Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 496 · 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 ___ tea. (a) was make (b) were making (c) was making (d) is making
2. 2.Nisha ___ in the pool when it started to rain. (a) were swimming (b) is swimming (c) was swim (d) was swimming
3. 3.They ___ a story when the phone rang. (a) were telling (b) was telling (c) are telling (d) were tell
4. 4.When it started to rain, we ___ the ball. (a) were throwing (b) are throwing (c) was throwing (d) were throw
5. 5.When the phone rang, my sister ___ the train. (a) were taking (b) is taking (c) was take (d) was taking
6. 6.At 8 pm yesterday, she ___ a tree. (a) was plant (b) is planting (c) was planting (d) were planting
7. 7.My cousins ___ in the park when it started to rain. (a) was running (b) are running (c) were run (d) were running
8. 8.When the bell rang, I ___ a tree. (a) were climbing (b) am climbing (c) was climb (d) was climbing
9. 9.At 8 pm yesterday, they ___ tea. (a) was making (b) were making (c) were make (d) are making
10. 10.When the phone rang, he ___ the room. (a) is cleaning (b) was cleaning (c) was clean (d) were cleaning
11. 11.I ___ in the park at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was jogging (b) was jog (c) were jogging (d) am jogging
12. 12.When the bell rang, I ___ a cartoon. (a) were watching (b) was watching (c) am watching (d) was watch
13. 13.When Mum came home, they ___ Grandma. (a) are helping (b) were helping (c) was helping (d) were help
14. 14.When the phone rang, they ___ the dishes. (a) are washing (b) was washing (c) were washing (d) were wash
15. 15.When the bell rang, my parents ___ for the team. (a) were clapping (b) are clapping (c) was clapping (d) were clap
16. 16.When the phone rang, I ___ a tree. (a) was climb (b) am climbing (c) was climbing (d) were climbing
17. 17.When it started to rain, I ___ a message. (a) were sending (b) am sending (c) was sending (d) was send
18. 18.At 8 pm yesterday, my friends ___ in the pool. (a) are swimming (b) was swimming (c) were swimming (d) were swim
19. 19.When the phone rang, my brother ___ the match. (a) is winning (b) was win (c) were winning (d) was winning
20. 20.At 8 pm yesterday, you ___ a picture. (a) were draw (b) was drawing (c) were drawing (d) are drawing
21. 21.My brother ___ a sandcastle at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was building (b) were building (c) is building (d) was build
22. 22.My cousins ___ milk when the phone rang. (a) were drinking (b) were drink (c) are drinking (d) was drinking
23. 23.When it started to rain, my friends ___ a cartoon. (a) were watch (b) was watching (c) are watching (d) were watching
24. 24.When Mum came home, he ___ for the team. (a) was clapping (b) was clap (c) is clapping (d) were clapping
25. 25.When Mum came home, she ___ a cartoon. (a) is watching (b) was watching (c) were watching (d) was watch
26. 26.My friends ___ in the park when it started to rain. (a) are running (b) were run (c) were running (d) was running
27. 27.At 8 pm yesterday, you ___ a sandcastle. (a) was building (b) are building (c) were building (d) were build
28. 28.They ___ a song at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were singing (b) were sing (c) was singing (d) are singing
29. 29.When the phone rang, my cousins ___ a story. (a) were tell (b) were telling (c) are telling (d) was telling
30. 30.When the phone rang, they ___ a letter. (a) was writing (b) are writing (c) were write (d) were writing
31. 31.My brother ___ a cake when Mum came home. (a) were baking (b) was bake (c) is baking (d) was baking
32. 32.When the bell rang, he ___ the ball. (a) is catching (b) was catching (c) was catch (d) were catching
33. 33.My brother ___ a song when Mum came home. (a) were singing (b) is singing (c) was sing (d) was singing
34. 34.My sister ___ for the team when the phone rang. (a) was clapping (b) was clap (c) is clapping (d) were clapping
35. 35.When the bell rang, the students ___ tea. (a) was making (b) are making (c) were making (d) were make
36. 36.We ___ the dog when the phone rang. (a) are feeding (b) were feeding (c) were feed (d) was feeding
37. 37.When Mum came home, my friends ___ a story. (a) are telling (b) was telling (c) were tell (d) were telling
38. 38.When the bell rang, you ___ the dog. (a) were feeding (b) were feed (c) are feeding (d) was feeding
39. 39.The children ___ a cap when the phone rang. (a) was wearing (b) were wear (c) are wearing (d) were wearing
40. 40.My sister ___ vegetables when the bell rang. (a) is buying (b) were buying (c) was buy (d) was buying

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