Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 209 · 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.They ___ on the stage when the phone rang. (a) was dancing (b) were dance (c) were dancing (d) are dancing
2. 2.You ___ a story when it started to rain. (a) are telling (b) were telling (c) was telling (d) were tell
3. 3.You ___ a tree when Mum came home. (a) was planting (b) are planting (c) were plant (d) were planting
4. 4.I ___ a mango when the bell rang. (a) am eating (b) was eat (c) was eating (d) were eating
5. 5.At 8 pm yesterday, I ___ science. (a) am studying (b) was study (c) were studying (d) was studying
6. 6.They ___ the dishes when Mum came home. (a) were washing (b) was washing (c) are washing (d) were wash
7. 7.At 8 pm yesterday, they ___ the room. (a) were cleaning (b) are cleaning (c) were clean (d) was cleaning
8. 8.I ___ on the stage when the bell rang. (a) was dancing (b) was dance (c) am dancing (d) were dancing
9. 9.When Mum came home, my friends ___ the bag. (a) are carrying (b) were carrying (c) was carrying (d) were carry
10. 10.We ___ the ball when the phone rang. (a) were catch (b) were catching (c) are catching (d) was catching
11. 11.They ___ the ball when Mum came home. (a) are throwing (b) were throwing (c) were throw (d) was throwing
12. 12.We ___ a tree at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were climbing (b) was climbing (c) were climb (d) are climbing
13. 13.My cousins ___ a picture when the bell rang. (a) was drawing (b) are drawing (c) were draw (d) were drawing
14. 14.When the bell rang, my parents ___ science. (a) are studying (b) were study (c) was studying (d) were studying
15. 15.My parents ___ tea when the bell rang. (a) was making (b) were make (c) are making (d) were making
16. 16.When the bell rang, we ___ the ball. (a) are throwing (b) were throwing (c) were throw (d) was throwing
17. 17.When the phone rang, Pooja ___ Grandma. (a) were helping (b) is helping (c) was help (d) was helping
18. 18.When it started to rain, he ___ in the park. (a) is jogging (b) was jogging (c) were jogging (d) was jog
19. 19.You ___ vegetables when the bell rang. (a) were buying (b) was buying (c) are buying (d) were buy
20. 20.When the bell rang, Farhan ___ a song. (a) was singing (b) is singing (c) were singing (d) was sing
21. 21.When the phone rang, they ___ a cake. (a) was baking (b) are baking (c) were bake (d) were baking
22. 22.When it started to rain, you ___ a sandcastle. (a) were build (b) was building (c) are building (d) were building
23. 23.You ___ in the pool when the phone rang. (a) are swimming (b) was swimming (c) were swim (d) were swimming
24. 24.He ___ a tree when the bell rang. (a) was plant (b) was planting (c) were planting (d) is planting
25. 25.When Mum came home, my sister ___ for the team. (a) were clapping (b) was clapping (c) was clap (d) is clapping
26. 26.At 8 pm yesterday, my brother ___ a story. (a) is telling (b) was telling (c) were telling (d) was tell
27. 27.When the phone rang, I ___ Grandma. (a) was help (b) were helping (c) was helping (d) am helping
28. 28.When the phone rang, Diya ___ in the park. (a) was jog (b) was jogging (c) is jogging (d) were jogging
29. 29.When the bell rang, Rahul ___ a bicycle. (a) is riding (b) was ride (c) were riding (d) was riding
30. 30.Meera ___ the train when the phone rang. (a) were taking (b) is taking (c) was take (d) was taking
31. 31.When the phone rang, he ___ on the stage. (a) is dancing (b) was dance (c) was dancing (d) were dancing
32. 32.Dev ___ vegetables when the phone rang. (a) was buy (b) were buying (c) is buying (d) was buying
33. 33.You ___ the ball when the phone rang. (a) were catch (b) are catching (c) were catching (d) was catching
34. 34.When the phone rang, you ___ the dishes. (a) were wash (b) was washing (c) are washing (d) were washing
35. 35.At 8 pm yesterday, my friends ___ science. (a) were studying (b) are studying (c) were study (d) was studying
36. 36.Myra ___ the bag when the bell rang. (a) was carry (b) is carrying (c) was carrying (d) were carrying
37. 37.Rahul ___ in the park when Mum came home. (a) was jog (b) is jogging (c) was jogging (d) were jogging
38. 38.When the phone rang, Pooja ___ a story. (a) is telling (b) was tell (c) were telling (d) was telling
39. 39.At 8 pm yesterday, Manav ___ rice. (a) were cooking (b) was cooking (c) was cook (d) is cooking
40. 40.When it started to rain, the children ___ a kite. (a) were fly (b) are flying (c) were flying (d) was flying

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