the burglar’s suggestions and 13) ... (to write) the rest of the story. He 14) ... (to be) still not a successful writer, and he 15) ... (to wait) for his burglar to return. Before he 16) ... (to go out) in the evening, he always 17) ... (to leave) a half-finished story near his typewriter.

Tom Smith was a writer. He wrote detective stories for magazines. One evening he was not able to invent an end for a story. He was sitting with his typewriter in front of him, but he had no ideas. Then he went to the cinema. When he left, a burglar broke into his flat and read his story. The visitor left Tom a note: “I have read your story and I did not think much of it. I did not go to steal anything tonight, but I will return, when you become a successful writer.” Tom studied the burglar’s suggestions and wrote the rest of the story. He was still not a successful writer, and he waited for his burglar to return. Before he went out in the evening, he always left a half-finished story near his typewriter.

В тексте используются Past Simple для последовательных завершённых действий и Past Continuous для действия, происходившего в определённый момент в прошлом: was sitting.

Перевод: Том Смит был писателем. Он писал детективные рассказы для журналов. Однажды вечером он не смог придумать концовку рассказа. Он сидел перед печатной машинкой, но у него не было идей. Затем он пошёл в кино. Когда он ушёл, грабитель проник в его квартиру и прочитал рассказ. Посетитель оставил Тому записку: «Я прочитал твой рассказ и не очень высокого мнения о нём. Сегодня вечером я не собирался ничего красть, но вернусь, когда ты станешь успешным писателем». Том изучил предложения грабителя и написал оставшуюся часть рассказа. Он всё ещё не был успешным писателем и ждал возвращения грабителя. Перед тем как выйти вечером, он всегда оставлял возле печатной машинки недописанный рассказ.