Past simple and past continuous – English Grammar Test for A2
Grammar » Grammar Test for A2 » Past simple and past continuous - English Grammar Test for A2
(a) did / do
(b) were / doing
(c) do / do
2 Where … she … (go) last weekend?
(a) did / go
(b) was / going
(c) does / go
3 Who … you … (talk) to when I saw you?
(a) did / talk
(b) were / talking
(c) was / talking
4 When … they … (arrive) at the party?
(a) did / arrive
(b) were / arriving
(c) do / arrive
5 What … he … (read) while you were waiting?
(a) did / read
(b) was / reading
(c) were / reading
6 Why … she … (cry) yesterday?
(a) did / cry
(b) was / crying
(c) does / cry
7 What … you … (watch) when the lights went out?
(a) did / watch
(b) were / watching
(c) was / watching
8 Who … she … (meet) at the café yesterday?
(a) did / meet
(b) was / meeting
(c) does / meet
9 Where … they … (sit) when you saw them?
(a) did / sit
(b) were / sitting
(c) was / sitting
10 What … he … (say) when the teacher came in?
(a) did / say
(b) was / saying
(c) does / say
11 When … you … (finish) your homework?
(a) did / finish
(b) were / finishing
(c) do / finish
12 Who … they … (talk) to while the teacher was writing?
(a) did / talk
(b) were / talking
(c) was / talking
13 What … she … (do) when the phone rang?
(a) did / do
(b) was / doing
(c) does / do
14 Where … he … (live) last year?
(a) did / live
(b) was / living
(c) does / live
15 Why … you … (laugh) so loudly yesterday?
(a) did / laugh
(b) were / laughing
(c) do / laugh
16 What … they … (play) when it started to rain?
(a) did / play
(b) were / playing
17 Who … she … (help) yesterday morning?
(a) did / help
(b) was / helping
(c) does / help
18 When … he … (call) you?
(a) did / call
(b) was / calling
(c) does / call
19 Where … you … (go) when I met you?
(a) did / go
(b) were / going
(c) was / going
20 What … they … (eat) when the alarm rang?
(a) did / eat
(b) were / eating
(c) was / eating
21 Why … she … (leave) the party early?
(a) did / leave
(b) was / leaving
(c) does / leave
22 What … you … (write) when the teacher looked at you?
(a) did / write
(b) were / writing
(c) was / writing
23 Who … they … (see) at the park yesterday?
(a) did / see
(b) were / seeing
(c) does / see
24 When … she … (arrive) home yesterday?
(a) did / arrive
(b) was / arriving
(c) does / arrive
25 What … he … (do) while you were cooking?
(a) did / do
(b) was / doing
(c) were / doing
26 Where … the children … (play) when you found them?
(a) did / play
(b) were / playing
(c) was / playing
27 What … you … (say) when he interrupted?
(a) did / say
(b) were / saying
28 Who … she … (phone) last night?
(a) did / phone
(b) was / phoning
(c) does / phone
29 Why … they … (shout) when the teacher came in?
(a) did / shout
(b) were / shouting
(c) does / shout
30 What … you … (wear) when it started to rain?
(a) did / wear
(b) were / wearing
(c) was / wearing
Answer
1 (b) were / doing – Ongoing action with “when”.
2 (a) did / go – Past Simple for completed action “last weekend”.
3 (b) were / talking – Past Continuous background action.
4 (a) did / arrive – Completed event in the past.
5 (b) was / reading – Ongoing background action.
6 (a) did / cry – Completed event yesterday.
7 (b) were / watching – Past Continuous for interrupted action.
8 (a) did / meet – Past Simple for specific event.
9 (b) were / sitting – Past Continuous for scene description.
10 (b) was / saying – Ongoing speech interrupted.
11 (a) did / finish – Completed action in the past.
12 (b) were / talking – Ongoing background action.
13 (b) was / doing – Past Continuous interrupted by “rang”.
14 (a) did / live – Completed state in the past.
15 (a) did / laugh – Single event in the past.
16 (b) were / playing – Ongoing action interrupted.
17 (a) did / help – Specific completed action.
18 (a) did / call – Completed event.
19 (b) were / going – Action in progress at that moment.
20 (b) were / eating – Ongoing action when another happened.
21 (a) did / leave – Completed past event.
22 (b) were / writing – Ongoing action interrupted.
23 (a) did / see – Specific completed action.
24 (a) did / arrive – Finished action in the past.
25 (b) was / doing – Background action.
26 (b) were / playing – Ongoing activity when found.
27 (b) were / saying – Ongoing action when interrupted.
28 (a) did / phone – Completed action last night.
29 (b) were / shouting – Ongoing action when another event happened.
30 (b) were / wearing – Ongoing background action.