Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 189 · 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 the phone rang, my parents ___ cricket. (a) are playing (b) were play (c) were playing (d) was playing
2. 2.At 8 pm yesterday, they ___ cricket. (a) was playing (b) were play (c) were playing (d) are playing
3. 3.I ___ the bag when the bell rang. (a) am carrying (b) were carrying (c) was carrying (d) was carry
4. 4.At 8 pm yesterday, you ___ a story. (a) are telling (b) was telling (c) were tell (d) were telling
5. 5.When the phone rang, the children ___ for the team. (a) are clapping (b) were clapping (c) was clapping (d) were clap
6. 6.She ___ a cartoon when Mum came home. (a) is watching (b) was watching (c) was watch (d) were watching
7. 7.When it started to rain, my brother ___ in the pool. (a) was swim (b) is swimming (c) were swimming (d) was swimming
8. 8.She ___ the room when the phone rang. (a) was cleaning (b) were cleaning (c) was clean (d) is cleaning
9. 9.When it started to rain, we ___ a tree. (a) was climbing (b) are climbing (c) were climb (d) were climbing
10. 10.At 8 pm yesterday, my sister ___ a tree. (a) was plant (b) were planting (c) is planting (d) was planting
11. 11.I ___ Grandma at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was helping (b) was help (c) am helping (d) were helping
12. 12.When Mum came home, Neel ___ lunch. (a) is bringing (b) was bringing (c) was bring (d) were bringing
13. 13.At 8 pm yesterday, Farhan ___ the train. (a) was take (b) is taking (c) was taking (d) were taking
14. 14.You ___ science when Mum came home. (a) were study (b) was studying (c) were studying (d) are studying
15. 15.At 8 pm yesterday, we ___ to school. (a) were going (b) were go (c) was going (d) are going
16. 16.We ___ rice when it started to rain. (a) were cooking (b) were cook (c) are cooking (d) was cooking
17. 17.When the bell rang, she ___ a message. (a) were sending (b) is sending (c) was send (d) was sending
18. 18.She ___ a cap when the bell rang. (a) were wearing (b) was wear (c) is wearing (d) was wearing
19. 19.I ___ on the stage at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was dancing (b) were dancing (c) am dancing (d) was dance
20. 20.My sister ___ a kite when Mum came home. (a) was fly (b) is flying (c) were flying (d) was flying
21. 21.My brother ___ a cake when the bell rang. (a) was bake (b) was baking (c) is baking (d) were baking
22. 22.When the phone rang, my cousins ___ a tree. (a) was planting (b) were plant (c) were planting (d) are planting
23. 23.We ___ in the pool when Mum came home. (a) was swimming (b) were swimming (c) are swimming (d) were swim
24. 24.When it started to rain, we ___ the ball. (a) are throwing (b) were throwing (c) was throwing (d) were throw
25. 25.You ___ vegetables when it started to rain. (a) was buying (b) are buying (c) were buying (d) were buy
26. 26.When it started to rain, my brother ___ Hindi. (a) was speaking (b) was speak (c) were speaking (d) is speaking
27. 27.I ___ in the park when the phone rang. (a) am jogging (b) was jog (c) were jogging (d) was jogging
28. 28.Zoya ___ the ball when the phone rang. (a) was throwing (b) were throwing (c) was throw (d) is throwing
29. 29.She ___ the ball at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was throwing (b) is throwing (c) were throwing (d) was throw
30. 30.When Mum came home, you ___ tea. (a) was making (b) were making (c) were make (d) are making
31. 31.My cousins ___ Hindi when it started to rain. (a) were speaking (b) was speaking (c) are speaking (d) were speak
32. 32.You ___ a cake when Mum came home. (a) are baking (b) were bake (c) was baking (d) were baking
33. 33.When Mum came home, Zoya ___ the dishes. (a) is washing (b) were washing (c) was wash (d) was washing
34. 34.Neel ___ the bag when Mum came home. (a) was carry (b) were carrying (c) is carrying (d) was carrying
35. 35.At 8 pm yesterday, you ___ a message. (a) are sending (b) were send (c) were sending (d) was sending
36. 36.At 8 pm yesterday, I ___ a kite. (a) were flying (b) am flying (c) was flying (d) was fly
37. 37.I ___ cricket at 8 pm yesterday. (a) am playing (b) was play (c) was playing (d) were playing
38. 38.When it started to rain, my brother ___ a bicycle. (a) were riding (b) was ride (c) is riding (d) was riding
39. 39.Pooja ___ a sandcastle when the phone rang. (a) was building (b) is building (c) were building (d) was build
40. 40.I ___ rice when it started to rain. (a) were cooking (b) was cooking (c) am cooking (d) was cook

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