We use the past continuous (was/were + verb-ing) for an action that was in progress at a time in the past. It often sets the scene for a shorter action in the simple past: I was walking home when it started to rain. Use while for the longer action and when for the action that interrupts. The answer key is at the end.
Learn the rules first: Present, Past and Future Continuous Tense: Rules and Examples
Practise online, with instant answers: Past Continuous practice test (Basic) · Past Continuous practice test (Intermediate)
Past Continuous Tense Worksheet with Answers
Free English worksheets, tests and lessons at enableacademy.in
A. Fill in the blanks
Write the past continuous form of the verb in brackets. The answer may have more than one word. Where a sentence has two blanks, write both words.
- At 7 o'clock yesterday, Meena __________ (cook) dinner.
- The boys __________ (play) football in the ground at four.
- I __________ (not / do) my homework at that time.
- __________ you __________ (sleep) at midnight?
- It __________ (snow) heavily in Shimla when we arrived.
- My sister __________ (talk) on the phone at eight o'clock.
- The cows __________ (graze) in the field at sunrise.
- What __________ Arjun __________ (do) at 6 p.m. yesterday?
B. When or while?
Write when or while in each blank.
- I was walking home __________ it started to rain.
- Mother was cooking __________ father was reading the newspaper.
- The bell rang __________ the teacher was writing on the board.
- We were watching a film __________ the power went off.
- The children were playing __________ their mother was shopping.
- Arjun broke his arm __________ he was playing cricket.
C. Past continuous and simple past
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Each sentence has two blanks.
- While Meena __________ (water) the plants, it __________ (begin) to rain.
- I __________ (see) an accident while I __________ (walk) to school.
- While the thief __________ (hide) behind the door, the police __________ (enter).
- Ravi __________ (fall) off his bike while he __________ (ride) to Pune.
- When the teacher __________ (come) in, the students __________ (talk).
D. Correct the mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the sentence correctly.
- We was playing carrom at 5 o'clock.
- She was singing when I enter the room.
- They were play cricket yesterday evening.
- I was not watch TV when you called.
E. Write your own
Write one sentence about each.
- What were you doing at 8 p.m. yesterday?
- Write a sentence with while about two things happening together.
Answer Key
A. Fill in the blanks
- was cooking
- were playing
- was not (wasn't) doing
- Were; sleeping
- was snowing
- was talking
- were grazing
- was; doing
B. When or while?
- when
- while
- when (or while)
- when
- while
- while (or when)
C. Past continuous and simple past
- was watering; began
- saw; was walking
- was hiding; entered
- fell; was riding
- came; were talking
D. Correct the mistakes
- We were playing carrom at 5 o'clock.
- She was singing when I entered the room.
- They were playing cricket yesterday evening.
- I was not watching TV when you called.
E. Write your own
- Answers will vary, e.g. I was eating dinner with my family.
- Answers will vary, e.g. While I was doing my homework, my brother was playing a game.