Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 550 · 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 Mum came home, my cousins ___ the ball. (a) were throwing (b) were throw (c) are throwing (d) was throwing
2. 2.They ___ a cake when Mum came home. (a) were bake (b) are baking (c) were baking (d) was baking
3. 3.We ___ in the pool when it started to rain. (a) were swimming (b) are swimming (c) was swimming (d) were swim
4. 4.They ___ the dishes when Mum came home. (a) are washing (b) was washing (c) were washing (d) were wash
5. 5.They ___ a cartoon when the bell rang. (a) are watching (b) was watching (c) were watching (d) were watch
6. 6.He ___ in the pool at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were swimming (b) was swim (c) is swimming (d) was swimming
7. 7.You ___ a mango when the bell rang. (a) were eating (b) was eating (c) are eating (d) were eat
8. 8.Aarav ___ the ball when the phone rang. (a) were catching (b) is catching (c) was catching (d) was catch
9. 9.When Mum came home, you ___ a message. (a) are sending (b) were sending (c) were send (d) was sending
10. 10.He ___ a message when Mum came home. (a) is sending (b) was send (c) were sending (d) was sending
11. 11.We ___ in the park when it started to rain. (a) was jogging (b) are jogging (c) were jogging (d) were jog
12. 12.We ___ Grandma when the bell rang. (a) was helping (b) are helping (c) were help (d) were helping
13. 13.When the bell rang, they ___ a cartoon. (a) were watch (b) are watching (c) were watching (d) was watching
14. 14.When the phone rang, we ___ Hindi. (a) was speaking (b) were speak (c) were speaking (d) are speaking
15. 15.When Mum came home, we ___ a sandcastle. (a) were building (b) were build (c) are building (d) was building
16. 16.When it started to rain, she ___ on the stage. (a) were dancing (b) was dancing (c) was dance (d) is dancing
17. 17.When the phone rang, they ___ the room. (a) were cleaning (b) are cleaning (c) was cleaning (d) were clean
18. 18.At 8 pm yesterday, he ___ milk. (a) was drink (b) was drinking (c) were drinking (d) is drinking
19. 19.At 8 pm yesterday, you ___ vegetables. (a) were buying (b) were buy (c) are buying (d) was buying
20. 20.My friends ___ a kite at 8 pm yesterday. (a) were flying (b) are flying (c) were fly (d) was flying
21. 21.He ___ a bicycle when it started to rain. (a) was riding (b) is riding (c) was ride (d) were riding
22. 22.When the bell rang, I ___ the ball. (a) am throwing (b) was throwing (c) was throw (d) were throwing
23. 23.When Mum came home, she ___ in the park. (a) were running (b) is running (c) was run (d) was running
24. 24.She ___ in the park when it started to rain. (a) were running (b) was run (c) was running (d) is running
25. 25.My parents ___ a tree when it started to rain. (a) were climbing (b) are climbing (c) was climbing (d) were climb
26. 26.My brother ___ the bag at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was carrying (b) is carrying (c) was carry (d) were carrying
27. 27.When the phone rang, I ___ the match. (a) am winning (b) was win (c) were winning (d) was winning
28. 28.When the phone rang, the children ___ a kite. (a) were fly (b) was flying (c) were flying (d) are flying
29. 29.She ___ Grandma at 8 pm yesterday. (a) is helping (b) was helping (c) was help (d) were helping
30. 30.At 8 pm yesterday, they ___ a bicycle. (a) was riding (b) are riding (c) were ride (d) were riding
31. 31.He ___ the match when the bell rang. (a) was win (b) were winning (c) was winning (d) is winning
32. 32.At 8 pm yesterday, Vivaan ___ the train. (a) is taking (b) was taking (c) were taking (d) was take
33. 33.When the phone rang, my brother ___ rice. (a) was cooking (b) were cooking (c) was cook (d) is cooking
34. 34.When the bell rang, he ___ a sandcastle. (a) is building (b) was build (c) was building (d) were building
35. 35.Karan ___ the train when the bell rang. (a) were taking (b) was taking (c) was take (d) is taking
36. 36.I ___ a cap when the phone rang. (a) was wearing (b) were wearing (c) was wear (d) am wearing
37. 37.You ___ Grandma when the phone rang. (a) was helping (b) were help (c) are helping (d) were helping
38. 38.You ___ cricket when it started to rain. (a) were play (b) were playing (c) was playing (d) are playing
39. 39.When the bell rang, Aarav ___ a song. (a) was sing (b) was singing (c) were singing (d) is singing
40. 40.You ___ a tree when the phone rang. (a) was planting (b) were plant (c) are planting (d) were planting

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