Present and past continuous exercises. Training exercises in English on the use of grammatical tenses Past Simple and Past Continuous. VI. Past Continuous exercises: test

1. She (to cook) yesterday.

2. She (to cook) at three o"clock yesterday.

3. She (to cook) from two till four yesterday.

4. I (not to read) at five o"clock.

5. I (not to read) when you came in.

6. What did he (to do) when I came?

7. What did he (to do) the whole day yesterday?

8. Pete (to water) flowers in the garden yesterday.

9. Pete (to water) flowers in the garden at five o"clock yesterday.

10. What Pete (to do) when I came to see him?

1. When my father (to come) home, I (to have) dinner.

2. When Alice (to return), I (to listen) to the radio.

3. When mother (to enter) his room, he (to draw) a picture.

4. When my sister (to come in), I (to do) my lessons.

5. When her aunt (to air) the room, she (to catch) cold.

6. When I (to meet) her, she (to go) to the office.

7. He (to wash) his face when somebody (to knock) at the door.

8. The young people (to dance) when I (to come) to the party.

9. When he (to wash) the dishes, he (to break) a plate.

10. What they (to do) when you (to see) them?

1. Not (not to open) the window before classes yesterday.

2. I (to hurry) to the library when I (to meet) him.

3. She (to translate) a lot of articles at the office last week.

4. We (to smoke) in the room when he (to see) us.

5. We (to pack) our things when our taxi (to come).

6. The day before yesterday he (to finish) his work at seven o"clock.

7. What did he (to do) ten years ago? – He (to study) at school.

8. Yesterday I (to ask) my friend not to ring me.

9. My father (to write) a very interesting article last month.

10. She (to come) home at eleven o"clock that"s why she (not to call) you.

1. Why are you (to be) angry with me yesterday? – I (not to be).

2. Where you (to be) last night? – We (to be) at the theater.

3. When I (to come) to the bus stop, I (to see) a boy who (to play) with a dog.

4. It (to be) eleven o"clock, when I (to decide) to go to bed.

5. What time did they (to have) dinner yesterday? – They (to have) dinner from seven till eight.

6. When she (to see) him a year ago she (not to recognize) him.

7. I (to be) very busy yesterday. I (to prepare) for my exam the whole day.

8. My brother (to wash) the dishes while I (to sweep) the floor.

9. Why you (not to see) a doctor yesterday?

10. It (to rain) heavily when he (to go) out.

Answers

1. Open the brackets using verbs in the Past Simple or Past Continuous form.

4. I was not (=wasn"t) reading…

5. I was not (=wasn"t) reading…

6. What was he doing when I came in?

7. What was he doing...?

10. What was Pete doing...?

2. Open the brackets using verbs in the Past Simple or Past Continuous form.

1.came; was having

2. returned; was listening

3. entered; was drawing

4. came in; was doing

5. was airing; caught

6. met; was going

7. was washing; knocked

8. were dancing; came

9. was washing; broke

10. What were they doing when you saw them?

3. Open the brackets using verbs in the Past Simple or Past Continuous form.

1. did not (=didn’t) open

2. was hurrying; met

4. were smoking; saw

5. were packing; came

7. What did he do...? – Not studied...

10. came; did not (=didn’t) call you

4. Open the brackets using verbs in the Past Simple or Past Continuous form.

1. Why were you...? – I wasn’t (wasn’t).

2. Where were you...? – We were...

3.came; saw; was playing

5. What time did they have dinner...? – They were having...

6. saw; did not (=didn’t) recognize

7. was; was preparing

8 was washing; was sweeping

9. Why didn’t you see a doctor yesterday?

Today you and I will work hard Past Continuous, but first repeat if you need to.

Exercise 1. Open the brackets by putting the verbs in the Past Continuous form.

1. While I ___________ (to copy) the exercise, my friends __________ (to describe) a picture.
2. When we came in, the children __________ (to clean) their desks.
3. We met her at the bus stop. She ___________ (to wait) for the bus.
4. Some of the children ________ (to ski) while other children ___________ (to skate). Everybody __________ (to have) a lot of fun.
5. When we came the family ________ (to get) everything ready for Christmas. Bob and Helen _________ (to decorate) the Christmas tree.
6. The girls _________ (to feed) the birds in the garden while the boys _______ (to make) a bird-house.

