Past Continuous worksheet

1. 1.
   I a shower when the phone rang.a) was havingb) had
2. 2.
   What at 10 pm last night?a) did you dob) were you doing
3. 3.
   They football when it started to snow.a) was playingb) were playing
4. 4.
   While she , I cleaned the kitchen.a) was sleepingb) slept
5. 5.
   I him immediately.a) recognisedb) was recognising

1. 1.
   When she called, I cooked dinner.
2. 2.
   They was waiting outside.
3. 3.
   I was knowing the answer.

Write three sentences about your own life in the Past Continuous. Use one of these words in each.

• while
• when
• at 8 pm yesterday
• all evening
• at that moment

1. 1.a) was having The shower was in progress when the phone interrupted it.
2. 2.b) were you doing You're asking about an activity in progress at that moment.
3. 3.b) were playing They takes were.
4. 4.a) was sleeping While introduces the longer action in the background.
5. 5.a) recognised Recognising is a single, complete moment, so it takes the Past Simple.

1. 1.When she called, I was cooking dinner. If the cooking was already in progress, use the Past Continuous. "I cooked" means you started after the call.
2. 2.They were waiting outside. Use were with you, we and they.
3. 3.I knew the answer. Know is a state verb, so it stays in the Past Simple.

Answers will vary. Check that each sentence follows the rule on page 1, or paste them into Clarigram to have them checked.