Past Tense Continuous

-Exercises-
1) Put the verbs in brackets into simple past or past continuous
as appropriate. (In some cases either form can be used, but the meaning will
be different):

1. While I (wait) for the bus, the rain (stop).

2. When I (meet) Alice she (live) in the country.
3. We (write) in our notebooks while the teacher (talk).
4. We (talk) about you when you (come) into the room.
5. The Burtons (lock) their house while they (be) away.
6. When Martha (finish) her homework she (help) her mother with her
housework.
7. The girls (wait0 while the boys (buy) tickets.
8. Alice (work) as a hotel receptionist, when I first (meet) her.
9. While Margaret (watch) TV, the milk (boil) over.
10.As I (cross) the road a lorry (knock) me down and (break) my leg.
11. Mr. Grant (sit) in the yard while his wife (cook) dinner. Then he (go )
into the house and (have) dinner with his family
12. As I (walk) to school yesterday, I (see) an accident.
13. He (open) the door, (look) out but (not see) anyone there.
14. What you (do) when the rain (start)?
15.When I (arrived) at the cinema Mary ( wait) for me. She (wear) a blue
dress and (look) very pretty.

2) Use the prompts bellow to make questions and short answers in the past
continuous.
Example: 1. you/ have breakfast/ at 8 o’clock yesterday
Dan: Were you having breakfast at 8 o’clock yesterday?
Robert: Yes, I was. / No, I wasn’t.

2. teacher/ give you/ a test/ this time last week

Flori: Was your teacher giving you a test at this time last week?
Corina: Yes, she was. / No, she wasn’t.

1. you/ do homework/ at this time yesterday

2. your neighbours/ watch TV/ at 9 o’clock last night
3. you/ sleep/ at 10 o’clock last night
4. your classmates/ sing/ when the Maths teacher came in
5. you/ walk home/ at 2 o’clock yesterday
6. you/ swim in the sea/ this time last year
7. your parents/ live in the town/ when you were born
8. you/ listen to music/ at 6 o’clock yesterday morning
9. you/ play football/ at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon
10. you/ write on the blackboard/ at this time yesterday