Exercise 2. Read the text, translate. Underline the verbs in the Past Continuous form. Answer the question:

Who broke the window?

At 7 o’clock the match started on TV, so Dad was still watching it at 7.30. Mum was sitting in the kitchen. She was quietly reading a woman’s magazine. Rosie was trying on her Mum’s clothes in her room. Nick’s cousins ​​were listening to rock music. It was very loud so they didn’t hear the crash. At 7.30 the dogs were lying in front of the fire and they were sleeping. Nick went into the garden with his friend to play football. So at 7.30 he was still there.

Exercise 3. Complete sentences on the content of the text of the previous exercise, using verbs in the Past Continuous.

1. When someone broke the window Dad _________________

2. When Mum heard the crash she ___________________

3. The cousins ​​didn’t hear the noise because they ____________________

4. The dogs when the noise woke them up. ______________

5. At 7.30 Nick ________________

Exercise 4. Give short and complete answers to questions in the Past Continuous.

Were you going to the cinema at 7 o’clock?

Yes, I was. I was going to the cinema.

No, I wasn't. I wasn’t going to the cinema.

1. Were you having dinner at 2 o’clock?
2. Was your friend sitting in the yard when you saw him?
3. Was your mother cooking when you came home?
4. Was your sister reading when you called her?
5. Were the children sitting at their desks when you entered the classroom?
6. Were the little children running along the corridor when the lesson began?
7. Were you doing your homework at 7 o’clock last night?
8. Was your father working in the garden when you asked him to dinner?

Exercise 5: Ask questions about the sentences using the words and phrases in brackets. Answer the questions.

After the lesson Victor was explaining the new rule, (to you)

Was Victor explaining the new rule to you?

Yes, he was. He was explaining the new rule to me.

The children were decorating their classroom. (when)

When were they decorating the classroom?

They were decorating it after the lessons.

1. When I went into the yard, the boys were playing, (football)
2. When we were playing, Bob was shouting. (loudly)
3. I met Victor in the street. He was running quickly, (where)
4. The weather was fine, the sun was shining, (all day)
5. Nick was watching his little sister in the garden. (why)
6. His sister was helping him to pack his things when I came, (what things)
7. They were cooking dinner at that time, (with whom)
8. I was waiting for him at 3 o’clock yesterday. (where)
9. He was looking for something when I came in. (what)
10. They were laughing when I entered the classroom. (why)

Exercise 6. Ask your friends what they were doing last Saturday at 10 am. Use the following words and expressions:

To watch, to listen to, to carry, to look at, to wait for, to explain something to somebody, to work, to sit, to play.

Exercise 7. Insert appropriate verbs in the Past Continuous form.

play swim feed sleep laugh

Yesterday we went to the zoo and saw there a lot of animals. First we went to see the white bears. They __________. Then we went to the cage with monkeys. There were a lot of children in front of the cage. They ___________ because a monkey in the cage ____________. After that we went to see the elephant. There was a man there. He ____________the elephant. But we___________ see much of the lions. They _______________.

Exercise 8. From the available words, make up questions for the ready-made answers. All questions must be in the Past Continuous.

1. Where | the white bears | swimming | were ?

In the swimming pool.

2. It | was | raining?

Oh, no. It wasn't. The sun was shining brightly.

3. The elephant | what | eating | was ?

Some grass and fruit.

4. What | was | playing with | the monkey?

- With a small ball.

5. Were | how many lions | sleeping in the cage?

- Both of them.

Exercise 9. Complete the questions and answers with verbs in the Past Continous.

—Mr. Rambler, what _______ you ______ (do) at 6.30?

- Oh, I ____________ (read) at that time in my room.

— Were you? _____________ you really ___________ (read)? What __________ you ________ (read) at that time?

— Did your friends see you then?

- No, they didn’t. They _______________ (watch TV).

- What ________ they ____________ (watch)?

— Some film. But why?

— Some people saw a man who ___________ (try) to kill an elephant at that time. We think it was you.

Exercise 10. Make up questions in the Past Continuous. Use question words in brackets.

