Past Continuous - Basic
Rewrite the sentences in the past continuous.
1 I am eating. I was eating.
2 You are listening.
3 She is living.
4 They are speaking.
5 I’m not working.
6 We aren’t doing.
7 It isn’t raining.
1 I am eating. I was eating.
2 You are listening. You were listening.
3 She is living. She was living.
4 They are speaking. They were speaking.
5 I’m not working. I wasn’t working.
6 We aren’t doing. We weren’t doing.
7 It isn’t raining. It wasn’t raining.
Write sentences in the past continuous.
1 I / study / all evening.
2 You / sleep / at 11 o’clock / last night.
3 I / not look / at my phone / in class.
4 It / not rain / all day.
5 We / not talk / in the library
1 I / study / all evening.
I was studying all evening.
2 You / sleep / at 11 o’clock / last night.
You were sleeping at 11 o’clock last night.
3 I / not look / at my phone / in class.
I wasn’t looking at my phone in class.
4 It / not rain / all day.
It wasn’t raining all day.
5 We / not talk / in the library.
We weren’t talking in the library
Circle the correct options.
1 Sarah felt bored while she … her homework.
a was doing b did c ’m doing
2 I was walking along the road … I started to feel ill.
a while b than c when
3 … upset when you heard the news?
a Were you feeling
b You felt
c Did you feel
4 I … up immediately when I heard the doorbell.
a was getting b got c wasn’t getting5 We were having a PE lesson when theheadteacher … in.a came b was coming c come6 … over the wall when he fell?
a Liam was jumping
b Was Liam jumping
c Did Liam jump
1 a
2 c
3 c
4 b
5 a
6 b
Complete the adjectives of feeling.
1 Oliver is very excited because it’s his birthday
tomorrow.
2 Azra is feeling tir__ because it’s very late.
3 Do you feel afr___ when you watch horror films?
4 Chloe feels ner___ when she speaks in front
of a lot of people.
5 My friends aren’t talking to me, so I feel lon__ .
6 I’ve got nothing to do, so I’m bo___ .
1 Oliver is very excited because it’s his birthday
tomorrow.
2 Azra is feeling tired because it’s very late.
3 Do you feel afraid when you watch horror films?
4 Chloe feels nervous when she speaks in front
of a lot of people.
5 My friends aren’t talking to me, so I feel lonely .
6 I’ve got nothing to do, so I’m bored .
Circle the correct options.
1 We were worried / bored when we got lost.
2 Oliver was very embarrassed / excited the day before the important match.
3 I felt tired / afraid because I was working hard.
4 Did you feel afraid / lonely when you watched the horror film?
5 Ecrin was angry / nervous when she spoke in front of all the school.
6 My friends weren’t talking to me, so I felt lonely / excited.
1 worried
2 excited
3 tired
4 afraid
5 nervous
6 lonely
Complete the sentences with the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 They were sleeping (sleep) at 11 o’clock last night.
2 I (study) all evening.
3 It (not rain) all day.
4 You (not talk) in the library.
5 We (sit) on the grass.
6 Dave (not eat) in the kitchen.
1 They were sleeping (sleep) at 11 o’clock last night.
2 I was studying (study) all evening.
3 It wasn’t raining (not rain) all day.
4 You weren’t talking (not talk) in the library.
5 We were sitting (sit) on the grass.
6 Dave wasn’t eating (not eat) in the kitchen.
Complete the conversations with the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets and short answers.
1 A (Josh / swim) in the sea?
B Yes, he .
2 A (you / look) at me?
B No, I .
3 A (they / have) a drink?
B No, they .
4 A (we / talk) very loudly?
B Yes, you .
5 A (it / snow) this morning?
B No, it .
1 A Was Josh swimming (Josh / swim) in the sea?
B Yes, he was .
2 A Were you looking (you / look) at me?
B No, I wasn’t .
3 A Were they having (they / have) a drink?
B No, they weren’t .
4 A Were we talking (we / talk) very loudly?
B Yes, you were .
5 A Was it snowing (it / snow) this morning?
B No, it wasn’t
Complete the sentences with the past simple or
continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 We (leave) the house when we (see) an accident.
2 (Conor / feel) surprised when they (forget) his birthday?
3 All the time that David (talk), I (not listen) to him.
4 Some paint (fall) on Chloe while she (walk) under the ladder.
5 After I (switch) on the light, I (hear) a strange noise.
6 It (get) dark when we (arrive).
Complete the sentences with the past simple or
continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 We were leaving (leave) the house when we saw (see) an accident.
