Past Continuous Tense

We ____ just listening to music when you came.

• was

• weren't

• wasn't

• were

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'were' because the sentence is in the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action in the past. 'Were' is the correct past continuous form of the verb 'to be' for the subject 'we'.

While they ____ driving to the beach, the car’s tyre burst.

• was

• weren't

• wasn't

• were

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'were' because the subject 'they' is plural, so the correct verb form should also be plural.

Donna ____ listening to the teacher, so she couldn’t give the correct answer to this question.

• was

• weren't

• wasn't

• were

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'wasn't' because Donna is singular, so the correct form of the verb 'to be' should be 'wasn't' to match the singular subject.

Lucy and Ted _____ going to the playground. They were actually going to the amusement park.

• was

• weren't

• wasn't

• were

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'weren't' because Lucy and Ted is a plural subject, so the correct form of the verb 'to be' is 'were' for plural subjects in the past tense. 'weren't' is the contraction of 'were not'.

I _____ looking where I was walking when I fell.

• was

• weren't

• wasn't

• were

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'wasn't' because the sentence is in the past tense and requires a negative form, indicating that the speaker was not looking where they were walking when they fell.

My grandma ___ looking at the family album when she suddenly started crying.

• was

• weren't

• wasn't

• were

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'was' because the sentence is in the past tense, and 'was' is the correct past form of the verb 'to be' for the singular subject 'grandma.'

Rewrite the sentence with the subject in brackets:

Sharon was swimming in the river when she saw a small turtle under the water. (The boys)

Rewrite the sentence with the subject in brackets:

The students weren’t doing anything when Mrs. Hall came into the classroom. (I)

Rewrite the sentence with the subject in brackets:

I was fishing in the lake when a frightening storm started yesterday. (Two friends)

Rewrite the sentence with the subject in brackets:

We were walking past the police station when a car crashed into a lorry. (My mum)