past progressive/ simple past

I've got a question concerning the use of simple past and past progressive. Which time do you have to use in the following sentences:
DAVID WAS TIRED WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME THAT EVENING. IT (to be) ______A LONG DAY FOR HIM. HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE M25 (to make) _________ THE JOURNEY SEEM LONGER THAN EVER.
Thank a lot conny

[Beny]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I've got a question concerning the use of simple past and past progressive. Which time do you have to use in the following sentences:
DAVID WAS TIRED WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME THAT EVENING. IT (to be) ______A LONG DAY FOR HIM. HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE M25 (to make) _________ THE JOURNEY SEEM LONGER THAN EVER.
Thank a lot conny

In both times past simple. I`m not a teacher so I don`t know if I can reply here. But I`m sure it should be - was and made.

[rewboss]

I don't think either past progressive or simple past are the best choices here. The first sentence describes how David arrived home; the next sentence describes his experiences before he arrived home -- things that happened before something else in the past, a time before the time before now. For this case, we would normally use the past perfect:

It had been a long day...
Heavy traffic on the M25 had made...

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I've got a question concerning the use of simple past and past progressive. Which time do you have to use in the following sentences:
DAVID WAS TIRED WHEN HE ARRIVED HOME THAT EVENING. IT (to be) ______A LONG DAY FOR HIM. HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE M25 (to make) _________ THE JOURNEY SEEM LONGER THAN EVER.
Thank a lot conny

I agree with Rewboss. Past perfect is the best choice for both: had been, had made.