Practice Exercise on Past Continuous
(was/were + present participle)
Past Continuous
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Question 1 |
Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.
A | was shopping |
B | shopped |
C | had shopped |
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 |
While you ____ _____ dessert, I paid the restaurant bill.
A | were eating |
B | had eaten |
C | ate |
D | was eating |
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 was not taking notes, but I ___ ________ attention.
A | were paid |
B | were paying |
C | was paying |
D | will pay |
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 _____ _______, so I didn't hear the doorbell.
A | was taking |
B | will take |
C | had took |
D | was took |
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 |
When Santa Claus came, Billy ___ ____, Mary ______ ______, and the dog ______ ______.
A | were sleeping, was barking, had slept |
B | was sick, is angry, had fleas. |
C | was sleeping, was dreaming, was barking. |
D | slept, dreamed, barked |
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 | were driving |
B | does drive |
C | drove |
D | was driving |
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 |
What kept the mosquitoes away was the fact that we ______ ______ cigarettes.
A | smoked |
B | were smoking |
C | did smoke |
D | was 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 |
The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.
A | was sleeping |
B | slept |
C | were sleepy |
D | were sleeping |
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 |
At the party, some people _____ ________ while others were talking.
A | have danced |
B | were dancing |
C | danced |
D | was 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 |
My wife ______ _________ when I got home.
A | baked cookies |
B | have cooking |
C | had cooked |
D | was cooking |
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 |
Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.
A | have played |
B | was playing |
C | had played |
D | were 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 |
I ___ ______ during the Opera but you were sleeping!
A | weren't sleeping |
B | wasn't sleeping |
C | were sleeping |
D | will be sleeping |
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 |
Justin ran out of gas while he ____ ________ his car.
A | was driving |
B | was droven |
C | were driving |
D | drives |
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 ______ _________ on the couch, when the phone rang.
A | had sat |
B | were sitting |
C | was sitting |
D | am sitting |
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 |
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 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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