Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb in brackets (past simple or past continuous).

1. While I ____ (watch) TV, the phone ____ (ring).
2. She ____ (cook) dinner when the guests ____ (arrive).
3. They ____ (play) football when it ____ (start) raining.
4. He ____ (study) for his exam when his friend ____ (call) him.
5. We ____ (walk) in the park when we ____ (see) a beautiful bird.
6. The children ____ (play) in the garden when it ____ (get) dark.
7. I ____ (read) a book when the power ____ (go) out.
8. She ____ (dance) at the party when she ____ (twist) her ankle.
9. They ____ (have) a picnic when it ____ (start) to rain.
10. He ____ (work) on his computer when it ____ (crash).

Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using the past continuous tense.

1. I ate dinner while I watched TV.
2. She studied for her exam when her friend called her.
3. They played football when it started raining.
4. He cooked dinner when the guests arrived.
5. We walked in the park when we saw a beautiful bird.
6. The children played in the garden when it got dark.
7. I read a book when the power went out.
8. She danced at the party when she twisted her ankle.
9. They had a picnic when it started to rain.
10. He worked on his computer when it crashed.