Practice Exercise on Past Continuous

(was/were + present participle)

Past Continuous

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Congratulations - you have completed Past Continuous. You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%. Your performance has been rated as %%RATING%%

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Question 1

At the party, some people _____ ________ while others were talking.

A	danced
B	were dancing
C	was dancing
D	have danced

Question 1 Explanation:

Two actions in the same sentence, can use Past Continuous to show that both actions were happening at the same time. (These are called parallel actions)

Question 2

The girl was drinking beer while she ___ ______ her car.

A	drove
B	were driving
C	does drive
D	was driving

Question 2 Explanation:

Two actions in the same sentence, can use Past Continuous to show that both actions were happening at the same time. (These are called parallel actions)

Question 3

You gave a beer to a 12 year old boy? What ____ you ________?

A	were you thinking?
B	was you thinking?
C	did you think"
D	have you thought?

Question 3 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 4

What kept the mosquitoes away was the fact that we ______ ______ cigarettes.

A	did smoke
B	was smoking
C	were smoking
D	smoked

Question 4 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 5

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	shopped
B	had shopped
C	was shopping
D	were shopping

Question 5 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 6

When Santa Claus came, Billy ___ ____, Mary ______ ______, and the dog ______ ______.

A	slept, dreamed, barked
B	was sick, is angry, had fleas.
C	was sleeping, was dreaming, was barking.
D	were sleeping, was barking, had slept

Question 6 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 7

I ______ _________ on the couch, when the phone rang.

A	were sitting
B	am sitting
C	had sat
D	was sitting

Question 7 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 8

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

A	have played
B	were playing
C	was playing
D	had played

Question 8 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 9

My wife ______ _________ when I got home.

A	baked cookies
B	was cooking
C	have cooking
D	had cooked

Question 9 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 10

I was not taking notes, but I ___ ________ attention.

A	were paid
B	were paying
C	was paying
D	will pay

Question 10 Explanation:

Two actions in the same sentence, can use Past Continuous to show that both actions were happening at the same time. (These are called parallel actions)

Question 11

While you ____ _____ dessert, I paid the restaurant bill.

A	ate
B	was eating
C	had eaten
D	were eating

Question 11 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 12

I ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!

A	weren't sleeping
B	will be sleeping
C	were sleeping
D	wasn't sleeping

Question 12 Explanation:

Two actions in the same sentence, can use Past Continuous to show that both actions were happening at the same time. (These are called parallel actions)

Question 13

Justin ran out of gas while he ____ ________ his car.

A	were driving
B	was droven
C	drives
D	was driving

Question 13 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 14

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	were sleeping
B	slept
C	was sleeping
D	were sleepy

Question 14 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

Question 15

I _____ _______, so I didn't hear the doorbell.

A	had took
B	was taking
C	was took
D	will take

Question 15 Explanation:

Past Continuous show a long action in the past that is interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action and in the Simple Past.

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There are 15 questions to complete.

Past Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Continuous

Past Continuous

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