Past Continuous Tense Worksheet

English grammar lesson 14: Past continuous tense · Set 904 · 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 phone rang, he ___ the bag. (a) was carrying (b) is carrying (c) were carrying (d) was carry
2. 2.When the bell rang, you ___ a sandcastle. (a) was building (b) were building (c) were build (d) are building
3. 3.When it started to rain, Nisha ___ the train. (a) is taking (b) was taking (c) was take (d) were taking
4. 4.When it started to rain, I ___ a message. (a) am sending (b) were sending (c) was sending (d) was send
5. 5.You ___ science when it started to rain. (a) are studying (b) were study (c) was studying (d) were studying
6. 6.We ___ in the pool when Mum came home. (a) was swimming (b) are swimming (c) were swimming (d) were swim
7. 7.When Mum came home, she ___ the bag. (a) is carrying (b) was carrying (c) were carrying (d) was carry
8. 8.You ___ in the park when it started to rain. (a) are jogging (b) were jog (c) were jogging (d) was jogging
9. 9.When Mum came home, she ___ a cake. (a) is baking (b) were baking (c) was bake (d) was baking
10. 10.Ira ___ tea when Mum came home. (a) is making (b) was making (c) was make (d) were making
11. 11.When it started to rain, she ___ the bag. (a) was carrying (b) were carrying (c) was carry (d) is carrying
12. 12.When Mum came home, you ___ tea. (a) were making (b) was making (c) were make (d) are making
13. 13.You ___ the dishes when the phone rang. (a) were wash (b) are washing (c) were washing (d) was washing
14. 14.When it started to rain, my brother ___ tea. (a) is making (b) was making (c) was make (d) were making
15. 15.I ___ a cartoon when the phone rang. (a) were watching (b) was watch (c) am watching (d) was watching
16. 16.When it started to rain, my cousins ___ a sandcastle. (a) was building (b) were build (c) are building (d) were building
17. 17.When Mum came home, you ___ cricket. (a) are playing (b) were play (c) were playing (d) was playing
18. 18.At 8 pm yesterday, you ___ lunch. (a) are bringing (b) were bring (c) were bringing (d) was bringing
19. 19.Farhan ___ cricket at 8 pm yesterday. (a) is playing (b) was play (c) were playing (d) was playing
20. 20.Pooja ___ the ball when the phone rang. (a) were catching (b) was catch (c) was catching (d) is catching
21. 21.The students ___ milk when it started to rain. (a) was drinking (b) were drinking (c) were drink (d) are drinking
22. 22.At 8 pm yesterday, my sister ___ a story. (a) is telling (b) was telling (c) were telling (d) was tell
23. 23.When the bell rang, Kabir ___ a picture. (a) was draw (b) was drawing (c) is drawing (d) were drawing
24. 24.We ___ Grandma when Mum came home. (a) were helping (b) are helping (c) was helping (d) were help
25. 25.Kunal ___ a story when it started to rain. (a) was tell (b) were telling (c) is telling (d) was telling
26. 26.When the phone rang, Yash ___ lunch. (a) was bring (b) was bringing (c) were bringing (d) is bringing
27. 27.When the bell rang, you ___ the ball. (a) were catching (b) was catching (c) are catching (d) were catch
28. 28.When Mum came home, they ___ cricket. (a) are playing (b) were playing (c) were play (d) was playing
29. 29.When the bell rang, my sister ___ science. (a) was studying (b) is studying (c) were studying (d) was study
30. 30.When the phone rang, they ___ the dishes. (a) are washing (b) was washing (c) were washing (d) were wash
31. 31.I ___ the dishes when it started to rain. (a) was wash (b) am washing (c) were washing (d) was washing
32. 32.He ___ Grandma when it started to rain. (a) was help (b) is helping (c) were helping (d) was helping
33. 33.My parents ___ Hindi when the phone rang. (a) were speak (b) are speaking (c) were speaking (d) was speaking
34. 34.Nisha ___ a bicycle when it started to rain. (a) was riding (b) is riding (c) was ride (d) were riding
35. 35.You ___ Hindi at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was speaking (b) were speaking (c) were speak (d) are speaking
36. 36.She ___ the room when the bell rang. (a) were cleaning (b) was cleaning (c) is cleaning (d) was clean
37. 37.When it started to rain, Farhan ___ the room. (a) was clean (b) were cleaning (c) was cleaning (d) is cleaning
38. 38.When the bell rang, they ___ the bag. (a) were carry (b) are carrying (c) was carrying (d) were carrying
39. 39.When the bell rang, she ___ Hindi. (a) were speaking (b) is speaking (c) was speaking (d) was speak
40. 40.I ___ cricket at 8 pm yesterday. (a) was playing (b) am playing (c) were playing (d) was play

Free english grammar lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/english-grammar