2 Did Conor feel (Conor / feel) surprised when they forgot (forget) his birthday?
3 All the time that David was talking (talk), I wasn’t listening (not listen) to him.
4 Some paint fell (fall) on Chloe while she was walking (walk) under the ladder.
5 After I switched (switch) on the light, I heard (hear) a strange noise.
6 It was getting (get) dark when we arrived (arrive)
1 I often feel bored at the weekend.
2 I feel worried before I have an exam.
3 I feel excited when the summer holidays start.
Your own answers.
Complete the sentences with adjectives for you.
1 I feel before an exam.
2 I feel when I do well in exams.
3 I often feel at the weekend.
4 I feel when I can’t answer a question in class.
5 I feel when I don’t sleep enough.
Your own answers.
Write questions in the past continuous.
1 you / sleep Were you sleeping?
2 they / play
3 he / run
4 I / stand
5 we / drink
6 Sophie / leave
1 you / sleep: Were you sleeping?
2 they / play: Were they playing?
3 he / run: Was he running?
4 I / stand: Was I standing?
5 we / drink: Were we drinking?
6 Sophie / leave: Was Sophie leaving?
Circle the correct options.
1 It rained / was raining when we arrived.
2 While I walked / was walking along the road,
I started to feel ill.
3 I got up / was getting up immediately when I
heard the doorbell.
4 The headteacher came / was coming into
the gym while we were doing PE.
5 Did Liam jump / Was Liam jumping over the wall
when he fell?
Circle the correct options.
1 It rained / was raining when we arrived.
2 While I walked / was walking along the road,
I started to feel ill.
3 I got up / was getting up immediately when I
heard the doorbell.
4 The headteacher came / was coming into
the gym while we were doing PE.
5 Did Liam jump / Was Liam jumping over the wall
when he fell?
Underline and correct one mistake in each sentence.
1 I didn’t read when you phoned.
2 What were you doing while we cooked?
3 Bethany was sleeping while her mum came home.
4 We didn’t have an exam because my teacher
wasn’t coming to school.
1 I didn’t read when you phoned.
I wasn’t reading when you phoned.
2 What were you doing while we cooked?
What were you doing while we were cooking?
3 Bethany was sleeping while her mum came home.
Bethany was sleeping when her mum came
home.
4 We didn’t have an exam because my teacher
wasn’t coming to school.
We didn’t have an exam because my teacher
didn’t come to school.
4 I feel surprised when I do well in an exam.
5 I feel embarrassed when I can’t answer a question in class.
6 I feel tired when I don’t sleep for eight hours.
Your own asnwers.
Complete the sentences with the prepositions of movement in the box.
[between into over past through under]
1 When I came ___the living room, my dad was sleeping on the sofa.
2 Liam found his phone when he looked ___the pillow.
3 I walked ___ you and didn’t say hello because I didn’t see you.
4 The horse jumped ___ the small wall.
5 To get to the bus station, go ___ the shopping centre.
6 Sophie sat ___ me and Jack.
1 When I came into the living room, my dad was sleeping on the sofa.
2 Liam found his phone when he looked under the pillow.
3 I walked past you and didn’t say hello because I didn’t see you.
4 The horse jumped over the small wall.
5 To get to the bus station, go through the shopping centre.
6 Sophie sat between me and Jack.
Complete the questions with the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets and short answers.
1 A Were you looking (you / look) at me?
B No, I wasn’t .
2 A (Josh / swim) in the sea?
B Yes, he .
3 A (they / have) a drink in the café?
B No, they .
4 A (we / talk) very loudly?
B Yes, you .
5 A (it / snow) this morning?
B No, it .
6 A (I / use) your desk?
B No, you .
1 A Were you looking (you / look) at me?
B No, I wasn’t .
2 A Was Josh swimming (Josh / swim) in the sea?
B Yes, he was .
3 A Were they having (they / have) a drink in the café?
B No, they weren’t .
4 (we / talk) very loudly?
A Were we talking very loudly?
B Yes, you were.
5 A Was it snowing (it / snow) this morning?
B No, it wasn’t .
6 A Was I using (I / use) your desk?
B No, you weren’t .
Match the sentence halves.
1 I was sitting in a café
2 What were you doing when
3 When Max walked into the classroom,
4 While I was going along the street,
5 Why were you standing on a chair
6 Charlotte was listening to music when I
a all the students were working.
b when you phoned me.
c when I came into the room?
d your birthday present arrived?
e knocked on her door.
f I met an old friend.
1 b
2 d
3 a
4 f
5 c
6 a
Complete the conversation with the past simple
or past continuous form of the verbs in brackets
and short answers.
A What 1 (happen) to you?
B The road was very wet and I 2 __ (fall) off my bike while I 3 ___ (cycle).
A Oh, no! 4 ___ (you / go) very fast when you 5 ___ (have) the accident?
B Yes, 6 ___!
A What 1 happened (happen) to you?
B The road was very wet and I 2 fell off my bike while I 3 was cycling (cycle).
