Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 514 · 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 it started to rain, she ___ a song. (a) was sing (b) was singing (c) were singing (d) is singing
2. 2.They ___ on the stage at 8 pm yesterday. (a) are dancing (b) were dance (c) was dancing (d) were dancing
3. 3.She ___ a message when the bell rang. (a) was sending (b) is sending (c) were sending (d) was send
4. 4.When the bell rang, they ___ tea. (a) are making (b) was making (c) were make (d) were making
5. 5.He ___ lunch when the bell rang. (a) was bring (b) were bringing (c) is bringing (d) was bringing
6. 6.When it started to rain, he ___ rice. (a) were cooking (b) is cooking (c) was cooking (d) was cook
7. 7.When the bell rang, she ___ a sandcastle. (a) is building (b) was building (c) were building (d) was build
8. 8.When the phone rang, he ___ a sandcastle. (a) were building (b) was building (c) is building (d) was build
9. 9.When the bell rang, they ___ a picture. (a) are drawing (b) were drawing (c) were draw (d) was drawing
10. 10.When Mum came home, I ___ cricket. (a) was playing (b) were playing (c) am playing (d) was play
11. 11.She ___ science at 8 pm yesterday. (a) is studying (b) was study (c) were studying (d) was studying
12. 12.She ___ vegetables when the phone rang. (a) is buying (b) was buying (c) were buying (d) was buy
13. 13.They ___ rice when the phone rang. (a) were cooking (b) was cooking (c) are cooking (d) were cook
14. 14.When the phone rang, Arjun ___ the room. (a) were cleaning (b) was cleaning (c) is cleaning (d) was clean
15. 15.At 8 pm yesterday, Isha ___ the bag. (a) was carrying (b) is carrying (c) were carrying (d) was carry
16. 16.Arjun ___ a sandcastle when it started to rain. (a) is building (b) were building (c) was building (d) was build
17. 17.When the phone rang, Myra ___ a cartoon. (a) is watching (b) was watching (c) was watch (d) were watching
18. 18.He ___ to school when it started to rain. (a) is going (b) was go (c) was going (d) were going
19. 19.When the bell rang, the students ___ the dishes. (a) were washing (b) were wash (c) was washing (d) are washing
20. 20.They ___ lunch when the bell rang. (a) was bringing (b) were bring (c) were bringing (d) are bringing
21. 21.You ___ the room when it started to rain. (a) was cleaning (b) were clean (c) were cleaning (d) are cleaning
22. 22.When the bell rang, my brother ___ for the team. (a) were clapping (b) was clap (c) is clapping (d) was clapping
23. 23.We ___ Grandma at 8 pm yesterday. (a) are helping (b) was helping (c) were helping (d) were help
24. 24.When it started to rain, they ___ a tree. (a) was planting (b) were planting (c) are planting (d) were plant
25. 25.When the bell rang, Vivaan ___ a message. (a) was sending (b) was send (c) is sending (d) were sending
26. 26.They ___ a cap at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was wearing (b) were wearing (c) were wear (d) are wearing
27. 27.At 8 pm yesterday, the students ___ cricket. (a) was playing (b) are playing (c) were play (d) were playing
28. 28.Meera ___ science at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was studying (b) were studying (c) was study (d) is studying
29. 29.Karan ___ vegetables when Mum came home. (a) was buy (b) was buying (c) were buying (d) is buying
30. 30.They ___ cricket when the bell rang. (a) were play (b) are playing (c) was playing (d) were playing
31. 31.He ___ the ball at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were throwing (b) was throw (c) is throwing (d) was throwing
32. 32.When the bell rang, you ___ the dishes. (a) were washing (b) were wash (c) was washing (d) are washing
33. 33.Vivaan ___ on the stage when the bell rang. (a) is dancing (b) was dancing (c) was dance (d) were dancing
34. 34.At 8 pm yesterday, you ___ cricket. (a) was playing (b) are playing (c) were playing (d) were play
35. 35.You ___ science at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was studying (b) were study (c) were studying (d) are studying
36. 36.At 8 pm yesterday, they ___ science. (a) are studying (b) were studying (c) was studying (d) were study
37. 37.When the phone rang, she ___ the bag. (a) was carrying (b) was carry (c) is carrying (d) were carrying
38. 38.My friends ___ the ball when the bell rang. (a) were throwing (b) were throw (c) are throwing (d) was throwing
39. 39.When the phone rang, we ___ on the stage. (a) were dance (b) were dancing (c) are dancing (d) was dancing
40. 40.We ___ a cartoon when Mum came home. (a) are watching (b) was watching (c) were watching (d) were watch

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