Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 141 · 40 questions

The grammar rule (was / were + -ing): Time words: when the phone rang, when Mum came home, at 8 pm yesterday. I / he / she / it / one name → was + -ing. You / we / they / many → were + -ing. The short action that “interrupts” is in the simple past (the phone rang).

1. 1.When Mum came home, my sister ___ a sandcastle. (a) were building (b) was build (c) is building (d) was building
2. 2.They ___ the room at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were clean (b) was cleaning (c) are cleaning (d) were cleaning
3. 3.When Mum came home, we ___ science. (a) are studying (b) were studying (c) was studying (d) were study
4. 4.My friends ___ the bag when it started to rain. (a) are carrying (b) were carrying (c) were carry (d) was carrying
5. 5.We ___ cricket when it started to rain. (a) were play (b) were playing (c) are playing (d) was playing
6. 6.When Mum came home, my parents ___ Grandma. (a) are helping (b) was helping (c) were helping (d) were help
7. 7.When it started to rain, she ___ tea. (a) is making (b) was make (c) were making (d) was making
8. 8.When the bell rang, she ___ a cake. (a) was bake (b) were baking (c) was baking (d) is baking
9. 9.They ___ a tree when it started to rain. (a) are climbing (b) were climb (c) was climbing (d) were climbing
10. 10.I ___ a cartoon when Mum came home. (a) were watching (b) am watching (c) was watch (d) was watching
11. 11.You ___ a cartoon at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were watch (b) are watching (c) were watching (d) was watching
12. 12.At 8 pm yesterday, Tara ___ the ball. (a) was catch (b) is catching (c) was catching (d) were catching
13. 13.My sister ___ lunch when the phone rang. (a) was bring (b) is bringing (c) was bringing (d) were bringing
14. 14.I ___ lunch when the bell rang. (a) am bringing (b) was bring (c) was bringing (d) were bringing
15. 15.My brother ___ a story when it started to rain. (a) was tell (b) were telling (c) is telling (d) was telling
16. 16.When it started to rain, Isha ___ milk. (a) was drinking (b) is drinking (c) was drink (d) were drinking
17. 17.You ___ for the team when Mum came home. (a) were clap (b) are clapping (c) were clapping (d) was clapping
18. 18.When the phone rang, they ___ science. (a) are studying (b) was studying (c) were study (d) were studying
19. 19.At 8 pm yesterday, you ___ science. (a) were studying (b) was studying (c) were study (d) are studying
20. 20.My brother ___ tea when it started to rain. (a) is making (b) was make (c) were making (d) was making
21. 21.Rahul ___ lunch at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were bringing (b) is bringing (c) was bringing (d) was bring
22. 22.When Mum came home, Meera ___ on the stage. (a) is dancing (b) were dancing (c) was dancing (d) was dance
23. 23.Tara ___ for the team when the phone rang. (a) is clapping (b) were clapping (c) was clap (d) was clapping
24. 24.When the bell rang, my sister ___ a story. (a) was tell (b) is telling (c) were telling (d) was telling
25. 25.They ___ vegetables at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were buying (b) were buy (c) was buying (d) are buying
26. 26.When the bell rang, my brother ___ on the stage. (a) were dancing (b) was dancing (c) was dance (d) is dancing
27. 27.When the phone rang, Diya ___ cricket. (a) was play (b) is playing (c) was playing (d) were playing
28. 28.You ___ the bag when Mum came home. (a) are carrying (b) were carrying (c) was carrying (d) were carry
29. 29.My friends ___ in the pool when it started to rain. (a) were swimming (b) are swimming (c) were swim (d) was swimming
30. 30.When it started to rain, I ___ Hindi. (a) were speaking (b) was speaking (c) am speaking (d) was speak
31. 31.Priya ___ tea when it started to rain. (a) is making (b) were making (c) was make (d) was making
32. 32.The students ___ the match at 8 pm yesterday. (a) are winning (b) were winning (c) was winning (d) were win
33. 33.We ___ a sandcastle when the phone rang. (a) were build (b) are building (c) was building (d) were building
34. 34.He ___ a picture when the bell rang. (a) is drawing (b) were drawing (c) was drawing (d) was draw
35. 35.When Mum came home, we ___ the dishes. (a) was washing (b) were wash (c) were washing (d) are washing
36. 36.When the phone rang, Aditya ___ the room. (a) is cleaning (b) was clean (c) was cleaning (d) were cleaning
37. 37.She ___ a picture when it started to rain. (a) was drawing (b) is drawing (c) was draw (d) were drawing
38. 38.When it started to rain, he ___ the ball. (a) was catching (b) were catching (c) was catch (d) is catching
39. 39.When the phone rang, Aarav ___ a story. (a) is telling (b) was telling (c) were telling (d) was tell
40. 40.They ___ a song when it started to rain. (a) were sing (b) are singing (c) were singing (d) was singing

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