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

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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 ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!

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

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

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	was sleeping
B	were sleepy
C	were sleeping
D	slept

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	baked cookies
B	was cooking
C	had cooked
D	have cooking

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

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	was shopping
B	were shopping
C	had shopped
D	shopped

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

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

A	was smoking
B	smoked
C	did smoke
D	were smoking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A	does drive
B	were driving
C	was driving
D	drove

Question 10 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 11

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

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

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

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

A	danced
B	were dancing
C	have danced
D	was dancing

Question 12 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 13

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

A	ate
B	had eaten
C	was eating
D	were eating

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

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

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

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 was not taking notes, but I ___ ________ attention.

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

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

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Past Continuous

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