1. Were you watching TV at 11 o’clock last night? (when)

2. We were speaking about books at the lesson. (what, where)

3. After school they were practicing a new game. (alternative)

4. When I came, Nick was cleaning his room, (what)

5. He was returning to his camp with a pail of water. (where?)

1. Open the brackets using verbs in the Past Continuous form

1. Around me people (to talk) German, Italian and English.

2. Robert (to talk) to some of the other guests on the terrace when Hardy came.

3. Michael (to look) at his watch.

4. All night long the stars (to glitter).

5. Lizzie (to eat) and didn’t raise her head.

6. He drank some of the wine and ate several chunks of bread while he (to wait) for his dinner to come up.

7. The family (to prepare) for the party.

8. She (to argue) that only Belinda knew how to treat men.

9. A few minutes later Dixon (to hurry) through the streets to his bus stop.

10. They moved across the room, which (to start) to fill up, to a vacant corner.

1. They (to write) the test at this time yesterday.

2. He (to work) in the garden from two till five o"clock.

3. We (to watch) television the whole evening.

4. You (to play) football at six o'clock?

5. You (to drink) tea at seven o'clock?

6. He (to draw) from three till four o"clock?

7. Who (to listen) to the radio at this time?

8. It (to rain) the whole day yesterday?

9. They (to skate) at three o'clock?

10. She (not to help) mother about the house from two till six.

3. Write what Mrs. Taylor was doing at a certain time.

N - r: Mrs. Taylor was packing her bags at 6 a.m. (Mrs. Taylor was packing her bag at 6 a.m.)

6 a.m. pack her bags

7 a.m. drive to the airport

9 a.m. fly to Liverpool

noon have a business meeting

1 p.m. have lunch

2 p.m. check in at a hotel

3 p.m. talk to her boss on the phone

4 p.m. work on the Internet

4. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Continuous form. Translate the sentences.

I... (live) in Mexico in June, 2010.

When I entered the bathroom he…(shave).

When she met him, they… (work) for the same company.

What did you... (do) last night?

I showed him my new dress, but he...(not look) at it.

When it started to rain, they…(sit) on the grass.

Which hotel Anna… (stay) when she lost her credit card?

We... (sleep) when the phone rank.

Doctor Fleming discovered penicillin while he...(study) influenza.

Sam... (stand) under the tree because it...(rain).

When the teacher came into the classroom, the children …(run) and... (scream).

While Bob … (chop) the meat, his wife …(peel) potatoes.

When I arrived at the party, all the guests…(dance).

The waiter cut his finger while he … (pick up) the broken glasses.

What do you... (wear) when he met you?

5. Read the text and answer the questions.

Tom was sleeping in his bed when somebody stole his car. His wife was watching TV in the living-room. His mother, Mrs. Crown, was talking on the phone in her bedroom. His father, Mr. Crown, was playing cards with his neighbors. Tom’s son was listening to music with his headphones. And Tom’s daughter was taking a shower. The dog wasn't barking.

Was Tom sleeping?

What was his wife doing?

Was Mrs. Crown talking on the phone in Tom's bedroom?

Was Mr. Crown playing chess or cards?

What was Tom’s son listening to?

Tom’s daughter was taking a bath, wasn’t she?

Was the dog barking?

Answers

1. Open the brackets using verbs in the Past Continuous form.

1. Around me people were talking German, Italian and English.

2. Robert was talking to some of the other guests on the terrace when Hardy came.

3. Michael was looking at his watch.

4. All night long the stars were glittering.

5. Lizzie was eating and didn’t raise her head.

6. He drank some of the wine and ate several chunks of bread while he was waiting for his dinner to come up.

7. The family was preparing for the party.

8. She was arguing that only Belinda knew how to treat men.

9. A few minutes later Dixon was hurrying through the streets to his bus stop.

10. They moved across the room, which was starting to fill up, to a vacant corner.

2. Open the brackets using verbs in the Past Continuous form.

1.were writing

2. was working

3.were watching

4. Were you playing football...?

5. Were you drinking tea...?

6. Was he drawing...?

7. Who was listening...?

8. Was it raining...?

9. Were they skating...?

10. She was not (=wasn’t) helping

3.

Mrs. Taylor was driving to the airport at 7 a.m. ( Mrs. Taylorhalawa airport at 7 am.)

