Past Continuous Tense Exercise with Explanation

1. Find the auxiliaries for Past Continuous Tense.

Was	Were
Both	None
Correct Answer: Both
Explanation: “Was” is used after the singular subjects and “Were” after the plural for continuous actions in the past tense.

2. How to recognise a sentence constructed in the Past Continuous Tense?

Past Indefinite form of the verb	Past Perfect form of the verb
Was/Were + -ing verb ending	None
Correct Answer: Was/Were + -ing verb ending
Explanation: Auxiliary verbs “Was” or “Were” before the “base verb+ing” structure is what makes sentences in the past progressive tense.

3. What time do the Past Continuous sentences entail?

Something that happened in the past	Something that continued for an unspecified period in the past
Something that is yet to happen	Something that is happening
Correct Answer: Something that continued for an unspecified period in the past
Explanation: Past Progressive Tense signifies actions that were ongoing in the past but has not carried on to the present.

4. What name can be used interchangeably with “Past Continuous Tense”?

Progressive Tense	Past Progressive Tense
Past Tense	None of the above
Correct Answer: Past Progressive Tense
Explanation: The words - “Continuous” and “Progressive” convey a completely identical meaning regarding tenses signifying ongoing actions.

5. Pick the correct structure of the Past Continuous Tense.

Subject + Base verb + -ed + Object	Subject + is/are + Base verb + -ing + Object
Subject + was/were + Base verb + -ing + Object	None of the above
Correct Answer: Subject + was/were + Base verb + -ing + Object
Explanation: “Subject + was/were + Base verb + -ing + Object” is the structure that underlies every sentence in the Past Progressive.

6. Find the example of Past Continuous Tense.

They are singing at the concert.	She was reading the book I recommended.
Both	None
Correct Answer: She was reading the book I recommended.
Explanation:

7. The unmissable parts of the Past Continuous Tense -

Auxiliary Verbs	-ing Verb ending
Both	Past Participles
Correct Answer: Both
Explanation: Auxiliary verbs “Was” or “Were” before the “base verb+ing” structure is what makes sentences in the past progressive tense.

8. Pick the correct one in Past Progressive Tense -

I was going to ask her out.	He called for some assistance.
She is looking for a helping hand.	We love to get through the day on a positive note.
Correct Answer: I was going to ask her out.
Explanation:

9. Pick the correct Past Progressive example -

Royce jumped off the boat to save his drowning friend.	The fortune teller reads palms and picks tarot cards.
Laine was jogging to his office yesterday.	We are enjoying Christmas with family and friends.
Correct Answer: Laine was jogging to his office yesterday.
Explanation:

10. What differs between the two progressive forms in the past tense - Past Progressive Tense and Past Perfect Continuous Tense?

Time tags	Continuous Auxiliaries
Both of the above	-ing Verb ending
Correct Answer: Both of the above
Explanation: Past Progressive Tense has “Was/Were + base verb + -ing” verb structure while Past Perfect Continuous Tense “Had been + base verb + -ing” verb structure with the “for/since + specific time” at the end.

11. Fill in the blank to make Past Continuous sentence - We ………………… with the fellow guitarists in the band.

12. Fill in the blank to make Past Continuous sentence - Jack …………………… his grandparents at his village home.

13. Fill in the blank to make Past Continuous sentence - Victoria and Taylor ………………… basketball at school.

14. Fill in the blank to make Past Progressive sentence - You …………………… to your professor.

15. Fill in the blank to complete a Past Progressive sentence - I ………………………… to the mall to check out the winter collection.

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