Complete the sentences with the correct tense form of the verbs in brackets.

I cannot remember what my teacher (say) yesterday about our homework. I (not listen) properly because Dilip (talk) to me at the same time.

The correct answer is '2' i.e. said / could not listen / was talking .

Key Points

• The sentence includes multiple actions happening at different points in the past.
• In the first clause, "I cannot remember what my teacher (say) yesterday about our homework," the action of the teacher speaking occurred in the past, so the verb should be in the past tense "said."
• In the second clause, "I (not listen) properly," the action describes an ongoing state in the past, so the past continuous tense "was not listening" is appropriate. However, the contracted form "could not listen" makes more sense here as it implies the inability to listen properly.
• In the third clause, "because Dilip (talk) to me at the same time," the ongoing background action in the past is described, so the verb should be in the past continuous tense "was talking."

Correct sentence: I cannot remember what my teacher said yesterday about our homework. I could not listen properly because Dilip was talking to me at the same time.

Additional Information

• Past Simple: Used for actions that are completed in the past.
  • Example: She said she was tired.
• Past Continuous: Used for ongoing actions in the past, often interrupted by another action.
  • Example: He was talking when the phone rang.