These past continuous exercises help you distinguish between actions in progress and short events that interrupted them. Pay attention to stative verbs, which are not normally used in the progressive tense. After you complete each exercise, click the check answers button to see your score.
Exercise 1: Past continuous form, usage and structure
Which answer reflects the proper use and structure of the past continuous tense?
1. What is the correct structure of the past continuous tense?
2. Which sentence correctly uses the past continuous tense?
3. What is the past continuous tense used for?
4. Which sentence shows two actions happening at the same time in the past?
Exercise 2: Gap-filling test
Put the verbs in brackets into the past continuous tense.
1. I (drive) to work when I got a flat tire.
I was driving to work when I got a flat tire.
2. We (dance) at the party when the power went out.
We were dancing at the party when the power went out.
3. They (paint) the room when the ladder broke.
They were painting the room when the ladder broke.
4. He (always break) his promises.
He was always breaking his promises.
5. They (constantly fight) over the remote control.
They were constantly fighting over the remote control.
6. She (continually yawn) in the office.
She was continually yawning in the office.
7. He (hum) to himself all the time.
He was humming to himself all the time.
8. While I (dig) the soil, my wife (plant) the seeds.
While I was digging the soil, my wife was planting the seeds.
9. My grandpa (repair) the fence while I (shape) the topiary.
My grandpa was repairing the fence while I was shaping the topiary.
Exercise 3: Sentence construction challenge
Put the verbs into the sentences and write them in the past simple or past continuous form.
| be | drive | cry | cross | drink |
| hurt | queue | come in | fly | play |
1. They when the police .
They were drinking when the police came in.
2. I when a dog suddenly the road.
I was driving when a dog suddenly crossed the road.
3. We to Perth last year. It a long flight. We for eleven hours.
We flew to Perth last year. It was a long flight. We were flying for eleven hours.
4. I my fingers while I basketball.
I hurt my fingers while I was playing basketball.
5. After breaking up with her boyfriend, she the whole afternoon.
After breaking up with her boyfriend, she was crying the whole afternoon.
6. we for hours to buy tickets for the World Cup.
We were queuing for hours to buy tickets for the World Cup.
PDF worksheet
Click the link below to download the past continuous worksheet in PDF format for more exercises; the answers are provided on this page.
- I was working all day yesterday. I lost my phone last night.They were playing football in the garden the whole afternoon.We visited my grandparents last weekend.I knew your father.I meant what I said.He was talking on the phone for hours.They arrived at the airport at 6 p.m.She was crying all night after hearing the bad news.We went to the cinema yesterday evening.I heard you.I recognised her face.They were smoking weeds when the police arrived.I was on the phone when my battery died.The box contained letters from World War II.His response appeared correct.We were having lunch when the earthquake erupted.
