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	were smoking
C	was 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

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	slept
B	was sleeping
C	were sleepy
D	were sleeping

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

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

A	did you think"
B	was you thinking?
C	were you thinking?
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

My wife ______ _________ when I got home.

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

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

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

A	were driving
B	was driving
C	drives
D	was droven

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	had played
B	have played
C	were playing
D	was playing

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	does drive
B	was driving
C	were driving
D	drove

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

I ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!

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

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

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	were shopping
B	shopped
C	was shopping
D	had shopped

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

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

A	were eating
B	ate
C	was eating
D	had eaten

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

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

A	were dancing
B	danced
C	was dancing
D	have danced

Question 11 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 12

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

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

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 was not taking notes, but I ___ ________ attention.

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

Question 13 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 14

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

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

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 ______ _________ on the couch, when the phone rang.

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

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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