Practice distinguishing between the Past Simple and Past Continuous tenses with these 50 mixed exercises. Fill in the blanks, choose the correct option, and correct the mistakes to master these essential grammar skills.
Fill in the Blanks (1-20)
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in either the Past Simple or Past Continuous tense.
- She __________ (read) a book when the phone __________ (ring).
- They __________ (play) soccer when it __________ (start) raining.
- I __________ (not/watch) TV at 9 p.m. last night.
- While I __________ (cook), he __________ (clean).
- The train __________ (leave) at 6 p.m. yesterday.
- __________ you __________ (write) your homework when I called?
- He __________ (not/work) last evening when I knocked.
- The children __________ (study) for the test when the power __________ (go) out.
- __________ she __________ (call) you while you __________ (work)?
- It __________ (rain) heavily when we __________ (leave) the house.
- My parents __________ (travel) to Europe last summer.
- __________ the dog __________ (bark) when the mailman __________ (arrive)?
- I __________ (not/understand) the lesson while the teacher __________ (explain).
- The sun __________ (shine) brightly when we __________ (go) for a walk.
- __________ they __________ (argue) about the decision when you __________ (walk) in?
- The cat __________ (sleep) on the couch when I __________ (get) home.
- We __________ (enjoy) the concert when it __________ (start) raining.
- __________ he __________ (write) an email when you __________ (call)?
- The flowers __________ (bloom) beautifully last spring.
- I __________ (not/forget) your birthday last year.
Multiple-Choice Questions (21-35)
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentences in either the Past Simple or Past Continuous tense.
- She __________ (read/was reading) a book when the phone __________ (rang/was ringing).
a) read / rang
b) was reading / rang - They __________ (played/were playing) soccer when it __________ (started/was starting) raining.
a) played / started
b) were playing / started - I __________ (didn’t watch/wasn’t watching) TV at 9 p.m. last night.
a) didn’t watch
b) wasn’t watching - While I __________ (cooked/was cooking), he __________ (cleaned/was cleaning).
a) cooked / cleaned
b) was cooking / was cleaning - The train __________ (left/was leaving) at 6 p.m. yesterday.
a) left
b) was leaving - __________ you __________ (finished/were finishing) your homework ?
a) Did / finish
b) Were / finishing - He __________ (didn’t work/wasn’t working) in the office when you went in.
a) didn’t work
b) wasn’t working - The children __________ (studied/were studying) for the test when the power __________ (went/was going) out.
a) studied / went
b) were studying / went - __________ she __________ (called/was calling) you while you __________ (worked/were working)?
a) Did / call / were working
b) Was / calling / worked - It __________ (rained/was raining) heavily when we __________ (left/were leaving) the house.
a) rained / left
b) was raining / left - My parents __________ (traveled/were traveling) to Europe last summer.
a) traveled
b) were traveling - __________ the dog __________ (barked/was barking) when the mailman __________ (arrived/was arriving)?
a) Did / bark / arrived
b) Was / barking / arrived - I __________ (didn’t understand/wasn’t understanding) the lesson yesterday.
a) didn’t understand
b) wasn’t understanding - The sun __________ (shined/was shining) brightly when we __________ (went/were going) for a walk.
a) shined / went
b) was shining / went - __________ they __________ (argued/were arguing) about the decision when you __________ (walked/were walking) in?
a) Did / argue / walked
b) Were / arguing / walked
Sentence Correction (36-50)
Correct the mistakes in the following sentences.
- I was watch TV when the phone rang.
- She wasn’t listening to music at 9 p.m.
- Were they playing football when you arrived?
- While I was cook, he was clean.
- The children was watching TV when the power went out.
- I wasn’t listen to music at 9 p.m.
- Were he working late yesterday evening?
- We were talk on the phone when the doorbell rang.
- The dog was bark loudly when the mailman arrived.
- It was rain heavily when we left the house.
- My parents were travel to Europe last summer.
- Were the students take notes during the lecture?
- I wasn’t understand the lesson even while the teacher was explaining.
- The sun was shine brightly when we went for a walk.
- Were they argue about the decision when you heard them?
Answer Key
Fill in the Blanks (1-20)
1. was reading / rang | 2. were playing / started | 3. wasn’t watching | 4. was cooking / was cleaning | 5. left | 6. Were/ writing | 7. wasn’t working | 8. were studying / went | 9. Did / call / were working | 10. was raining / left | 11. traveled | 12. Was / barking / arrived | 13. didn’t understand / was explaining | 14. was shining / went | 15. Were / arguing / walked | 16. was sleeping / got | 17. were enjoying / started | 18. Was / writing / called | 19. bloomed | 20. didn’t forget
Multiple-Choice Questions (21-35)
21. b) was reading / rang | 22. b) were playing / started | 23. b) wasn’t watching | 24. b) was cooking / was cleaning | 25. a) left | 26. a) Did / finish | 27. b) wasn’t working | 28. b) were studying / went | 29. a) Did / call / were working | 30. b) was raining / left | 31. a) traveled | 32. b) Was / barking / arrived | 33. a) didn’t understand / was explaining | 34. b) was shining / went | 35. b) Were / arguing / walked
Sentence Correction (36-50)
- I was watching TV when the phone rang.
- She wasn’t listening to music at 9 p.m. (Correct)
- Were they playing football when you arrived? (Correct)
- While I was cooking, he was cleaning.
- The children were watching TV when the power went out.
- I wasn’t listening to music at 9 p.m.
- Was he working late yesterday evening?
- We were talking on the phone when the doorbell rang.
- The dog was barking loudly when the mailman arrived.
- It was raining heavily when we left the house.
- My parents traveled to Europe last summer.
- Were the students taking notes during the lecture?
- I didn’t understand the lesson while the teacher was explaining.
- The sun was shining brightly when we went for a walk.
- Were they arguing about the decision?
Read, Write, English! 
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