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

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

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

Question 2 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 3

My wife ______ _________ when I got home.

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

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

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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

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

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

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

I ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!

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

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

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

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

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 ______ _________ on the couch, when the phone rang.

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

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

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	were shopping
B	shopped
C	had shopped
D	was shopping

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	was eating
C	ate
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

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

A	was driving
B	were driving
C	drove
D	does drive

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	was sleeping
B	slept
C	were sleepy
D	were sleeping

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

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

A	was dancing
B	danced
C	have danced
D	were dancing

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

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

A	were driving
B	was droven
C	drives
D	was driving

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

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

A	were smoking
B	was smoking
C	did smoke
D	smoked

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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