Past Continuous Tense. English grammar with exercises. English ESL Worksheets. Free eBook and Free printable PDF
Past Continuous Tense
Past Continuous Tense
Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous is made from the past tense of the verb be and the –ing form of a verb:
| I was You were He was She was It was We were You were They were | working playing living talking etc. |
When to use the Past Continuous
We use the past continuous to talk about the past:
– for something that happened before and after another action:
The children were doing their homework when I got home.
This use of the past continuous is very common at the beginning of a story:
The other day I was waiting for a bus when …
Last week, as I was driving to work, …– for something that happened before and after a specific time:
It was eight o’clock. I was writing a letter.
– to show that something continued for some time:
My head was aching.
Everyone was shouting.– for something that happened again and again:
I was practising every day, three times a day.
They were meeting secretly after school.
They were always quarrelling.– with verbs which show change or growth:
The children were growing up quickly.
Her English was improving.
My hair was going grey.
The town was changing quickly.We do not normally use the past continuous with stative verbs.We use the past simple instead:
When I got home, I really needed (NOT
was needing) a shower.
Past Continuous Tense: exercises
EXERCISE 1.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
e.g. Yesterday at 4:00 p m the inspector was looking for (to look for) the murderer.
When I ______________________ (to look through) the magazine I found an interesting article.
When I _______________________(to look at) the departure board, the train arrived.
Mary _____________________ (to not feel) very well yesterday.
When the team of archaeologists ________________(to investigate) they found a mummy.
Last night when I knelt on the floor, I (to ask Kathy to marry) _________________ me.
EXERCISE 2.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
e.g. Inspector: “What were you doing on 17th May at 9:00 a.m.?
Mr. Smith: “I_____________ (to drive) my lorry I that day, I am a truck driver”
Inspector: “Where were you on the night of the crime?”
Mr. Smith : “ I _________________(to have dinner) with my family.”
Inspector: “And, what about yesterday at 6:00 p.m.? “
Mr. Smith: “I_______________ (to ride) my bicycle”.
Inspector: “ Well! This morning we ___________________(to look) for clues at the scene of the crime and we found your fingerprints all over the place!”
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