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Past continuous vs Past simple

Total questions: 143

Worksheet time: 1hrs 25mins

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)

were eating

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.

Tim fell down and broke his arm when he _______ down the stairs.

a)

walked

b)

walking

c)

was walking

6.

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

a)

falled

b)

fell

c)

was falling

7.

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

a)

had

b)

was having

c)

were having

8.

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

a)

waked up

b)

woke up

c)

was waking up

9.

It started to rain as they _____________.

a)

danced

b)

was dancing

c)

were dancing

10.

Victoria ___________ when the earthquake hit.

a)

went shopping

b)

were shopping

c)

was shopping

11.

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

a)

saw

b)

was seeing

c)

were seeing

12.

When Jennifer _________, she was climbing the stairs.

a)

tripped over

b)

was tripped

c)

was tripping

13.

When I woke up this morning, it was raining and my parents ______________ in the kitchen.

a)

sang

b)

was singing

c)

were singing

14.

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

a)

didn't go

b)

wasn't going

c)

weren't going

15.

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

a)

didn't listen

b)

wasn't listening

c)

weren't listening

16.

Reorder the following

a)

What

b)

were

c)

you

d)

doing

e)

last night?

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
17.

Reorder the following

a)

What

b)

was

c)

your sister

d)

eating

e)

?

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
18.

Reorder the following

a)

There were a lot of people in the cafeteria.

b)

What

c)

were

d)

they

e)

buying?

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
19.

Reorder the following

a)

I didn't understand anything because

b)

I

c)

wasn't

d)

paying

e)

attention.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
20.

Reorder the following

a)

My friend

b)

was

c)

not

d)

running

e)

yesterday.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
21.

A: Were you working out in the morning?

B: No, I wasn't. I _____ (sleep).

a)

was sleeping

b)

slept

c)

was slept

d)

were sleeping

22.

A: Hi Julio! Hey, I called you last night. At about 8 pm but you never answered.

What were you doing? ¬¬

B: Sorry! I _______ (listen) to music that's why couldn't hear your call.

a)

was listening

b)

listened

c)

was listened

d)

were listening

23.

Astete ______ (sleep) when the teacher ______ (take) a picture of him!

a)

was sleeping - took

b)

slept - was taking

c)

slept - took

d)

was sleeping - was taking

24.

We ______ (work) in the office when the phone _____ (ring).

a)

were working - rang

b)

worked - was ringing

c)

worked - rang

d)

were working - was ringing

25.

When I _______ (arrive) at the cinema, the movie ______ (play).

a)

arrived - was playing

b)

was arrived - played

c)

arrived - played

d)

was arriving - was playing

26.

While we ______ (play) soccer, the lights ____ (go) off.

a)

were playing - went

b)

played - was going

c)

played - went

d)

were playing - were going

27.

I ______ (find) the words in the dictionary when the class ______ (finish)

a)

found - finished

b)

found - was finishing

c)

was finding - finished

d)

was found - finished

28.

We ____ (like) the food that the waitress _____ (give) us.

a)

liked - gave

b)

was liking - was giving

c)

was liked - gave

d)

was liking - gave

29.

I _____ (have) a TV when I ____ (be) a kid.

a)

had - was

b)

was having - was

c)

was had - was being

d)

had - was being

30.

My friend and I ______ (create) a quizizz when my battery ____ (die). 😖

a)

were creating - died

b)

were creating - was dying

c)

created - died

d)

created - was dying

31.

Complete with "when" or "while":

We were working (a)   my teacher called me.

32.

Complete with "when" or "while":

(a)   my mother was cooking, I arrived home.

33.

Complete with "when" or "while":

A: What ____ ____ _____ (do) last week?

B: I was dancing with my friends at a club.

