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

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

A	did smoke
B	was smoking
C	were smoking
D	smoked

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	ate
B	had eaten
C	were eating
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 ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!

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

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

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

A	have danced
B	were dancing
C	was dancing
D	danced

Question 4 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 5

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

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

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

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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

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

A	was driving
B	were driving
C	drove
D	does drive

Question 7 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 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	were sleeping
B	slept
C	were sleepy
D	was sleeping

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

My wife ______ _________ when I got home.

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

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

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	shopped
B	was shopping
C	had shopped
D	were shopping

Question 12 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 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A	drives
B	was droven
C	were driving
D	was driving

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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