English Grammar & Vocabulary Practice: Past Tenses, Habits, and Unique Architecture

Exploring Unique Homes: Vocabulary & Descriptions

Instruction: Complete the following sentences with the correct word to describe unusual houses and architecture.

1. unique – “…houses that stand out due to their unique designs.”
2. eco-friendly – “…built with eco-friendly materials…”
3. natural – “…making them look natural.”
4. environment – “…beneficial for the environment.”
5. sustainable – “…seek homes that are sustainable.”
6. open – “…an open layout allows for…”
7. efficient – “…making the living space more efficient.”
8. important – “It’s important to be…”
9. decision – “Whether it’s a decision when choosing a home…”

English Grammar Focus: Simple Past and Past Continuous Tenses

Instruction: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. arrived – “When I arrived at the party, everyone was dancing.”
2. were studying / called – “While they were studying, their friends called them.”
3. didn’t see – “I didn’t see you at the concert because I was sitting in the back.”
4. wasn’t finishing – “She wasn’t finishing her homework when her friends came over.”
5. was playing – “They were playing in the garden while it was raining.”
6. was walking / saw – “While I was walking in the park, I saw a strange bird.”
7. were you doing – “What were you doing when I called you last night?”
8. was cooking / went – “Last night, I was cooking dinner when the power went out.”

Formulating Questions: Simple Past or Past Continuous

Instruction: Formulate questions in the Simple Past or Past Continuous using the given words and provide an example answer.

• a. Did you see the movie?
  • Example Answer: Yes, I saw it last weekend.
• b. Were they playing outside?
  • Example Answer: No, they were studying inside.
• c. Was she studying when you arrived?
  • Example Answer: Yes, she was reviewing her notes.
• d. Did he finish the report?
  • Example Answer: Yes, he submitted it yesterday.
• e. Were we having dinner when the phone rang?
  • Example Answer: Yes, it interrupted our meal.

Expressing Past Habits: Using "Used to" or "Would"

Instruction: Fill in the spaces with “used to” or “would”. Use “would” where possible to express habits in the past.

1. used to be – “Living with Angela was great.”
2. used to think – “I used to think that eating…”
3. would go – “My father would go to the beach every day.”
4. used to work – “Jacob’s wife used to work very hard.”
5. would tolerate – “I would tolerate his difficult character.”
6. used to rain – “It used to rain so much…”
7. would play – “It would play a musical instrument…”
8. used to be – “It used to be very expensive to travel.”