Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 293 · 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 bell rang, he ___ a sandcastle. (a) was building (b) was build (c) were building (d) is building
2. 2.When Mum came home, we ___ a tree. (a) was climbing (b) are climbing (c) were climbing (d) were climb
3. 3.My friends ___ a song when the bell rang. (a) are singing (b) were singing (c) were sing (d) was singing
4. 4.They ___ science when Mum came home. (a) were studying (b) was studying (c) were study (d) are studying
5. 5.When Mum came home, my sister ___ a sandcastle. (a) were building (b) was build (c) was building (d) is building
6. 6.When the phone rang, my brother ___ in the park. (a) is running (b) were running (c) was running (d) was run
7. 7.When Mum came home, my brother ___ a cake. (a) was bake (b) were baking (c) was baking (d) is baking
8. 8.They ___ tea at 8 pm yesterday. (a) are making (b) were make (c) was making (d) were making
9. 9.When Mum came home, my brother ___ a message. (a) was sending (b) were sending (c) was send (d) is sending
10. 10.When the phone rang, you ___ the train. (a) are taking (b) were take (c) was taking (d) were taking
11. 11.The students ___ vegetables when the phone rang. (a) are buying (b) was buying (c) were buying (d) were buy
12. 12.Aditya ___ a letter when Mum came home. (a) was write (b) was writing (c) were writing (d) is writing
13. 13.My friends ___ a tree when it started to rain. (a) was planting (b) were planting (c) are planting (d) were plant
14. 14.I ___ lunch at 8 pm yesterday. (a) am bringing (b) were bringing (c) was bring (d) was bringing
15. 15.When it started to rain, he ___ the dishes. (a) were washing (b) is washing (c) was wash (d) was washing
16. 16.When the bell rang, she ___ a kite. (a) was fly (b) were flying (c) was flying (d) is flying
17. 17.When the phone rang, the students ___ the room. (a) was cleaning (b) are cleaning (c) were clean (d) were cleaning
18. 18.He ___ a picture when the phone rang. (a) was drawing (b) is drawing (c) was draw (d) were drawing
19. 19.Diya ___ a bicycle at 8 pm yesterday. (a) is riding (b) was ride (c) were riding (d) was riding
20. 20.I ___ science at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was studying (b) was study (c) am studying (d) were studying
21. 21.We ___ a cake at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was baking (b) are baking (c) were baking (d) were bake
22. 22.At 8 pm yesterday, my sister ___ in the pool. (a) were swimming (b) is swimming (c) was swim (d) was swimming
23. 23.When Mum came home, they ___ a mango. (a) were eating (b) was eating (c) were eat (d) are eating
24. 24.When it started to rain, they ___ the ball. (a) were throwing (b) are throwing (c) were throw (d) was throwing
25. 25.The students ___ the room when the bell rang. (a) were cleaning (b) were clean (c) was cleaning (d) are cleaning
26. 26.My sister ___ a mango when it started to rain. (a) is eating (b) were eating (c) was eat (d) was eating
27. 27.They ___ in the park when it started to rain. (a) are running (b) was running (c) were running (d) were run
28. 28.Riya ___ Grandma when the phone rang. (a) was helping (b) were helping (c) was help (d) is helping
29. 29.He ___ a sandcastle when Mum came home. (a) was building (b) is building (c) was build (d) were building
30. 30.At 8 pm yesterday, we ___ lunch. (a) was bringing (b) are bringing (c) were bringing (d) were bring
31. 31.Rohan ___ a kite when the phone rang. (a) is flying (b) was fly (c) were flying (d) was flying
32. 32.We ___ Grandma when the phone rang. (a) are helping (b) were help (c) were helping (d) was helping
33. 33.When it started to rain, my brother ___ rice. (a) was cook (b) is cooking (c) were cooking (d) was cooking
34. 34.My cousins ___ a tree when the bell rang. (a) are planting (b) were plant (c) was planting (d) were planting
35. 35.I ___ the bag when Mum came home. (a) was carry (b) was carrying (c) am carrying (d) were carrying
36. 36.We ___ on the stage when the phone rang. (a) are dancing (b) were dancing (c) was dancing (d) were dance
37. 37.They ___ the train when it started to rain. (a) are taking (b) was taking (c) were take (d) were taking
38. 38.He ___ vegetables at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was buy (b) is buying (c) was buying (d) were buying
39. 39.I ___ on the stage at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was dancing (b) were dancing (c) was dance (d) am dancing
40. 40.She ___ a bicycle when the bell rang. (a) was ride (b) were riding (c) is riding (d) was riding

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