Read, Write, English!

Practice using the Past Continuous tense with these 50 mixed exercises. Fill in the blanks, choose the correct option, and correct the mistakes to master this essential grammar skill.

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Fill in the Blanks (1-20)

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the Past Continuous tense.

1. She __________ (read) a book at 8 p.m. last night.
2. They __________ (not/play) soccer when it started raining.
3. __________ you __________ (study) when I called?
4. While I __________ (cook), he __________ (clean).
5. The children __________ (watch) TV when the power went out.
6. I __________ (not/listen) to music at 9 p.m.
7. __________ he __________ (work) late yesterday evening?
8. We __________ (talk) on the phone when the doorbell rang.
9. The dog __________ (bark) loudly when the mailman arrived.
10. It __________ (rain) heavily when we left the house.
11. My parents __________ (travel) in Europe when my mom lost her passport.
12. __________ the students __________ (take) notes during the lecture?
13. I __________ (not/following) the lesson while the teacher was explaining.
14. The sun __________ (shine) brightly when we went for a walk.
15. __________ they __________ (argue) about the decision when you left?
16. The cat __________ (sleep) on the couch when I got home.
17. We __________ (enjoy) the concert when it started raining.
18. __________ she __________ (write) an email when you called?
19. The flowers __________ (sway) when the wind was blowing.
20. I __________ (not/plan) your birthday last night, Tom was.

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Multiple-Choice Questions (21-35)

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentences in the Past Continuous tense.

21. She __________ (read/was reading) a book at 8 p.m. last night.
    a) read
    b) was reading
22. They __________ (not/play/were not playing) soccer when it started raining.
    a) not play
    b) were not playing
23. __________ you __________ (study/were studying) when I called?
    a) Were / studying
    b) Did / study
24. While I __________ (cook/was cooking), he __________ (clean/was cleaning).
    a) was cooking / was cleaning
    b) cooked / cleaned
25. The children __________ (watch/were watching) TV when the power went out.
    a) watched
    b) were watching
26. I __________ (not/listen/was not listening) to music at 9 p.m.
    a) not listen
    b) was not listening
27. __________ he __________ (work/was working) late yesterday evening when we met?
    a) Was / working
    b) Did / work
28. We __________ (talk/were talking) on the phone when the doorbell rang.
    a) talked
    b) were talking
29. The dog __________ (bark/was barking) loudly when the mailman arrived.
    a) barked
    b) was barking
30. It __________ (rain/was raining) heavily when we left the house.
    a) rained
    b) was raining
31. My parents __________ (travel/were traveling) to Italy when they missed their flight.
    a) traveled
    b) were traveling
32. __________ the students __________ (take/were taking) notes during the lecture when you walked in?
    a) Were / taking
    b) Did / take
33. I __________ (not following /was not following ) the lesson while the teacher was explaining.
    a) not following
    b) was not following
34. The sun __________ (shine/was shining) brightly when we went for a walk.
    a) shined
    b) was shining
35. __________ they __________ (argue/were arguing) about the decision when I called?
    a) Were / arguing
    b) Did / argue

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Sentence Correction (36-50)

Correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

36. I was watch TV when the phone rang.
37. She wasn’t listening to music at 9 p.m.
38. Were they playing football when you arrived?
39. While I was cook, he was clean.
40. The children was watching TV when the power went out.
41. I wasn’t listen to music at 9 p.m.
42. Was he work late yesterday evening?
43. We were talk on the phone when the doorbell rang.
44. The dog was bark loudly when the mailman arrived.
45. It was rain heavily when we left the house.
46. My parents were travel to Europe last summer.
47. Were the students take notes during the lecture?
48. I wasn’t following the lesson while the teacher was explaining.
49. The sun was shine brightly when we went for a walk.
50. Were they argue about the decision?

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Answer Key

Fill in the Blanks (1-20)

1. was reading | 2. were not playing | 3. Were / studying | 4. was cooking / was cleaning | 5. were watching | 6. was not listening | 7. Was / working | 8. were talking | 9. was barking | 10. was raining | 11. were traveling | 12. Were / taking | 13. was not following | 14. was shining | 15. Were / arguing | 16. was sleeping | 17. were enjoying | 18. Was / writing | 19. were swaying | 20. was not planning

Multiple-Choice Questions (21-35)

21. b) was reading | 22. b) were not playing | 23. a) Were / studying | 24. a) was cooking / was cleaning | 25. b) were watching | 26. b) was not listening | 27. a) Was / working | 28. b) were talking | 29. b) was barking | 30. b) was raining | 31. b) were traveling | 32. a) Were / taking | 33. b) was not following | 34. b) was shining | 35. a) Were / arguing

Sentence Correction (36-50)

36. I was watching TV when the phone rang.
37. She wasn’t listening to music at 9 p.m. (Correct)
38. Were they playing football when you arrived? (Correct)
39. While I was cooking, he was cleaning.
40. The children were watching TV when the power went out.
41. I wasn’t listening to music at 9 p.m.
42. Was he working late yesterday evening?
43. We were talking on the phone when the doorbell rang.
44. The dog was barking loudly when the mailman arrived.
45. It was raining heavily when we left the house.
46. My parents were traveling to Europe last summer.
47. Were the students taking notes during the lecture?
48. I wasn’t following the lesson while the teacher was explaining.
49. The sun was shining brightly when we went for a walk.
50. Were they arguing about the decision?

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