(a)  

34.
We .........................swimming every day when we were young.
a)
went
b)
was going
c)
were going
35.
Tina ....................................when she fell and hurt here leg. 
a)
were dancing
b)
was dancing
c)
danced
36.
Tim often ...........................milk when he was a boy. 
a)
was drinking
b)
drinked
c)
drank
37.
Liz ................................windows when I .................her. 
a)
were cleaning / saw
b)
was cleaning / saw
c)
was cleaning / was seeing
38.
It was raining heavily while I .................................for the bus. 
a)

was running

b)

were raining 

c)

rained

39.
First I ...................... breakfast and then I ...................a shower. 
a)
was having / was taking
b)
had / took
c)
had / was taking
40.
Steve ..................................an accident yesterday. 
a)
had
b)
was having
c)
haved
41.
Julie ...................................her bedroom when she ...................a huge spider on the wall. 
a)
was tidying / was finding
b)
was tidying / found
c)
tidied / found 
42.
They ............................TV while their mum ........................... dinner. 
a)
were watching / was preparing
b)
was watching / was preparing
c)
were watching / prepared 
43.
Philip was washing the car ........................the fire started. 
a)
when
b)
while
44.
........................they were doing shopping somebody stole their car. 
a)
While
b)
So
45.
Brian .....................................tea at  5 o'clock yesterday. 
a)
drank
b)
drinked
c)
was drinking
46.
Dad ................................. the car when he ...........................himself. 
a)
was fixing / hurted
b)
was fixing / hurt
c)
was  fixing / was hurting
47.
I was going to the cinema last night when I ......................... my old friend from primary school. 
a)
met
b)
was meeting
c)
meeted
48.
While the teacher ......................................, the students .................................to him. 
a)
was speaking / was listening
b)
was speaking / listened
c)
was speaking / were listening
49.
I ...........................a new dress for the party yesterday. 
a)
buyed
b)
was buying
c)
bought
50.
He ................................ when I called him, he was playing on his computer. 
a)
was sleeping
b)
wasn't sleeping
c)
didn't sleep
51.
They .............................a test when the head master ......................... the room. 
a)
wrote / entered
b)
were writing / entered
c)
were writing / was entering
52.
I ...............................the windowns when the phone ........................ .
a)
was cleaning / rang
b)
were cleaning / rang
c)
cleaned / was ringing
53.
Why .........................you ....................all the lesson yesterday?
a)
laughing
b)
were / laughing 
c)
laughing / were
54.

I was sitting in a cafe when you ________ .

a)

was calling

b)

called

c)

didn't called

d)

were calling

55.

Susie ________ a film when she heard a noise.

a)

watched

b)

were watching

c)

didn't watch

d)

was watching

56.

This time last week I ________ across Africa.

a)

was travelling

b)

travelled

c)

were travelling

d)

didn't travel

57.

He was walking when he ________ on a banana skin.

a)

sleeped

b)

was slipping

c)

was sleeping

d)

slipped

58.

He ________ back home when his car broke down.

a)

drived

b)

was driving

c)

were driving

d)

drove

59.

As I ________ for work, it ________ to rain.

a)

left, was starting

b)

left, started

c)

was leaving, started

d)

was leaving, didn't started

60.

Yesterday at 6 o'clock I ________ a rom-com on Netflix!

a)

was watching

b)

were watching

c)

watched

d)

didn't watch

61.

While I ________, I ________ a strange noise.

a)

danced, heard

b)

were dancing, was hearing

c)

danced, was hearing

d)

was dancing, heard

62.

Suddenly, he ________ two girls lying on the grass. They ________.

a)

was seeing, bled

b)

saw, bled

c)

saw, were bleeding

d)

was seeing, were bleeding

63.

The sun ________ . Jack and Jill ________ on the beach.

a)

was shining, lied

b)

was shining, were lying

c)

shone, lay

d)

shone, were lying

64.

(a)   they were surfing the net, their mother was cooking dinner.

65.

She was running (a)   she tripped over and fell down.

66.

(a)   I left the house, it was snowing.

67.

What (a)   you doing when the fire started?

68.

(a)   I was eating breakfast, I got a phone call from work.

69.

The boys were playing football on the river bank while the girls (a)   (talk).

70.

I (a)   (have) a shower, when somebody knocked on the door.

71.

I was swimming in a sea when a shark (a)   (attack) me.

72.

Yesterday at 6 p.m, she was (a)   (cook) dinner.

73.

She was listening to her favourite Justin Bieber album when her brother (a)   (enter) the room and started laughing.

