Past tenses (sim, cont, perf sim, perf cont)

______ Thomas Edison and Henry Ford best friends?

• Was

• Were

• Did

• Would

Answer explanation

General truths or facts in the past

A: What ____ Thomas Edison ____ most well-known for?

B: Light bulb!

• did / invent

• did / invented

• was / invent

• was / invented

Answer explanation

'Invent' is an action verb; therefore, 'verb to do' in the past form should be used to create a 'Wh- question'.

Did the ancient Egyptians ____ more advanced technology than other civilizations?

• has

• have

• had

• having

Answer explanation

The helping verb "verb to do" is already used in the sentence; therefore, the main verb should be in the "infinitive form".

I ______ to Matt online at midnight last night.

• was chatting

• chatted

• had chatted

• had been chatting

Answer explanation

Actions in progress at a particular moment in the past

Before I watched that movie, I ____ the ending on a website a week ago.

• read

• was reading

• had read

• had been reading

Answer explanation

Situations or states before the past

We _____ on my computer all morning yesterday.

• worked

• were working

• had worked

• have been working

Answer explanation

Actions in progress over a period of time, during periods of time or at moments which are finished

I _____ our visit to the Science Museum last summer.

• enjoy

• did enjoy

• were enjoying

• had enjoyed

Answer explanation

To emphasize strong feelings in the past

I _____ frustrated with my internet provider, so I decided to change.

• was

• was feeling

• have felt

• had been feeling

Answer explanation

Changing or developing situations in the past

The ancient Greeks ______ rely on the power of slaves, rather than machines.

• was

• were

• would

• had

Answer explanation

Past habits, particularly for the distant past

It's surprising how quickly people in the nineteenth century _______ travelling by train.

• use to

• were used to

• using to

• had used to

Answer explanation

"Be used to" refers to a situation that is now familiar or no longer strange.