Past Continuous Worksheets

The past continuous and continuous forms, in general, are used with action verbs such as talk, drive, play, etc. The continuous form is not used with stative verbs such as 'be', 'seem', 'taste', etc. Some stative verbs can be used as action verbs so there are some exceptions. For example, 'smell' - It smelled good. (stative verb) / He was smelling the roses when she walked by the window (action verb.)​

Positive Form

Subject + to be (was, were) + present participle (ing form of verb) + objects:

Jane was typing the letter when he walked into the room.
They're were discussing the problem at 11.

Past Continuous Negative Form

Subject + to be (was, were) + not + verb + objects

Jack wasn't watching TV. He was cooking dinner.
We weren't wasting time! We were working hard.

Past Continuous Question Form

(Question Word) + to be (was, were) + subject + present participle (ing form of verb)?

What were you doing at seven o'clock?
Was Jennifer paying attention during the meeting?

Past Continuous Usage

The past continuous is used to talk about what was happening at a specific moment in the past.

Alex was knitting a sweater at 10:30 yesterday morning.
My friends were waiting for me at nine o'clock.

The past continuous is also often used together with the past simple to express what was happening when something important occurred.

They were working on the project when she burst into the room.
I was thinking about him when the telephone rang. Guess who it was?!

Important Time Expressions

These time expressions are commonly used with the past continuous to express a past action occurring at a specific moment in the past.

At/At that Moment

'At' and 'at that moment' refer to a specific point of time in the past. These two expressions are often used with the past continuous. It is more common to use the past simple to speak in general, but if you want to express what was happening at a precise moment of time in the past, use the past continuous.

She was having breakfast at 6.45 this morning.
We were working on his request at 10 pm.
Alan wasn't meeting with Tom at 9. He was meeting with Dennis.

When/As

'When' is used with the past simple to express an important event that occurred in the past. The past continuous is used to express what was happening at that moment.

They were getting ready when he came home.
Alice wasn't thinking when she said that.
What were you doing when he asked the question?

While

'While' is used with the past continuous to express something that was happening at the same moment in time that something else was occurring.

During

'During' is used with a noun or a noun phrase to express an event during which something was happening.

I was typing while he was dictating.
She wasn't paying attention during the meeting.
Jackson was working while she was having a good time.

Past Continuous Worksheet 1

Conjugate the verb in parentheses in the past continuous tense. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well.

1. What _____ (you do) when he arrived?
2. She _____ (watch) TV at two o'clock.
3. They _____ (not sleep) at five o'clock.
4. Peter _____ (work) when I telephoned.
5. Tim _____ (study) German while they were studying French.
6. I _____ (not pay attention) during the presentation.
7. _____ (Brian talk) during the lesson?
8. We _____ (not cook) when he walked in the door.
9. Jason _____ (play) the piano at three o'clock yesterday afternoon.
10. When _____ (Howard give) the presentation exactly?
11. Andrea _____ (not expect) you to arrive so early!
12. What _____ (you think) when you said that?!
13. _____ (she do) the housework when you telephoned?
14. Carlos _____ (drink) tea when I walked into the room.
15. They _____ (meet) with Smith and Co at exactly 2.35 pm.
16. My cousin _____ (not have) a good time when I arrived.
17. They _____ (discuss) the issue when she telephoned.
18. _____ (they work) in the garden when you arrived?
19. She _____ (sleep) so he entered the room softly.
20. They _____ (not take) notes during the presentation, but paying attention to every word.

Past Continuous Worksheet 2

Choose the correct time expression used with the past continuous tense.

1. What were you doing (while/during) the meeting?
2. Tim was finishing the report (in/at) five o'clock.
3. They were discussing the problem (when/at) I walked into the room.
4. Jackson wasn't listening (while/during) he was explaining the situation.
5. Was Alice paying attention (while/during) the presentation?
6. They were having a quiet breakfast (this/at) morning when he arrived.
7. What were they doing (when/in) that happened?
8. Sheila was playing the piano (while/during) he was working on the computer.
9. I was working at the computer (at/on) seven o'clock this morning.
10. Alex wasn't playing golf (this/at) morning. He was working.
11. What were they doing (in/at) four o'clock?
12. She was working quietly (when/for) he opened the door.
13. Peter wasn't doing the housework (that/yesterday) morning. He was working in the garden.
14. Where were they sleeping (at/when) he got home last night?
15. Jason was thinking about the problem (when/at) he asked for an answer.
16. Our teacher was explaining math (from/when) he burst into the room with the news.
17. Dilbert was working at the computer (on/at) four o'clock this morning!
18. Were they listening (as/at) he asked the question?
19. She wasn't working (when/in) he came into the office.
20. They weren't thinking about that (at/when) they made the decision.

Answers Worksheet 1

1. were you doing
2. was watching
3. weren't sleeping
4. was working
5. was studying
6. wasn't paying attention
7. was Brian talking
8. weren't cooking
9. was playing
10. was Howard giving
11. wasn't expecting
12. were you thinking
13. Was she doing
14. was drinking
15. were meeting
16. wasn't having
17. were discussing
18. Were they working
19. was sleeping
20. weren't taking

Answers Worksheet 2

1. during
2. at
3. when
4. while
5. during
6. this
7. when
8. while
9. at
10. this
11. at
12. when
13. yesterday
14. when
15. when
16. when
17. at
18. as
19. when
20. when