The past continuous is used to indicate that something happened over a period of time. This verb form is used to show that happened before now and can still be going on at this time. They are used with active action words in the form of past participles ending in "-ing". They are used with "be" verbs. To form the past continuous, use the past tense of the "be verb (was/were) + verb + -ing".
To discuss things that happened in the past.
To discuss something that happened in the middle of something else.
To discuss something that continued to happen for a longer period of time.
The negative past continuous tells about things that did not happen. To make the negative present continuous, use "be verb + not + present participle".
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
1) He __________ a newspaper this morning
a. was reading
b. were reading
2) We __________ pizza last night
a. was eating
b. were eating
3) He __________ the dishes when the phone rang
a. is washing
b. was washing
4) They __________ TV while their mother cooked in the kitchen
a. were watching
b. was watching
5) They __________ for a test all night long
a. were studying
b. were studied
6) She __________ the presents while the kids slept
a. were wrapping
b. was wrapping
7) The dog __________ on the field during the soccer game.
a. was running
b. is running
8) I __________ dinner when my husband brought home Chinese food
a. was making
b. am making
Directions: Choose the correct answer.
1) They __________ in an apartment during college.
a. was living
b. were living
2) She __________ the bus for a week.
a. was riding
b. were riding
3) He __________ the bushes before they grew too big.
a. was trimming
b. were trimming
4) They __________ balloons off the balcony during the party.
a. was dropping
b. were dropping
5) She __________ attention in class.
a. was not paying
b. were not paying
6) They __________ their bikes to school.
a. was not riding
b. were not riding
7) We __________ the movie when someone knocked on the door.
a. was starting
b. were starting
8) He __________ the class until he got a tutor.
a. was failing
b. were failing
Quiz 1 Answers
1) a. was reading
2) b. were eating
3) b. was washing
4) a. were watching
5) a. were studying
6) b. was wrapping
7) a. was running
8) a. was making
Quiz 2 Answers
1) b. were living
2) a. was riding
3) a. was trimming
4) b. were dropping
5) a. was not paying
6) b. were not riding
7) b. were starting
8) a. was failing
