Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 298 · 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 ___ a letter when the phone rang. (a) are writing (b) were writing (c) were write (d) was writing
2. 2.The students ___ a song when the phone rang. (a) are singing (b) were singing (c) was singing (d) were sing
3. 3.Kabir ___ in the pool at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were swimming (b) was swimming (c) is swimming (d) was swim
4. 4.We ___ the ball when Mum came home. (a) are catching (b) was catching (c) were catch (d) were catching
5. 5.Meera ___ the train at 8 pm yesterday. (a) is taking (b) were taking (c) was taking (d) was take
6. 6.She ___ the room when it started to rain. (a) is cleaning (b) was clean (c) were cleaning (d) was cleaning
7. 7.They ___ a mango when the phone rang. (a) was eating (b) were eating (c) are eating (d) were eat
8. 8.We ___ rice when the phone rang. (a) was cooking (b) were cooking (c) are cooking (d) were cook
9. 9.He ___ cricket when the phone rang. (a) were playing (b) is playing (c) was playing (d) was play
10. 10.Ananya ___ on the stage at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were dancing (b) is dancing (c) was dance (d) was dancing
11. 11.They ___ vegetables when Mum came home. (a) was buying (b) were buy (c) were buying (d) are buying
12. 12.He ___ vegetables when the phone rang. (a) is buying (b) was buying (c) were buying (d) was buy
13. 13.When Mum came home, my friends ___ lunch. (a) are bringing (b) was bringing (c) were bring (d) were bringing
14. 14.When Mum came home, my friends ___ the ball. (a) were catch (b) were catching (c) are catching (d) was catching
15. 15.We ___ a letter when the bell rang. (a) was writing (b) are writing (c) were writing (d) were write
16. 16.When the phone rang, they ___ on the stage. (a) were dancing (b) are dancing (c) were dance (d) was dancing
17. 17.He ___ lunch when the bell rang. (a) is bringing (b) was bringing (c) was bring (d) were bringing
18. 18.Neel ___ rice when the phone rang. (a) were cooking (b) is cooking (c) was cook (d) was cooking
19. 19.When it started to rain, my brother ___ science. (a) is studying (b) were studying (c) was studying (d) was study
20. 20.When the bell rang, the children ___ a tree. (a) was climbing (b) were climbing (c) are climbing (d) were climb
21. 21.When Mum came home, you ___ the ball. (a) are throwing (b) was throwing (c) were throw (d) were throwing
22. 22.He ___ the room when it started to rain. (a) was clean (b) is cleaning (c) were cleaning (d) was cleaning
23. 23.You ___ the dishes when Mum came home. (a) was washing (b) were washing (c) are washing (d) were wash
24. 24.At 8 pm yesterday, my sister ___ for the team. (a) was clapping (b) were clapping (c) is clapping (d) was clap
25. 25.When the bell rang, she ___ a tree. (a) were climbing (b) is climbing (c) was climbing (d) was climb
26. 26.At 8 pm yesterday, we ___ milk. (a) were drink (b) were drinking (c) was drinking (d) are drinking
27. 27.They ___ Grandma when Mum came home. (a) are helping (b) was helping (c) were helping (d) were help
28. 28.When the phone rang, he ___ tea. (a) was make (b) were making (c) was making (d) is making
29. 29.We ___ rice when Mum came home. (a) are cooking (b) was cooking (c) were cooking (d) were cook
30. 30.When Mum came home, they ___ vegetables. (a) are buying (b) was buying (c) were buy (d) were buying
31. 31.When it started to rain, they ___ a mango. (a) are eating (b) was eating (c) were eat (d) were eating
32. 32.When it started to rain, you ___ the room. (a) was cleaning (b) were clean (c) are cleaning (d) were cleaning
33. 33.Yash ___ the match when it started to rain. (a) was win (b) is winning (c) were winning (d) was winning
34. 34.When the phone rang, you ___ tea. (a) were make (b) was making (c) were making (d) are making
35. 35.When it started to rain, he ___ the match. (a) was win (b) was winning (c) is winning (d) were winning
36. 36.When Mum came home, I ___ the room. (a) was cleaning (b) am cleaning (c) was clean (d) were cleaning
37. 37.Tara ___ science when the bell rang. (a) is studying (b) were studying (c) was study (d) was studying
38. 38.When Mum came home, you ___ a cartoon. (a) are watching (b) was watching (c) were watch (d) were watching
39. 39.When Mum came home, the children ___ a letter. (a) was writing (b) were write (c) were writing (d) are writing
40. 40.When it started to rain, we ___ a mango. (a) were eating (b) are eating (c) were eat (d) was eating

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