She was flying to Liverpool at 9 a.m. ( She flew to Liverpool at 9am.)

She was having a business meeting at noon.(She was at a business meeting at noon.)

She was having lunch at 1 p.m. ( She had lunch at one o'clock in the afternoon.)

She was checking in at a hotel at 2 p.m. ( She checked into the hotel at 2 o'clock.)

She was talking to her boss on the phone at 3 p.m. ( She talked to her boss on the phone at 3 o'clock.)

She was working in the Internet at 4 p.m. ( She worked on the Internet for 4 hours.)

4

was living (I lived in Mexico in June 2010)

was shaving (When I entered the bathroom, he was shaving.)

were working (When she met him, they worked in the same company.)

What were you doing last night?(What did you do last night?)

wasn’t looking (I showed him my new dress, but he didn’t look at it.)

were sitting (When it started to rain, they were sitting on the grass.)

Which hotel was Anna staying when she lost her credit card?(Which hotel was Anna staying in when she lost her credit card?)

were sleeping (We were sleeping when the phone rang.)

was studying (Dr. Fleming discovered penicillin while studying influenza.)

was standing – was raining (Sam stood under the tree because it was raining.)

were running and screaming (When the teacher entered the classroom, the children were running and screaming.)

was chopping – was peeling (While Bob was chopping meat, his wife was peeling potatoes.)

were dancing (When I arrived at the party, all the guests were dancing.)

was picking up (The waiter cut his finger while picking up broken glasses.)

What were you wearing when he met you?(What were you wearing when he met you?)

5

Yes, he was. He was sleeping. (Yes. He was sleeping.)

She was watching TV. (She was watching TV.)

No, she wasn't. She was talking on the phone in her bedroom.(No. She was talking on the phone in her bedroom.)

He was playing cards. (They played cards.)

He was listening to music. (He was listening to music.)

No, she wasn't. She was taking a shower.(No. She was taking a shower.)

No, it wasn't. The dog wasn't barking.(No. The dog did not bark.)

Use this exercise to review how the Past Continous is formed in the affirmative and negative form. Pay attention to verb forms.

Show answers with translation:

1. She was taking an English lesson at seven o’clock last evening (to take). She had an English lesson at seven o'clock last evening.
2. Hi Lucy! We were just talking about you (to talk). - Hello, Lucy! We were just talking about you.
3. Alfred was not singing,he was screaming(to sing, to scream). Alfred didn’t sing, he screamed.
4. I was talking to Michael when he asked me about my father (to talk). “I was talking to Michael when he asked me about my father.
5. The plane was taken off when a passenger felt sick (to take off). – The plane was taking off when the passenger became ill.
6. I was in the car at that time, but I was not driving(to drive). – I was in the car at the time, but I was not driving.
7. I'm sure that Ben was just kidding, he didn’t want to hurt you (to kid). “I'm sure Ben was just joking, he didn't want to hurt you.”
8. No, I was not sleeping when you gave me a call. - No, I was not sleeping when you called me.

Exercise 2: Past Continuous in interrogative form

In this exercise you need to insert the missing words in the correct form to construct interrogative sentences with the Past Continuous.

Show answers with translation:

1. What were you doing from six to seven o'clock last evening? (to do) - What did you do from six to seven last evening?
2. Were they working when did you come with inspection? (to work) - Was she working when you came to check?
3. Which star was shining brighter last night? (to shine) – Which star shone brighter last night?
4. What were you feeling? (to feel) - How did you feel?
5. Was she talking about me before I came in? (to talk) – Was she talking about me before I came in?

Exercise 3: Past Continuous or Past Simple

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb – or. Pay attention to the context, which will help you understand what verb tense is needed in each case.

Show answers with translation:

1. When I looked at the window, there was a group of people in the street. They were discussing something (to discuss). – When I looked out the window, there was a group of people on the street. They were discussing something.
2. While we were watching the movie I understood that I had already watched it (to watch, to understand). – While we were watching the film, I realized that I had already watched it.
3. Kelly was wearing her new dress, when Alan met her (to wear, to meet). – Kelly was wearing her new dress when Alan met her.
4. When I met you mother, children, she was reading a book in the park (to meet, to read). – When I met your mother, children, she was reading a book in the park.
5. Norman went to work every day. He didn't want to take days off (to go, not to want). Norman went to work every day. He didn't want to take days off.
6. We were talking about teacher, when she said, “ Were/Are you talking about be?” (to talk, to talk) - We were talking about our teacher when she said: “Are you talking about me?”

