Practice 18. The simple past and the past progressive. (Charts 2-7 and 2-8) Circle the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
1. We (had / were having) a wonderful dinner last night to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.
2. We (had / were having) a wonderful time when suddenly the electric power went out.
3. When Richard (stopped / was stopping) his car suddenly, the groceries (fell / were falling) out of the grocery bags and (spilled/ were spilling) all over the floor of the car.
4. When I was a child, my mother always (served / was serving) cookies and milk to my friends and me when they (came / were coming) home with me after school.
5. When we (looked / were looking) in on our baby last night, he (slept / was sleeping). I think he (dreamt I was dreaming) about something nice because he (smiled / was smiling).
6. A: Why is Henry in the hospital? B: He (worked / was working) on his car in the garage when the gas tank (exploded / was exploding). A: Oh! What (caused / was causing) the explosion? B: Henry (dropped / was dropping) a match too near the gas tank.​