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ESL / EFL RESOURCES Past Continuous Interactive Worksheet

The past continuous tense is used to talk about a continuing action that was happening
in the past. It can also be used to talk about a continuing past action that was
interrupted by a shorter past simple action, or for a repeated or annoying past action.

The past continuous structure: was/were + verb-ing

Example: At 4 o'clock, I was waiting for a taxi.

A. Fill in the gaps with the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

1. He .................................. (cook) dinner when somebody knocked on the door.

2. She .................................. (laugh) for a long time.

3. They .................................. (travel) to the party when the storm hit.

4. She .................................. (talk) on the phone when she tripped over.

5. It .................................. (rain) all day.

6. They .................................. (play) football for two hours.

7. He .................................. (fall) asleep in class at least once a week.

8. The group of friends .................................. (plan) a holiday together.

9. He .................................. (always run) away from the ball instead of towards it!

10. I .................................. (watch) TV when my phone rang.

11. My family .................................. (live) in Switzerland last year.

12. They .................................. (constantly chat) throughout the movie.

13. We .................................. (sunbathe) on the beach when a huge wave came.

14. He .................................. (throw) snowballs at her face so she ran away.

15. Lin .................................. (jog) around the lake yesterday afternoon.

16. I .................................. (sleep) until the dog's barking woke me up.

B. Sort the above sentences 1 to 16 into the correct category.

A continuing action that was A continuing past action that A repeated or annoying past
happening in the past was interrupted action

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 PAST CONTINUOUS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Past Continuous Interactive Worksheet

C. Complete the sentences with the past simple or past continuous form of the verbs
in brackets.

1. When I .............................. (arrive), the teacher .............................. (take) attendance.

2. I .............................. (run) down the stairs when I .............................. (twist) my ankle.

3. They .............................. (always tease) me when I .............................. (come) to class.

4. He .............................. (not reply) to the message because he .............................. (drive).

5. My previous flatmate .............................. (constantly play) loud music.

6. She .............................. (shop) when I .............................. (see) her.

7. Tom .............................. (watch) TV until he .............................. (fall) asleep.

8. She .............................. (ride) her bike really fast when she .............................. (crash).

9. They .............................. (not listen) when the lady .............................. (say) hello.

10. When I .............................. (meet) him, he .............................. (work) in a restaurant.

11. He .............................. (take) a bath when the power .............................. (go) off.

12. She .............................. (walk) in the park when she .............................. (drop) her keys.

D. Match the past continuous sentences and sentence halves together.

1. What were you doing yesterday? ...... a. his cat died.

2. We were rowing the boat ...... b. which he got in the end.

3. He was hoping for a good result ...... c. I was working all day.

4. They were waiting at the station ...... d. said that the pipes were leaking.

5. We were having a great time at the party ...... e. when we hit a rock.

6. He was crying because ...... f. when our train pulled in.

7. I wasn't shouting. ...... g. I was talking to my professor.

8. Why were you running? ...... h. until the police arrived.

9. He wasn't performing well ...... i. I was going to be late.

10. That person was staring ...... j. because he had a cold.

11. We called the plumber and he ...... k. I was talking loudly.

12. Who were you talking to? ...... l. at me.

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