Past Tenses (Simple, Continuous, Perfect)

I heard a knock at the front door so I ... to answer it.

At this time yesterday, I ... an essay.

The football season ... a month ago.

She ... from school in 2001.

We entered the house quietly because everyone ...

By the time we ... to the cinema, the film had already started.

The children ... in the garden while their parents were watching them.

They ... many hours before we arrived.

Choose the sentence which is closer in meaning to the original.

1. I had already seen the film but I decided to watch it again last night.

2. The boys were playing football while it was raining.

3. I was writing an e-mail when our computer broke down.

4. My aunt bought me a lovely gift after she had spent the summer holiday with us.