74.
We .........................swimming every day when we were young.
a)
went
b)
was going
c)
were going
75.
Tina ....................................when she fell and hurt here leg. 
a)
were dancing
b)
was dancing
c)
danced
76.
Liz ................................windows when I .................her. 
a)
were cleaning / saw
b)
was cleaning / saw
c)
was cleaning / was seeing
77.
I ... a great film last night.
a)
watch
b)
watching
c)
watched
78.
She ... 10 km yesterday.
a)
walks
b)
is walking
c)
walked
79.
Tom ... to be a doctor when he was four.
a)
didn't want
b)
want
c)
don't want
80.
He ... Italy last summer.
a)
visiting
b)
visits
c)
didn't visit
81.
She.......................at 5 p.m. yesterday.
a)
were working
b)
was working
c)
working
d)
was
82.
When we  .............. ( see) Ken and Alex, they ............... (play ) tennis.
a)
were seeing,  were playing
b)
saw, were playing
c)
were seeing, played
d)
see, play
83.
We  ....................( have ) dinner when the phone  ............ (ring)
a)
had, rang
b)
had, ringed
c)
were having, rang
d)
had, was ringing
84.

What ................ she do yesterday?

a)

did

b)

were

c)

does

d)

do

85.

While I was studying, my Mum and Dad .......... cooking a tasty meal.

a)

were

b)

was

c)

did

d)

are

86.

Lucy was ....................... in the lake for 3 hours.

a)

swam

b)

swim

c)

swimming

d)

swiming

87.

Who did he ..................... two days ago?

a)

met

b)

did met

c)

meeted

d)

meet

88.

................. Marc listening to her new songs?

a)

were

b)

was

c)

did

d)

weren't

89.

Who were John and Tom .................... for yesterday?

a)

wait

b)

waits

c)

waited

d)

waiting

90.

While it was ..................., I was sitting at home.

a)

rainings

b)

raining

c)

rained

d)

raind

91.

Did they ........... their homework last week?

a)

do

b)

did

c)

done

d)

does

92.

When he was a kid, he ................. like running.

a)

does

b)

doesn't

c)

didn't

d)

didnt

93.

While I was singing, Mike ................... listening to me.

a)

wasn't

b)

didn't

c)

weren't

d)

doesn't

94.
We .........................swimming every day when we were young.
a)
went
b)
was going
c)
were going
95.
Tina ....................................when she fell and hurt here leg. 
a)
were dancing
b)
was dancing
c)
danced
96.
Liz ................................windows when I .................her. 
a)
were cleaning / saw
b)
was cleaning / saw
c)
was cleaning / was seeing
97.
I ... a great film last night.
a)
watch
b)
watching
c)
watched
98.
She ... 10 km yesterday.
a)
walks
b)
is walking
c)
walked
99.
Tom ... to be a doctor when he was four.
a)
didn't want
b)
want
c)
don't want
100.
He ... Italy last summer.
a)
visiting
b)
visits
c)
didn't visit
101.
She.......................at 5 p.m. yesterday.
a)
were working
b)
was working
c)
working
d)
was
102.
When we  .............. ( see) Ken and Alex, they ............... (play ) tennis.
a)
were seeing,  were playing
b)
saw, were playing
c)
were seeing, played
d)
see, play
103.
We  ....................( have ) dinner when the phone  ............ (ring)
a)
had, rang
b)
had, ringed
c)
were having, rang
d)
had, was ringing
104.

What ................ she do yesterday?

a)

did

b)

were

c)

does

d)

do

105.

While I was studying, my Mum and Dad .......... cooking a tasty meal.

a)

were

b)

was

c)

did

d)

are

106.

Lucy was ....................... in the lake for 3 hours.

a)

swam

b)

swim

c)

swimming

d)

swiming

107.

Who did he ..................... two days ago?

a)

met

b)

did met

c)

meeted

d)

meet

108.

................. Marc listening to her new songs?

a)

were

b)

was

c)

did

d)

weren't

109.

Who were John and Tom .................... for yesterday?

a)

wait

b)

waits

c)

waited

d)

waiting

110.

While it was ..................., I was sitting at home.

a)

rainings

b)

raining

c)

rained

d)

raind

111.

Did they ........... their homework last week?

a)

do

b)

did

c)

done

d)

does

112.

When he was a kid, he ................. like running.

a)

does

b)

doesn't

c)

didn't

d)

didnt

113.

