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

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

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

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

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	was shopping
B	shopped
C	were shopping
D	had shopped

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

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

A	does drive
B	was driving
C	drove
D	were driving

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

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

A	did smoke
B	were smoking
C	smoked
D	was smoking

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

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

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

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

My wife ______ _________ when I got home.

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

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 bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	slept
B	was sleeping
C	were sleeping
D	were sleepy

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

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

A	was droven
B	drives
C	was driving
D	were driving

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

I ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!

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

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

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

A	danced
B	have danced
C	was dancing
D	were dancing

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

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A	had eaten
B	ate
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

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

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

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	were paying
B	will pay
C	were paid
D	was paying

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

Practice Exercise on Past Continuous

Past Continuous

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