Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 485 · 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.She ___ vegetables when it started to rain. (a) were buying (b) is buying (c) was buy (d) was buying
2. 2.When it started to rain, you ___ rice. (a) were cook (b) were cooking (c) are cooking (d) was cooking
3. 3.When the bell rang, I ___ the room. (a) was clean (b) was cleaning (c) were cleaning (d) am cleaning
4. 4.The children ___ a cake when the bell rang. (a) were baking (b) was baking (c) were bake (d) are baking
5. 5.When it started to rain, you ___ a cake. (a) were bake (b) were baking (c) was baking (d) are baking
6. 6.He ___ science at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was studying (b) were studying (c) was study (d) is studying
7. 7.When it started to rain, you ___ a cartoon. (a) are watching (b) were watch (c) were watching (d) was watching
8. 8.I ___ the train at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were taking (b) am taking (c) was take (d) was taking
9. 9.I ___ the train when the phone rang. (a) were taking (b) was take (c) am taking (d) was taking
10. 10.My parents ___ a bicycle when the phone rang. (a) was riding (b) are riding (c) were riding (d) were ride
11. 11.She ___ the bag when the phone rang. (a) were carrying (b) was carrying (c) is carrying (d) was carry
12. 12.We ___ a picture when the bell rang. (a) was drawing (b) were draw (c) were drawing (d) are drawing
13. 13.At 8 pm yesterday, Ira ___ a kite. (a) is flying (b) was flying (c) were flying (d) was fly
14. 14.I ___ a sandcastle at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was building (b) was build (c) were building (d) am building
15. 15.They ___ a cartoon when Mum came home. (a) was watching (b) were watching (c) are watching (d) were watch
16. 16.My parents ___ a cartoon when the bell rang. (a) are watching (b) was watching (c) were watching (d) were watch
17. 17.I ___ a letter when Mum came home. (a) were writing (b) was writing (c) was write (d) am writing
18. 18.My sister ___ the room when the phone rang. (a) were cleaning (b) was cleaning (c) is cleaning (d) was clean
19. 19.When the phone rang, Vivaan ___ a cartoon. (a) were watching (b) was watch (c) was watching (d) is watching
20. 20.When it started to rain, Arjun ___ vegetables. (a) is buying (b) was buy (c) was buying (d) were buying
21. 21.When Mum came home, she ___ a tree. (a) was climb (b) is climbing (c) were climbing (d) was climbing
22. 22.When the phone rang, my friends ___ a cake. (a) were baking (b) are baking (c) was baking (d) were bake
23. 23.When the phone rang, Kavya ___ rice. (a) is cooking (b) were cooking (c) was cooking (d) was cook
24. 24.They ___ tea at 8 pm yesterday. (a) are making (b) were making (c) were make (d) was making
25. 25.When Mum came home, they ___ Hindi. (a) are speaking (b) were speaking (c) was speaking (d) were speak
26. 26.When Mum came home, they ___ rice. (a) was cooking (b) were cook (c) were cooking (d) are cooking
27. 27.My sister ___ the room when Mum came home. (a) were cleaning (b) is cleaning (c) was clean (d) was cleaning
28. 28.When the phone rang, I ___ a tree. (a) am planting (b) was planting (c) was plant (d) were planting
29. 29.When it started to rain, you ___ science. (a) were studying (b) are studying (c) were study (d) was studying
30. 30.He ___ a tree when it started to rain. (a) were planting (b) is planting (c) was plant (d) was planting
31. 31.Omkar ___ a tree when the bell rang. (a) is planting (b) was planting (c) was plant (d) were planting
32. 32.At 8 pm yesterday, Myra ___ a sandcastle. (a) was building (b) was build (c) is building (d) were building
33. 33.When it started to rain, Diya ___ the dishes. (a) was washing (b) is washing (c) was wash (d) were washing
34. 34.Ananya ___ science when the phone rang. (a) is studying (b) were studying (c) was study (d) was studying
35. 35.They ___ Hindi when it started to rain. (a) were speaking (b) were speak (c) are speaking (d) was speaking
36. 36.Ishaan ___ the bag when it started to rain. (a) were carrying (b) is carrying (c) was carry (d) was carrying
37. 37.Arjun ___ the match when the phone rang. (a) is winning (b) was winning (c) were winning (d) was win
38. 38.I ___ a sandcastle when the bell rang. (a) am building (b) was build (c) were building (d) was building
39. 39.When the bell rang, my parents ___ a picture. (a) were drawing (b) were draw (c) are drawing (d) was drawing
40. 40.She ___ Hindi when the bell rang. (a) was speak (b) were speaking (c) was speaking (d) is speaking

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