While I was singing, Mike ................... listening to me.

a)

wasn't

b)

didn't

c)

weren't

d)

doesn't

114.

After the conference, I ___ that a man ___ the walls of the building.

a)

was seeing/was painting

b)

saw/was painting

c)

was seeing/painted

115.

He was so angry that he ___ and ___ .

a)

was getting up/left

b)

got up/was leaving

c)

got up/left

116.

I ___ the vase while I ___ the bookshelf.

a)

broke/was cleaning

b)

broke/cleaned

c)

was breaking /was cleaning

117.

As soon as we walked into the room, we ___ a noise. Someone ___ my computer.

a)

heard/used

b)

were hearing/used

c)

heard/was using

118.

I ___ the party, but Sonia ___ to leave.

a)

was enjoying/was wanting

b)

enjoyed/was wanting

c)

was enjoying/wanted

119.

The bus in which the football team ___ had an accident, but ___ nobody ___.

a)

were travelling/died

b)

travelled/died

c)

were travelling/were dying

120.

The police ___ him while he ___ to escape.

a)

caught/tried

b)

caught/was trying

c)

were catching/was trying

121.

We ___ what to do, so we just called the police and ___ .

a)

didn't know/waited

b)

weren't knowing/waited

c)

didn't know/were waiting

122.

When I last ___ her she ___ high-heeled shoes.

a)

saw/wore

b)

was seeing/was wearing

c)

saw/was wearing

123.

The sun ___, so we ___ our clothes and got into the water.

a)

was shining/took off

b)

shone

c)

shone/were taking off

124.

1.       When you ________ the door and saw the new TV, you felt surprised.

a)

was opening

b)

were opening

c)

opening

d)

       opened

125.

      Last Monday, I _________ my bills and left.

a)

paying

b)

was paying

c)

paid   

d)

were paying

126.

1.       I _________ when a plate crashed.

a)

cooking

b)

were cooking

c)

cooked

d)

was cooking

127.

      We were running to the station exactly when the train _________

a)

left

b)

was leaving

c)

leaving

d)

were leaving

128.

      From 6 to 6:15, I __________ pictures while I was having a walk.

a)

taking

b)

took

c)

was taking

d)

were taking

129.

      Over last week, they __________ hard from Monday to Friday.

a)

was working

b)

were working

c)

worked

d)

working

130.

      You __________ your teeth when, suddenly, she came into the bathroom.

a)

were brushing

b)

brushing

c)

brushed

d)

was brushing

131.

       As they ___________ down the road, they found an owl.

a)

walked

b)

walking

c)

was walking

d)

were walking

132.

      He didn't do his homework, he ___________ sleeping all night.

a)

was sleeping

b)

were sleeping

c)

sleeping

d)

slept

133.

       At 9, Sean was reading while Samantha __________

a)

was shopping

b)

were shopping

c)

shopped

d)

hopping

134.

He _____________ his homework when his father came home.

a)

were doing

b)

was doing

c)

did

d)

did do    

135.

While we _______, we ________a horrible accident.

a)

were driving – saw

b)

was driving – saw

c)

drove – saw

d)

drove- were seeing

136.

I ________ when someone ________my lunchbox yesterday.

a)

am playing - was stealing

b)

was playing - stole

c)

played – stole

d)

was playing - was stole

137.

I ______ a terrible dream last night.

a)

was having

b)

am having

c)

had

d)

have

138.

Last year, I _______ to do a lot of research while I _____ on my project.

a)

was having – worked

b)

had - was working

c)

am having – worked

d)

had - am working

139.

Ahmed ______ hurt while he ______ football.

a)

was getting – played

b)

got - played

c)

got - was playing

d)

was getting - was playing

140.

Yesterday at 7 o'clock, Abdulla ______ a movie.

a)

watched

b)

was watching

c)

watch

d)

watches

141.

Our car _______ down and we ______ to walk home.

a)

break – walk

b)

was breaking - walked

c)

broke - were having

d)

broke – had

142.

I ______ a plate while I _______ Mum in the kitchen.

a)

broke - was helping

b)

was breaking - helped

c)

broke – helped

d)

breaked – helped

143.

While it ________ heavily outside, I _______ in my car.

a)

was raining – sat

b)

rained - sat

c)

rained - was sitting

d)

was raining – sitted

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