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

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	was shopping
B	shopped
C	had shopped
D	were shopping

Question 1 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 2

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

A	were eating
B	had eaten
C	ate
D	was eating

Question 2 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 3

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

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

Question 3 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 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A	were driving
B	does drive
C	drove
D	was driving

Question 6 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 7

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

A	smoked
B	were smoking
C	did smoke
D	was smoking

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

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	was sleeping
B	slept
C	were sleepy
D	were sleeping

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

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

A	have danced
B	were dancing
C	danced
D	was dancing

Question 9 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 10

My wife ______ _________ when I got home.

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

Question 10 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 11

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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	wasn't sleeping
C	were sleeping
D	will be 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	was driving
B	was droven
C	were driving
D	drives

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Past Continuous

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