Past continuous tense – English Grammar Test for A2
Grammar » Grammar Test for A2 » Past continuous tense - English Grammar Test for A2
Part A – Affirmative & Negative Sentences
1 She ___ (cook) dinner when I arrived.
(a) was cooking
(b) were cooking
(c) cooked
2 They ___ (not/play) football at 7 p.m. yesterday.
(a) weren’t playing
(b) wasn’t playing
(c) didn’t play
3 I ___ (not/watch) TV at 10 last night.
(a) wasn’t watching
(b) weren’t watching
(c) didn’t watch
4 My father ___ (read) a newspaper while my mother ___ (cook).
(a) read / cooked
(b) was reading / was cooking
(c) were reading / cooked
5 The dog ___ (not/run) in the yard when I saw it.
(a) wasn’t running
(b) weren’t running
(c) didn’t run
Part B – Yes/No & Wh-Questions
6 ___ she wearing a red dress at the party?
(a) Was
(b) Were
(c) Did
7 What ___ you doing when the phone rang?
(a) was
(b) were
(c) did
8 Where ___ they sitting yesterday afternoon?
(a) was
(b) were
(c) did
9 Who ___ he talking to when you saw him?
(a) was
(b) were
(c) did
10 ___ the children playing outside when it started raining?
(a) Was
(b) Were
(c) Did
Part C – Past Continuous vs. Past Simple (Contrast)
11 I ___ (walk) home when it suddenly ___ (start) to rain.
(a) was walking / started
(b) walked / was starting
(c) was walking / was starting
12 They ___ (study) in the library when the fire alarm ___ (go) off.
(a) were studying / went
(b) studied / was going
(c) were studying / was going
13 While she ___ (drive), she ___ (see) an accident.
(a) drove / was seeing
(b) was driving / saw
(c) was driving / was seeing
14 The teacher ___ (explain) the lesson when the bell ___ (ring).
(a) was explaining / rang
(b) explained / was ringing
(c) was explaining / was ringing
15 We ___ (eat) dinner when the lights ___ (go) out.
(a) ate / was going
(b) were eating / went
(c) were eating / was going
Part D – Short Dialogues (Gap-fill)
16
A: What ___ you ___ (do) at 9 last night?
B: I ___ (read) a book.
(a) were / doing – was reading
(b) was / doing – were reading
(c) did / do – read
17
A: ___ she ___ (talk) on the phone when you saw her?
B: Yes, she ___ (talk) to her friend.
(a) Was / talking – was talking
(b) Were / talking – were talking
(c) Did / talk – talked
18
A: Where ___ they ___ (go) when you met them?
B: They ___ (walk) to school.
(a) were / going – were walking
(b) was / going – was walking
(c) did / go – went
19
A: Who ___ your brother ___ (play) with yesterday afternoon?
B: He ___ (play) with his classmates.
(a) was / playing – was playing
(b) were / playing – were playing
(c) did / play – played
20
A: ___ you ___ (watch) TV when I called?
B: No, I ___ (listen) to music.
(a) Were / watching – was listening
(b) Was / watching – were listening
(c) Did / watch – listened
Part E – Reading Comprehension
Last Sunday afternoon, my family was busy. My mother was baking a cake in the kitchen, and my father was repairing the bike in the garage. My sister was listening to music in her room while I was studying English in the living room. The dog was running in the garden, and the cat was sleeping on the sofa. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. My mother went to open the door while the rest of us were waiting curiously.
21 What was the mother doing before the doorbell rang?
(a) She was baking a cake.
(b) She was cleaning the house.
(c) She was reading a book.
22 Where was the father?
(a) In the kitchen
(b) In the garage
(c) In the garden
23 What was the sister doing?
(a) Reading
(b) Listening to music
(c) Talking on the phone
24 What was the narrator doing?
(a) Studying English
(b) Cooking
(c) Sleeping
25 Where was the dog?
(a) In the house
(b) In the garden
(c) On the sofa
26 Where was the cat?
(a) On the sofa
(b) In the garden
(c) On the table
27 What suddenly happened?
(a) The phone rang.
(b) The doorbell rang.
(c) The lights went out.
28 Who opened the door?
(a) The father
(b) The mother
(c) The narrator
29 What were the others doing while the mother opened the door?
(a) Watching TV
(b) Waiting curiously
(c) Talking loudly
30 Which tense is mainly used in the passage?
(a) Past Simple
(b) Present Continuous
(c) Past Continuous
Answer
1 (a) was cooking – Past Continuous for ongoing action.
2 (a) weren’t playing – Negative plural.
3 (a) wasn’t watching – Negative singular “I.”
4 (b) was reading / was cooking – Two actions in progress.
5 (a) wasn’t running – Negative singular subject.
6 (a) Was – Correct question form.
7 (b) were – What were you doing?
8 (b) were – Plural subject “they.”
9 (a) was – Singular subject “he.”
10 (b) Were – Plural subject “children.”
11 (a) was walking / started – Long action + short action.
12 (a) were studying / went – Interrupted action.
13 (b) was driving / saw – Background + completed action.
14 (a) was explaining / rang – Ongoing + sudden action.
15 (b) were eating / went – Interrupted continuous action.
16 (a) were / doing – was reading – Correct pair.
17 (a) Was / talking – was talking – Singular subject.
18 (a) were / going – were walking – Plural subject.
19 (a) was / playing – was playing – Singular subject “brother.”
20 (a) Were / watching – was listening – Negative + alternative action.
21 (a) She was baking a cake – Stated in the passage.
22 (b) In the garage – Father’s location.
23 (b) Listening to music – Sister’s activity.
24 (a) Studying English – Narrator’s action.
25 (b) In the garden – Dog’s location.
26 (a) On the sofa – Cat’s location.
27 (b) The doorbell rang – Sudden event.
28 (b) The mother – She opened the door.
29 (b) Waiting curiously – Reaction of others.
30 (c) Past Continuous – Main tense of the passage.