When I was a child, both my parents used to go / were going out to work, so when they would be / were out, my grandmother was looking / would look after me.

We should have had a really good holiday for what we paid, but unfortunately we discovered that they __________ (not organise) anything very much so it was rather a disappointment.

I _____________( live) In Geneva for the past few months, though Madeleine, who you met yesterday, ___________ (live) here all her life.

The feedback we received from our clients meant we _____________ (be able) to provide excellent advice to the people developing the product, which they then acted on.

I ______________ (grow) up in a house which ____________ (belong) to my great-great-grandfather. We ____________ (sell) it now because it was too big for our small family.

Maria___________(come) round to dinner last night. She _____________(start) telling me her life story while I ______________ (make) the salad and ____________ (continue) telling it during dinner.

Ivana _______________(have) s splitting headache yesterday evening because she ______________ (not wear) a hat.

My teachers were often getting/ often used to get annoyed with me when I was at school because I never used to bring / had never brought a pen with me and I would always ask / have always asked someone if I could borrow theirs.

In recent times people _______ (have) more contact with their friends through email and mobile phones than they did in the past.

Petra looks after my children very well. I ___________ (notice) any weaknesses in her character, so I'm sure you'll be happy to offer her a job.

While I was studying in England, I ____________ (take) an examination because it was not offered to me or to any of my fellow students either.

The village used to be / would be very quiet and remote until they built / had built the motorway two years ago. In those days everybody would know / used to know everyone else.

Chen has been working in Singapore since he ______________(left) university two years ago, but next year he expects to be transferred to Hong Kong.