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	had shopped
B	shopped
C	was shopping
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

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

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

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

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

A	were eating
B	was eating
C	had eaten
D	ate

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

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 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	was cooking
B	have 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

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

A	was driving
B	does drive
C	were driving
D	drove

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

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

A	drives
B	was droven
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

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 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

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

A	did smoke
B	was smoking
C	smoked
D	were smoking

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

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

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

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	was dancing
B	danced
C	have danced
D	were dancing

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

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	were sleeping
B	was sleeping
C	slept
D	were sleepy

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	will pay
B	was paying
C	were paid
D	were paying

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

I ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!

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

Question 14 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 15

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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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