Basics of the Past Continuous. 45 questions on form and actions in progress in the past.
What this test covers
- Was/Were + -ing Form
- Actions in Progress at a Past Time
- At + Time Expressions
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1I ___ reading a book at 9 o'clock last night.
Answer: A. was
With the subject 'I', we use 'was' to describe an action happening at a specific time in the past. We use 'were' for 'you', 'we', or 'they'.
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Q2They ___ playing football in the park all afternoon.
Answer: A. were
When talking about more than one person ('They'), we use 'were' plus the '-ing' form of the action. We only use 'was' for one person like 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
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Q3She ___ not cooking dinner at 6 PM yesterday.
Answer: B. was
For 'he', 'she', and 'it', use 'was not' (or 'wasn't') to talk about something that was not happening in the past.
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Q4___ you sleeping at midnight?
Answer: D. Were
In questions, we put 'Were' at the beginning when the subject is 'you'. We use 'Was' for 'I', 'he', 'she', or 'it'.
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Q5We ___ not listening to music at that moment.
Answer: C. were
With 'we', we use 'were not' to show an action was not happening. Don't use 'was' when talking about a group of people including yourself.
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Q6He ___ studying for his exam all morning.
Answer: C. was
We use 'was' with 'he' to talk about a long action in the past. We use 'were' for plural subjects.
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Q7What ___ they doing at 8 PM last night?
Answer: A. were
For questions about 'they', use 'were' before the subject. For example: 'What were they doing?'
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Q8I ___ not watching TV this time last week.
Answer: D. was
With 'I', we use 'was not' or 'wasn't' to say we weren't doing an activity at a certain time in the past.
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Q9It ___ raining all day yesterday.
Answer: A. was
We use 'was' for 'it' when describing the weather in the past. For example: 'It was raining' or 'It was snowing'.
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Q10___ she working at 10 AM yesterday?
Answer: C. Was
To ask a question about 'she', 'he', or 'it', start the sentence with 'Was'.
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Q11My friends ___ talking loudly at that moment.
Answer: C. were
'My friends' means more than one person (they), so we use 'were'. We only use 'was' for one person.
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Q12The dog ___ barking all night.
Answer: B. was
'The dog' is like 'it', so we use 'was'. If there were many dogs, we would use 'were'.
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Q13You ___ not paying attention at 2 PM.
Answer: D. were
With 'you', we always use 'were'. For a negative sentence, we say 'you were not' or 'you weren't'.
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Q14___ we sitting in the right place at that time?
Answer: D. Were
When asking a question about 'we', start with 'Were'. For example: 'Were we having fun?'
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Q15Sarah ___ cleaning her room at 4 PM.
Answer: B. was
Sarah is one person (she), so we use 'was'. We use 'were' for more than one person.
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Q16At 7 PM yesterday, I ___ having dinner.
Answer: B. was
The subject 'I' always takes 'was' in this tense. For example: 'I was eating' or 'I was walking'.
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Q17They ___ waiting for the bus at 8 AM.
Answer: D. were
With 'they', we use 'were' to describe an action that was continuing in the past.
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Q18This time last year, we ___ living in London.
Answer: C. were
We use 'were' for 'we' to talk about a past situation that lasted for some time.
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Q19He ___ swimming at the beach all afternoon.
Answer: A. was
Use 'was' with 'he' to show he was in the middle of doing something in the past.
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Q20At that moment, they ___ laughing at the joke.
Answer: C. were
For 'they', we use 'were' to describe an action happening at a specific moment.
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Q21I ___ working on my project all day yesterday.
Answer: C. was
With 'I', we use 'was' + a verb ending in '-ing' to show a long action in the past.
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Q22At midnight, the baby ___ crying.
Answer: B. was
'The baby' is one person, so we use 'was'. If there were two babies, we would use 'were'.
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Q23My parents ___ traveling this time last week.
Answer: A. were
'My parents' is a plural subject (two people), so we use 'were'.
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Q24She ___ painting a picture at 3 PM.
Answer: B. was
We use 'was' with 'she' to describe what she was doing at a particular time.
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Q25We ___ playing video games all evening.
Answer: B. were
With 'we', we use 'were' and the '-ing' form of the verb to show a past activity.
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Q26Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: A. She was sleeping at 10 PM.
This sentence correctly uses 'was' with 'she' and adds '-ing' to the action 'sleep'.
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Q27Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: C. They were playing tennis at 5 PM.
This sentence correctly uses 'were' with 'they' and the '-ing' form of the action.
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Q28Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: B. I was reading all morning.
With 'I', we use 'was' and the '-ing' form of the verb to show a continuous action in the past.
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Q29Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: C. Were they working at 9 AM?
To ask about a continuous action in the past, use 'Were' + 'they' + '-ing'.
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Q30Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: D. We weren't eating lunch at noon.
For a negative sentence with 'we', use 'weren't' (the short form of 'were not') plus the '-ing' verb.
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Q31Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: A. At that moment, he was running.
The subject 'he' correctly takes 'was' followed by the '-ing' action word 'running'.
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Q32Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: B. This time last week, I was flying.
Use 'was' with 'I' and add '-ing' to the action word to show what you were doing at a past moment.
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Q33Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: D. Were you listening to me?
In questions, the word 'Were' always goes with 'you'.
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Q34Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: D. It was snowing all afternoon.
We use 'was' with 'it' and add '-ing' to the verb (snowing) to describe past weather.
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Q35Choose the correct sentence:
Answer: A. They weren't studying at 8 PM.
With 'they', the negative form is 'weren't' followed by the '-ing' verb.
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Q36Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'They was dancing at the party all night.'
Answer: D. They were dancing at the party all night.
'They was' is incorrect. We must use 'were' for more than one person, followed by the '-ing' form 'dancing'.
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Q37Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'I were cooking dinner at 7 PM.'
Answer: C. I was cooking dinner at 7 PM.
'I were' is incorrect. Use 'was' with 'I' to describe what you were doing in the past.
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Q38Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'She wasn't play football at that moment.'
Answer: C. She wasn't playing football at that moment.
After 'wasn't', the action word needs the '-ing' ending to show the action was in progress.
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Q39Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'Was they studying all morning?'
Answer: D. Were they studying all morning?
'Was they' is incorrect. Questions about 'they' must start with 'Were'.
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Q40Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'We was walking to school at 8 AM.'
Answer: C. We were walking to school at 8 AM.
'We was' is incorrect. Use 'were' with 'we' to talk about a past action.
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Q41Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'At 10 PM, he were sleeping.'
Answer: C. At 10 PM, he was sleeping.
'He were' is incorrect. Use 'was' for one person like 'he'.
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Q42Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'You wasn't listening at that moment.'
Answer: B. You weren't listening at that moment.
'You wasn't' is a common mistake. With 'you', we always use 'weren't' or 'were not'.
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Q43Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'I was work in the garden all day.'
Answer: B. I was working in the garden all day.
After 'was', the action word must have the '-ing' ending (working) to show the action lasted for some time.
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Q44Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'Were she reading at midnight?'
Answer: A. Was she reading at midnight?
'Were she' is incorrect. Questions about 'she' must start with 'Was'.
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Q45Choose the correct sentence to fix the error: 'They were not play at this time last week.'
Answer: B. They were not playing at this time last week.
After 'were not', you must use the '-ing' form 'playing' to talk about an action in progress.
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