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

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

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

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

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	were sleepy
B	were sleeping
C	was sleeping
D	slept

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	was paying
B	were paid
C	were 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

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

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

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

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

A	was dancing
B	danced
C	have danced
D	were dancing

Question 5 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 6

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

A	smoked
B	were smoking
C	did smoke
D	was smoking

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

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

A	was droven
B	drives
C	were driving
D	was driving

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 girl was drinking beer while she ___ ______ her car.

A	were driving
B	was driving
C	drove
D	does drive

Question 8 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 9

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

A	were eating
B	was eating
C	had eaten
D	ate

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

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

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

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	have cooking
B	was cooking
C	baked cookies
D	had cooked

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	was shopping
B	shopped
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

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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	was sitting
C	am sitting
D	were 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

I ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!

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

Question 15 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)

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There are 15 questions to complete.

Past Continuous

Practice Exercise on Past Continuous

Past Continuous

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