English exercises

1. _____________ he was talking on the phone, I was watching TV. |
Correct answer: while (Option 1) 2. He was cancelling his flight ______ we called him. |
Correct answer: when (Option 2) 3. I was overtaking a truck ______ I heard a loud thump. |
Correct answer: when (Option 2) 4. We were watching a movie _____ the screen went blank. |
Correct answer: when (Option 2) 5. ________ she was packing the bags, I was looking for our passports. |
Correct answer: while (Option 1) 6. We were complaining about the weather __________ the sun broke through the clouds. |
Correct answer: when (Option 2) 7. Sandra was washing the dishes _________ a plate fell off the shelf. |
Correct answer: when (Option 2) 8. Do not disturb me ______ I'm listening to music! |
Correct answer: while (Option 1)

While is used to say that two longer actions or situations go/went on at the same time. We can use progressive or simple tenses. * While he was watching TV, I was working. * He slept while I cooked supper.
When is used to refer to ages and periods of life. * His parents died when he was ten.

when is used, with simple tenses:
1 When one action occurs at the same time as another or in the span of another: * When it is wet the buses are crowded. * When we lived in town we often went to the theatre.
2 When one action follows another: * When he explained the situation she calmed down.

A) Put in the following forms of be (am, are, is) into the gaps in the text. Peter Baker ____from Manchester, but Paul and John _____from London. Manchester and London ____cities in England. Hamburg ____a city in Germany. Sandra ____at school today. Jack and Peter ____her friends. They _____in the same class. Mr and Mrs Baker _____on a trip to the USA to visit their cousin Anne. She _____a nice girl. Peter says: "My grandfather _____in hospital. I _____at home with my grandmother." What time ____it? It ____8 o'clock. _____you tired?