PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
A1–A2 · BeginnerThe past continuous (was/were + verb-ing) describes actions that were in progress at a specific moment in the past. It is commonly used to describe background actions, interrupted actions, and simultaneous events.
Need a refresher? Review the grammar ↓
Fill in each blank with the correct past continuous form of the verb in brackets.
Example: I was answering the question. (answer)
1. The childrenoutside. (play)
Correct: were playing
2. The dogat us. (bark)
Correct: was barking
3. My teacherthe exercise to me. (explain)
Correct: was explaining
4. Ito a podcast. (listen)
Correct: was listening
5. Those peopletowards the library. (walk)
Correct: were walking
6. The cooka tasty meal. (prepare)
Correct: was preparing
7. Ito fix my computer. (try)
Correct: was trying
8. My friend and Ibasketball. (play)
Correct: were playing
9. The cashierthe customer's money. (count)
Correct: was counting
10. My sister and my brother. (sing)
Correct: were singing
11. The exama long time. (take)
Correct: was taking
12. Ifor my keys. (look)
Correct: was looking
13. The catwater. (drink)
Correct: was drinking
14. My auntsa cake. (bake)
Correct: were baking
15. Robertto the beach. (drive)
Correct: was driving
16. My parentsus a story. (tell)
Correct: were telling
17. The rainhard. (fall)
Correct: was falling
18. Theyall night. (work)
Correct: were working
19. The studentsEnglish. (practice)
Correct: were practicing
20. Itdark. (get)
Correct: was getting
Next exercise: Past Continuous – Exercise 2 →
Grammar review
The past continuous — forming it correctly
To form the past continuous, use was or were with the -ing form of the main verb. The rules below cover subject agreement and common spelling changes.
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:
• Verb ends in a silent -e? Drop the e: take → taking, write → writing
• Short verb ending in one vowel + one consonant? Double the last letter: run → running, sit → sitting, get → getting
• Verb ends in -ie? Change it to -y: 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)
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 with repeated grammar mistakes = lower band.
To form the past continuous, use was or were with the -ing form of the main verb. The rules below cover subject agreement and common spelling changes.
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:
• Verb ends in a silent -e? Drop the e: take → taking, write → writing
• Short verb ending in one vowel + one consonant? Double the last letter: run → running, sit → sitting, get → getting
• Verb ends in -ie? Change it to -y: 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)
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 with repeated grammar mistakes = lower band.
MORE LIKE THIS:
Simple past vs. past continuous – Exercise 1
Simple past vs. past continuous – Exercise 2
Simple past – affirmative sentences
Simple past – negative sentences
Simple past – irregular verbs
Simple past – Wh-questions
Simple past vs. past continuous – Exercise 1
Simple past vs. past continuous – Exercise 2
Simple past – affirmative sentences
Simple past – negative sentences
Simple past – irregular verbs
Simple past – Wh-questions
