PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE EXERCISE 2 (ESL)
level: Beginner (A1/A2)
This second past continuous exercise focuses on forming the tense correctly from a simple past prompt, including was vs. were agreement and -ing spelling rules. Start with exercise 1 if you haven't already.
Grammar review
The past continuous — forming it correctly
In this exercise you’re converting simple past sentences into the past continuous. The key is knowing exactly how to form it and which auxiliary (was or were) to use.
Formation rules:
• Use was with singular subjects: I, he, she, it
• Use were with plural subjects and you: you, we, they
Spelling changes when adding -ing:
• Verbs ending in a silent -e: drop the e before adding -ing: take → taking, write → writing
• Short verbs ending in consonant-vowel-consonant: double the final consonant: run → running, sit → sitting, get → getting
• Verbs ending in -ie: change to -y + -ing: lie → lying, die → dying
Common mistakes:
✗ He were playing ✓ He was playing (singular subject needs was)
✗ They was singing ✓ They were singing (plural needs were)
✗ She was takeing ✓ She was taking (drop the e)
In this exercise you’re converting simple past sentences into the past continuous. The key is knowing exactly how to form it and which auxiliary (was or were) to use.
Formation rules:
• Use was with singular subjects: I, he, she, it
• Use were with plural subjects and you: you, we, they
Spelling changes when adding -ing:
• Verbs ending in a silent -e: drop the e before adding -ing: take → taking, write → writing
• Short verbs ending in consonant-vowel-consonant: double the final consonant: run → running, sit → sitting, get → getting
• Verbs ending in -ie: change to -y + -ing: lie → lying, die → dying
Common mistakes:
✗ He were playing ✓ He was playing (singular subject needs was)
✗ They was singing ✓ They were singing (plural needs were)
✗ She was takeing ✓ She was taking (drop the e)
Rewrite each sentence using the past continuous form of the verb.
Did you know?
Although in IELTS grammar is not tested as a separate subject, it still directly affects your score, especially in:
Writing (25% of the score)
The examiner checks:
• Range of grammatical structures
• Accuracy (few errors, and errors don't reduce clarity)
To get:
• Band 6 → mostly correct simple sentences, some complex ones
• Band 7 → frequent complex sentences with good control
Speaking (25% of the score)
You're scored on:
• How naturally you use grammar
• Whether errors cause misunderstanding
Fluent speech withrepeated grammar mistakes = lower band.
Writing (25% of the score)
The examiner checks:
• Range of grammatical structures
• Accuracy (few errors, and errors don't reduce clarity)
To get:
• Band 6 → mostly correct simple sentences, some complex ones
• Band 7 → frequent complex sentences with good control
Speaking (25% of the score)
You're scored on:
• How naturally you use grammar
• Whether errors cause misunderstanding
Fluent speech withrepeated grammar mistakes = lower band.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PAST TENSE EXERCISES:
Past continuous 1 (B)
Simple past or past continuous? 1 (B1/B2)
Simple past or past continuous? 2 (A1/A2)
Simple past 1 (B)
Simple past 2 (B)
Present continuous 1 (B)
Present continuous 2 (B)
Mixed verb tenses 1 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 2 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 3 (I)
Past continuous 1 (B)
Simple past or past continuous? 1 (B1/B2)
Simple past or past continuous? 2 (A1/A2)
Simple past 1 (B)
Simple past 2 (B)
Present continuous 1 (B)
Present continuous 2 (B)
Mixed verb tenses 1 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 2 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 3 (I)
