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Worksheets

Past Continuous vs Past Simple

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

He was talking when the ball ________ him.

a)

hit

b)

was hitting

c)

were hitting

2.

She __________ a huge breakfast and drank a lot of coffee this morning.

a)

ate

b)

was eating

c)

was eatting

3.

He _________ dinner when the fire started.

a)

cooked

b)

was cooking

c)

were cooking

4.

Maggie ________ her horse when she hit the tree.

a)

rode

b)

was rideing

c)

was riding

5.

He was working late at work last night when he _______ asleep at his desk.

a)

falled

b)

fell

c)

was falling

6.

Because she ________ Chinese class yesterday afternoon, she couldn't go to Sarah's birthday party.

a)

had

b)

was having

c)

were having

7.

Marie ____________ late this morning, so she missed the first class.

a)

waked up

b)

woke up

c)

was waking up

8.

It started to rain as they _____________.

a)

danced

b)

was dancing

c)

were dancing

9.

Victoria ___________ when the earthquake hit.

a)

went shopping

b)

were shopping

c)

was shopping

10.

When we ________ the giraffe at the zoo, we felt happy.

a)

saw

b)

was seeing

c)

were seeing

11.

When Jennifer _________, she was climbing the stairs.

a)

tripped over

b)

was tripped over

c)

was tripping over

12.

Because of the rain, we ______________ to the beach yesterday afternoon.

a)

didn't go

b)

wasn't going

c)

weren't going

d)

went

13.

I ________________ when the teacher asked me a question. She was pretty angry.

a)

didn't listen

b)

wasn't listening

c)

weren't listening

14.

Tom _____ to be a doctor when he was four.

a)

didn't want

b)

want

c)

don't want

d)

wasn't wanting

15.
We _____ a computer game when the lights _____ out.
a)
were playing / were going
b)
were playing / went
c)
played / went
d)
played / were going
16.
Our teacher  _____ a heart attack when he _____ to work in the morning.
a)
had / drove
b)
had / was driving
c)
was having / drove
d)
was having / were driving
17.

When I _____ in Europe, I _____ some fantastic people.

a)

was travelling / met

b)

was travelling / was meting

c)

travelled / met

d)

travelled / was meeting

18.
She _____ on the phone when someone _____ on the door.
a)
was speaking / was knocking
b)
spoke / was knocking
c)
spoke / knocked
d)
was speaking / knocked
19.
He _____ his finger while he ____ the table.
a)
hurt / fixed
b)
hurt / was fixing
c)
was hurting / was fixing
d)
was hurting / fixed
20.
What _____ at 10pm last night - it was really noisy!
a)
did they do
b)
were they doing
c)
do they do
d)
are they doing
21.
Adam _____ out of the window when he _____ a UFO.
a)
was looking / saw
b)
looked / saw
c)
was looking / seen
d)
looked / was seeing
22.
While George _____, Linda _____ a documentary on TV.
a)
was reading / was watching
b)
read / watched
c)
was reading / watched
d)
read / was watching
23.
My father _____ the car while our dog _____ all over him. It was very funny!
a)
cleaned / was jumping
b)
was cleaning / jumped
c)
cleaned / jumped
d)
was cleaning / was jumping
24.
At 7 pm yesterday, Sam _____ his English homework. I saw him studying in his room.
a)
does
b)
is doing
c)
was doing
d)
did
25.

Tim ........................... a lot of milk when he was a boy.

a)

was drinking

b)

drinked

c)

drank

26.

First I ...................... breakfast and then I ................... a shower.

a)

was having / was taking

b)

had / took

c)

had / was taking

27.

Philip was washing the car ........................the fire started.

a)

when

b)

while

c)

as

28.

........................they were doing shopping, somebody stole their car.

a)

While

b)

Because

c)

As

29.

When the teacher_________ in, they __________ English.

a)

was/ read

b)

was coming/ were studying

c)

came/ were studying

d)

came/ studied

30.

The baby_____________ when the telephone________.

a)

was sleeping/ rang

b)

slept/ ring

c)

were sleeping/ rung

d)

is sleeping/ is riinging

31.

After I brushed my teeth, I ..... to bed.

a)

went

b)

was going

c)

gone

d)

am going

32.

What .......................................... at 9 p.m. yesterday?

a)

was you doing

b)

were you doing

c)

did you do

33.
Where ............................................. these beautiful shoes?
a)
did you bought
b)
did you buy
c)
were you buying
34.
I ....................................so much time studying when I was a child. 
a)
didn't spent
b)
didn't spend
c)
was spending
35.
They ...................................... their homework when we got home. They .......................................computer games!
a)
didn't do / were playing
b)
weren't doing / played
c)
weren't doing / were playing
36.
My sister ........... to sing when she was 9 years old.
a)
begined
b)
begun
c)
was beginning
d)
began
37.
Bob ..... about Molly's birthday, so she ..... up with him.
a)
was forgetting, broke
b)
forgot, was breaking
c)
forgot, were breaking
d)
forgot, broke
38.
Why ....... my mobile yesterday?
a)
you rang
b)
were you ringing
c)
did you ring
d)
was you ringing
39.

It was a lovely spring day. The sun was setting and a gentle breeze was blowing when Anna went for a walk. Why is Past Continuous used in this sentence?

a)

To describe an action which happened at a specific time in the past

b)

To give background information to a story

c)

To describe an action that was happening at a specific time in the past

40.

While, all night and as are time phrases used with

a)

Present Continuous

b)

Past Continuous

c)

Past Simple

d)

Present Simple

41.

Past Simple Tense describes

a)

an action which was happening at a specific time in the past

b)

two actions that were happening at the same time

c)

actions that happened one after the other in the past

d)

background information to a story

42.

Last week, then and in 2003 are time expressions usually used with

a)

Past Simple

b)

Past Continuous

c)

Present Simple

d)

Present Continuous

43.

Frank....his children goodnight, ...the door and...downstairs.

a)

was kissing, was closing, was going

b)

kissed, were closing, were going

c)

kissed, was closing, went

d)

kissed, closed, went

44.

My father....in the Second World War.

a)

not fighted

b)

didn't fight

c)

wasn't fighting

d)

didn't fought

45.

Sally ...on a banana skin and ...her leg yesterday afternoon.

a)

slipped, broke

b)

slipped, breaked

c)

was slipping, was breaking

d)

was slipping,broke

46.

Last year Tom...his wife a new car for her birthday.

a)

gave

b)

was giving

c)

gives

d)

is giving

47.

Diane ...the violin when she was younger.

a)

plays

b)

played

c)

was playing

48.

What...to Douglas last weekend?

a)

has happened

b)

was happening

c)

happened

d)

did happen

49.
The Titanic ___________________ the Atlantic when it ___________________ an iceberg. 
a)
crossed / struck
b)
was crossing / was striking
c)
was crossing / struck
d)
crossed / was striking
50.

Past Continuous Tense describes

a)

an action which was happening at a specific time in the past

b)

two actions that were happening at the same time

c)

actions that happened one after another in the past

d)

an action which happened at a specific time in the past

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