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

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

A	had eaten
B	ate
C	was eating
D	were eating

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

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

A	danced
B	was dancing
C	have danced
D	were dancing

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	baked cookies
B	had cooked
C	have cooking
D	was cooking

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

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

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

Question 4 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 5

Lena _____ _________ violin when one of the strings broke.

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

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	does drive
B	was driving
C	drove
D	were 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

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

A	was driving
B	were driving
C	was droven
D	drives

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

Their house was robbed while they ____ ________.

A	were shopping
B	shopped
C	was shopping
D	had shopped

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A	smoked
B	was smoking
C	did smoke
D	were smoking

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

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

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

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

The bear wandered into their camp while they ______ __________.

A	slept
B	was sleeping
C	were sleeping
D	were sleepy

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 ______ _________ on the couch, when the phone rang.

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

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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