A Oh, no! 4 Were you going (you / go) very fast when you 5 had (have) the accident?
B Yes, 6 I was !
Circle the correct options.
1 When I came into / through the living room, my dad was sleeping.
2 Liam found his phone when he looked along / under the pillow.
3 I walked past / between you and you didn’t see me.
4 The horse jumped up / over the small wall.
1 When I came into / through the living room, my dad was sleeping.
2 Liam found his phone when he looked along / under the pillow.
3 I walked past / between you and you didn’t see me.
4 The horse jumped up / over the small wall.
Complete the diary entry with the words in the box.
[across, afraid, along, embarrassed, tired, up]
24th July
The adventure camp was very hard today and I was really 1 __ at the end of it. We walked 2 ___ a lot of fields and then we climbed 3 ___ a tree. It was very high, and I was 4 ___ while I was doing it! After that, we went 5 ___ the river in canoes. I was very happy when I finished, but I felt a bit 6 __ because I arrived last at the camp.
24th July
The adventure camp was very hard today and I was really 1 tired at the end of it. We walked 2 across a lot of fields and then we climbed 3 up a tree. It was very high, and I was 4 afraid while I was doing it! After that, we went 5 along the river in canoes. I was very happy when I finished, but I felt a bit 6 embarrassed because I arrived last at the camp.
Circle the correct options.
1 It rained / was raining when we arrived.
2 While I walked / was walking along the road,
I started to feel ill.
3 I got up / was getting up immediately when
I heard the doorbell.
4 The headteacher came / was coming into
the gym while we were doing PE.
5 Did Liam jump / Was Liam jumping over the wall
when he fell?
6 It got / was getting dark when we arrived.
7 You phoned while I read / was reading.
8 Mike was standing outside the shop when
I saw / was seeing him
Circle the correct options.
1 It rained / was raining when we arrived.
2 While I walked / was walking along the road,
I started to feel ill.
3 I got up / was getting up immediately when
I heard the doorbell.
4 The headteacher came / was coming into
the gym while we were doing PE.
5 Did Liam jump / Was Liam jumping over the wall
when he fell?
6 It got / was getting dark when we arrived.
7 You phoned while I read / was reading.
8 Mike was standing outside the shop when I saw / was seeing him.
Complete the sentences with the past simple or
continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 You (phone) me while I (read) at home.
2 Mike (stand) outside the shop when I (see) him.
3 We (leave) the house when the phone (ring).
4 Some paint (fall) on Chloe while she (walk) under the ladder.
5 It (get) dark when we (arrive) at the hut.
6 (your friends / ride)
their bikes very fast when they (go) past you?
7 Bethany (sleep) when her mum (come) home.
1 You phoned (phone) me while I was reading (read) at home.
2 Mike was standing (stand) outside the shop when I saw (see) him.
3 We were leaving (leave) the house when the phone rang (ring).
4 Some paint fell (fall) on Chloe while she was walking (walk) under the ladder.
5 It was getting (get) dark when we arrived (arrive) at the hut.
6 Were your friends riding (your friends / ride) their bikes very fast when they went (go) past you?
7 Bethany was sleeping (sleep) when her mum came (come) home.
Complete the text with the past simple or past continuous form of the verbs in the box.
[decide, not take, feel, not want, get, not rain, start, walk]
It 1 ___when I left the house, so I 2 ___ my umbrella. However, while I 3 __ along the street, suddenly it 4 ____ to rain. I 5 ___ angry because
I 6 ___ wet. In the end, I 7 ___ to return home because I 8 ___ to get even wetter!
It 1 wasn’t raining when I left the house, so I 2 didn’t take my umbrella. However, while I 3 was walking along the street, suddenly it 4 started to rain. I 5 felt angry because I 6 was getting wet. In the end, I 7 decided to return home because I 8 didn’t want to get even wetter!
Circle the correct options.
5 To get to the bus station, go through / off the shopping centre.
6 Sophie sat across / between me and Jack.
7 Be careful when you walk across / out of the road.
Circle the correct options.
5 To get to the bus station, go through / off the shopping centre.
6 Sophie sat across / between me and Jack.
7 Be careful when you walk across / out of the road.
Circle the correct options .
When Zehra came 1… the stairs in the morning,
she was 2… because her family wasn’t in the
kitchen. She went 3… the living room but they
weren’t there. Now she was feeling 4… . She
walked 5… all the rooms in the house but she
didn’t find them. She was beginning to feel very
6 … . Then she woke up! It was only a bad dream!
1 a across b down c along
2 a surprised b bored c angry
3 a out of b under c into
4 a bored b worried c embarrassed
5 a through b along c out of
6 a excited b tired c upset
1 b
2 a
3 c
4 b
5 a
6 c