PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE WORKSHEET

Match the following sentences with the best ending.

1.The sun was shining
a.when he fell off the ladder.
2.She was cooking in the kitchen
b.when I saw him yesterday.
3.They were quarrelling
c.when we went out.
4.I was watching a horror film
d.when I fell and hurt my leg.
5.He was wearing a black suit
e.when the fire started.
6.Raymond was lying on the floor f.when a rock fell on my fathers leg.
7.He was painting the ceiling
g.when she saw a shark.
8.I was running out of the house
h.when the lights went out.
9.We were climbing a mountain
i.when the ambulance came.
10.She was swimming in the sea
j.when the teacher came.
What were they doing when.? Choose the verbs from the box.
drive buy have eat
take examine fish paint take sleep
When the earthquake started,
1. Barabara her son to school.
2. Dick .
3. Some students a test.
4. The doctor a patient.
5. Mr Jones home from work.
6. Mr Brown in his office.
7. Paul and Nancy picnic.
8. Carla and her husband lunch.
9.Joe the walls.
10.Marie a dress.
Join the sentences using when.
1. I was having a bath. The phone rang.
.
2. I met you yesterday. You were talking to someone.
.
3. The telephone rang. I got out of the bathroom.
.
4. He was writing a letter. The storm began.
.
Join the sentences using while.
1. John was working at home. She was relaxing on a sofa.
.
2. The Gulf War started. She was studying at university.

3. The girl jumped off the bus. It was moving.

.
4. Someone stole my clothes. I was swimming in the river.
.
5. I was walking in a narrow street. A do attacked me.
.
Complete the sentences. Use the past continuous or the simple past form
of each verb in parentheses.
1. When I (see) sawat the drugstore, he (buy) was
buyingsome medicine.
2. I (hear) a loud bang while I (read) a book.
3. As I (walk) in the graveyard last night, I (see)
a ghost.
4. While I (sit) at a bank, someone (cover) my
eyes.
5. When I (see) the boys, they (play) on the
grass.
6. I (put) on my dress and (go) to open the
door.
7. When I (go) in, she (lie) on the floor.
8. She (work) in a hotel when she first (meet)
her husband.
9. She (wait) for them when they (arrive) at the airport.
Answer the questions as in the example.
1. A: Were you doing your homework at 10 last night? (play the piano)
B: No, I wasnt. I was playing the piano.
2. A: Was Jane sleeping when the doorbell rang? (cook dinner)
B:
3. A: Were they flying to Spain when their plane crashed. (Germany)
B:
4. Was Lucy climbigng a tree when she fell? (a ladder)
B:
5. A: Did Jim say hello when he saw the shark? (get out of the water)
B:
6. A:Were you coming home when you lost your purse? (shop at a
supermarket)
B:
www.detailenglish.com

7. A: Were Simon and Judy working at the shop when someone threatened
them with a gun? (walk in a dark street)
B:
8. A: Were you dancing when you stepped on your girlfriends toes? (walk)
B:
Answer the following questions. Use the past continuous or the past
simple form of the verbs in parentheses.
A: What were you doing when the earthquake started?
B: I (cut) was cuttingsome bread.
1. A: What did you do when the earthquake started?
B: I (run) out of the building.
2 A: What were you doing when the phone rang?
B: I (have) a shower.
3 A: what was happening when she shouted loudly?
B: The baby (sleep) in her bed.
4 A: What were they doing when some rocks fell on their heads?
B: They (dig) a tunnel.
5 A: Where was your sister living when you visited her?
B: She (live) in Germany.
A) Fill in the blanks with a correct form of PAST CONTINUOUS:
1.Alice hurt herself while she (skate).
2.I met my neighbor while I (walk) home from work.
3.Sally saw a friend while she (ride) her bicycle along Park St.
4.Peter fell asleep while he (study).
5.Bob stepped on Janes feet while they (dance) together.
6.I cut myself while I . (shave).
7.Mr. and Mrs. Brown burned themselves while they
... (bake) cookies.
8.Tommy had a nightmare while he (sleep) at a friends house.
B) How did it happen?
1.How did Alice hurt herself? (play soccer)
She hurt herself while she was playing soccer.
2.How did Martin burn himself? (iron his clothes)

3. How did Helen cut herself? (slice onions)

4.How did Jennifer meet her husband? (fix a flat tire)

5. How did Marvin break his arm? (skate)

6.How did you lose your wallet? (ride my bicycle)

7.How did Jeff meet his wife? (swim at the beach)

8.How did Bob get a black eye? (fight with his brother)

9.How did your children burn themselves? (make breakfast)

10.How did Martha fall? (dance)

Complete the sentences with the words in parentheses using the

SIMPLE PAST or the PAST PROGRESSIVE:
1.Sally (eat) dinner last night when someone
..(knock) on the door.
2.I began to study at seven last night. Fred
(come) at seven-thirty. I (study) when Fred
.. (come).
3.While I . (study) last night, Fred
(drop by) to visit me.
4. My roommates parents . (call) him last
night while we.. (watch) TV.
5.My mother called me around five. My husband came home a little after
five. When he.. (come) home, I
.. (talk) tomy mother on the phone.
6.Yesterday Tom and Janice (go) to the zoo around
one. They (see) many kinds of animals. They stayed
at the zoo for two hours. While they (walk)
home, it ... (begin)
to rain, so they .. (stop) at a small caf and
(have) a cup of coffee.
7.Yesterday afternoon I (go) to visit the Parker
family. When I.. (get) there around two oclock, Mrs.
Parker .. (be)in the yard. She
(plant) flowers in her garden. Mr. Parker
.. (be) in the garage. He (work)
on their car. He .. (change) the oil.