Exercise 4: Choose the correct answer

Choose the correct translation option from Russian to English. Pay attention to which verb tense is used.

Show correct answers:

1. I was listening to Helen when you interrupted her. – I was listening to Helen, when you interrupted her.

1. What did you do in the park this morning? – What were you doing in the park this morning?

1. Peter didn't read, he wrote a letter. – Peter wasn’t reading, he was writing a letter.

1. The man was breathing heavily after he stopped running. – The man was breathing heavily after he stopped running.

1. I was looking for a post office when someone offered to help me. – I was looking for a postal office when someone offered me help.

Exercise 5: Find errors in the text

There are several errors in the use of tenses in this short text. Try to find them all.

Show correct answers:

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Use this exercise to review how the Past Continous is formed in the affirmative and negative form. Pay attention to verb forms.

Show answers with translation:

1. She was taking an English lesson at seven o’clock last evening (to take). She had an English lesson at seven o'clock last evening.
2. Hi Lucy! We were just talking about you (to talk). - Hello, Lucy! We were just talking about you.
3. Alfred was not singing,he was screaming(to sing, to scream). Alfred didn’t sing, he screamed.
4. I was talking to Michael when he asked me about my father (to talk). “I was talking to Michael when he asked me about my father.
5. The plane was taken off when a passenger felt sick (to take off). – The plane was taking off when the passenger became ill.
6. I was in the car at that time, but I was not driving(to drive). – I was in the car at the time, but I was not driving.
7. I'm sure that Ben was just kidding, he didn’t want to hurt you (to kid). “I'm sure Ben was just joking, he didn't want to hurt you.”
8. No, I was not sleeping when you gave me a call. - No, I was not sleeping when you called me.

Exercise 2: Past Continuous in interrogative form

In this exercise you need to insert the missing words in the correct form to construct interrogative sentences with the Past Continuous.

Show answers with translation:

1. What were you doing from six to seven o'clock last evening? (to do) - What did you do from six to seven last evening?
2. Were they working when did you come with inspection? (to work) - Was she working when you came to check?
3. Which star was shining brighter last night? (to shine) – Which star shone brighter last night?
4. What were you feeling? (to feel) - How did you feel?
5. Was she talking about me before I came in? (to talk) – Was she talking about me before I came in?

Exercise 3: Past Continuous or Past Simple

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verb – or. Pay attention to the context, which will help you understand what verb tense is needed in each case.

Show answers with translation:

1. When I looked at the window, there was a group of people in the street. They were discussing something (to discuss). – When I looked out the window, there was a group of people on the street. They were discussing something.
2. While we were watching the movie I understood that I had already watched it (to watch, to understand). – While we were watching the film, I realized that I had already watched it.
3. Kelly was wearing her new dress, when Alan met her (to wear, to meet). – Kelly was wearing her new dress when Alan met her.
4. When I met you mother, children, she was reading a book in the park (to meet, to read). – When I met your mother, children, she was reading a book in the park.
5. Norman went to work every day. He didn't want to take days off (to go, not to want). Norman went to work every day. He didn't want to take days off.
6. We were talking about teacher, when she said, “ Were/Are you talking about be?” (to talk, to talk) - We were talking about our teacher when she said: “Are you talking about me?”

Exercise 4: Choose the correct answer

Choose the correct translation option from Russian to English. Pay attention to which verb tense is used.

Show correct answers:

1. I was listening to Helen when you interrupted her. – I was listening to Helen, when you interrupted her.

1. What did you do in the park this morning? – What were you doing in the park this morning?

1. Peter didn't read, he wrote a letter. – Peter wasn’t reading, he was writing a letter.

1. The man was breathing heavily after he stopped running. – The man was breathing heavily after he stopped running.

1. I was looking for a post office when someone offered to help me. – I was looking for a postal office when someone offered me help.

Exercise 5: Find errors in the text

There are several errors in the use of tenses in this short text. Try to find them all.

Show correct answers:

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