Past continuous tense – English Grammar Test for A2
Grammar » Grammar Test for A2 » Past continuous tense - English Grammar Test for A2
(a) was cooking
(b) were cooking
(c) cooked
2 At 10 p.m. last night, my parents ___ (watch) the news on TV.
(a) was watching
(b) were watching
(c) watched
3 While we ___ (study) in the library, our friends were chatting outside.
(a) was studying
(b) were studying
(c) studied
4 I ___ (talk) to my neighbor when the postman arrived.
(a) was talking
(b) were talking
(c) talked
5 At that time, my little brother ___ (play) with his toys in the living room.
(a) was playing
(b) were playing
(c) played
6 While she ___ (drive) to work, she was listening to the radio.
(a) was driving
(b) were driving
(c) drove
7 We ___ (have) lunch at a restaurant when it started to rain.
(a) was having
(b) were having
(c) had
8 The students ___ (take) notes while the teacher was explaining the lesson.
(a) was taking
(b) were taking
(c) took
9 While I ___ (wait) for the bus, I met an old friend.
(a) was waiting
(b) were waiting
(c) waited
10 At 7 o’clock yesterday morning, my father ___ (read) the newspaper.
(a) was reading
(b) were reading
(c) read
11 She ___ (talk) on the phone when I entered the room.
(a) was talking
(b) were talking
(c) talked
12 My friends ___ (play) basketball while I was sitting in the stands.
(a) was playing
(b) were playing
(c) played
13 At that moment, the baby ___ (cry) in her crib.
(a) was crying
(b) were crying
(c) cried
14 While we ___ (walk) home, it suddenly got dark.
(a) was walking
(b) were walking
(c) walked
15 I ___ (check) my emails when the electricity went out.
(a) was checking
(b) were checking
(c) checked
16 She ___ (clean) the kitchen while her husband was fixing the car.
(a) was cleaning
(b) were cleaning
(c) cleaned
17 At 5 p.m. yesterday, they ___ (sit) in the café and drinking coffee.
(a) was sitting
(b) were sitting
(c) sat
18 I ___ (write) in my diary when the phone rang.
(a) was writing
(b) were writing
(c) wrote
19 While the children ___ (play) in the park, their parents were talking.
(a) was playing
(b) were playing
(c) played
20 My teacher ___ (explain) the rules when the fire alarm went off.
(a) was explaining
(b) were explaining
(c) explained
21 Yesterday at this time, I ___ (wait) in the dentist’s office.
(a) was waiting
(b) were waiting
(c) waited
22 While we ___ (have) dinner, the lights suddenly went off.
(a) was having
(b) were having
(c) had
23 At 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, the workers ___ (fix) the road.
(a) was fixing
(b) were fixing
(c) fixed
24 He ___ (read) a novel while she was watching TV.
(a) was reading
(b) were reading
(c) read
25 While I ___ (shop) in the supermarket, I saw my classmate.
(a) was shopping
(b) were shopping
(c) shopped
26 The children ___ (laugh) loudly when the clown appeared.
(a) was laughing
(b) were laughing
(c) laughed
27 I ___ (listen) to music when you called me yesterday.
(a) was listening
(b) were listening
(c) listened
28 They ___ (swim) in the pool while their mother was reading a book.
(a) was swimming
(b) were swimming
(c) swam
29 At midnight, we ___ (walk) home from the party.
(a) was walking
(b) were walking
(c) walked
30 While she ___ (paint) the wall, her brother was fixing the window.
(a) was painting
(b) were painting
(c) painted
Answer
1 (a) was cooking – Singular subject “I” + continuous background action.
2 (b) were watching – Plural subject “parents.”
3 (b) were studying – Ongoing parallel action.
4 (a) was talking – Singular subject “I.”
5 (a) was playing – Continuous action at that time.
6 (a) was driving – Background action with while.
7 (b) were having – Plural subject “we” → were having.
8 (b) were taking – Plural subject “students.”
9 (a) was waiting – Continuous action interrupted.
10 (a) was reading – Action at a specific past time.
11 (a) was talking – Ongoing action when interrupted.
12 (b) were playing – Plural subject “friends.”
13 (a) was crying – Singular subject “baby.”
14 (b) were walking – Plural subject “we.”
15 (a) was checking – Ongoing action interrupted.
16 (a) was cleaning – Continuous action in the past.
17 (b) were sitting – Plural subject “they.”
18 (a) was writing – Singular subject “I.”
19 (b) were playing – Plural subject “children.”
20 (a) was explaining – Interrupted continuous action.
21 (a) was waiting – Action at a specific past time.
22 (b) were having – Ongoing action + Past Simple interruption.
23 (b) were fixing – Plural subject “workers.”
24 (a) was reading – Singular subject “he.”
25 (a) was shopping – Ongoing action interrupted.
26 (b) were laughing – Plural subject “children.”
27 (a) was listening – Singular subject “I.”
28 (b) were swimming – Plural subject “they.”
29 (b) were walking – Plural subject “we.”
30 (a) was painting – Singular subject “she.”