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	will take
B	was took
C	was taking
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

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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

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

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

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

My wife ______ _________ when I got home.

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

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

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

A	drives
B	was driving
C	were driving
D	was droven

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

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

A	were eating
B	had eaten
C	was eating
D	ate

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

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

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

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

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

A	was dancing
B	have danced
C	danced
D	were 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

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	slept
B	were sleeping
C	was sleeping
D	were sleepy

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

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

A	was driving
B	drove
C	does drive
D	were driving

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

A	were smoking
B	was smoking
C	smoked
D	did smoke

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

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	were shopping
B	had shopped
C	shopped
D	was shopping

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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