Past Continuous Tense Exercises with Answers

The past continuous tense, also known as the past progressive tense, is a form of the verb that is used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past.

To test your understanding of the past progressive tense, here are some past continuous tense exercises that can help.

Past Continuous Tense Exercises-1

Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentences in past continuous tense:

1. He _____ hard. (are working / was working)
2. While I _____ TV, my brother was playing video games. (am watching / was watching)
3. They _____ to the store when they saw their friend. (were walking / are walking)
4. We _____ to the beach when it started to rain. (are driving / were driving)
5. I _____ a book while my sister was watching TV. (am reading / was reading)
6. I _____ for my exam when my friend called me. (study / was studying)
7. She _____ dinner when the power went out. (is cooking / was cooking)
8. They _____ a movie when the phone rang. (was watching / were watching)
9. He _____ basketball when it started to rain. (is playing / was playing)
10. We _____ a movie when the doorbell rang. (is watching / were watching)

Past Continuous Tense Exercises-1: Answers

1. He was working hard.
2. While I was watching TV, my brother was playing video games.
3. They were walking to the store when they saw their friend.
4. We were driving to the beach when it started to rain.
5. I was reading a book while my sister was watching TV.
6. I was studying for my exam when my friend called me.
7. She was cooking dinner when the power went out.
8. They were watching a movie when the phone rang.
9. He was playing basketball when it started to rain.
10. We were watching a movie when the doorbell rang.

Try this too: Present Perfect Tense Exercises

Past Continuous Tense Exercises-2

Fill in the blanks with the past continuous tense form of the verbs given in the brackets:

1. Boys _____ (play) in the field.
2. I _____ (read) when he came in.
3. Kaushal _____ (write) this book yesterday morning.
4. He _____ (become) more and more depressed.
5. While I _____ (watch) TV, my mom was cooking dinner.
6. It _____ (get) darker and darker.
7. They _____ (go) to market.
8. She _____ (dance) yesterday evening.
9. The kids _____ (play) outside when it started to rain.
10. He _____ (read) a notice.
11. We _____ (drive) to the store when we saw the accident.
12. He _____ (read) a book when his phone rang.
13. They _____ (make) a plan.
14. She _____ (listen) to music while she cleaned her room.
15. My dad _____ (fix) the car while I washed it.

Past Continuous Tense Exercises-2: Answers

1. Boys were playing in the field.
2. I was reading when he came in.
3. Kaushal was writing this book yesterday morning.
4. He was becoming more and more depressed.
5. While I was watching TV, my mom was cooking dinner.
6. It was getting darker and darker.
7. They were going to the market.
8. She was dancing yesterday evening.
9. The kids were playing outside when it started to rain.
10. He was reading a notice.
11. We were driving to the store when we saw the accident.
12. He was reading a book when his phone rang.
13. They were making a plan.
14. She was listening to music while she cleaned her room.
15. My dad was fixing the car while I washed it.

Try this too: Present Indefinite Tense Exercises

Past Continuous Tense Exercises-3

Change the following sentences to past continuous tense:

• They eat pizza on Friday.
• She reads a book last night.
• I walk to work in the morning.
• He plays video games all day yesterday.
• He is writing a letter to his friend.
• We dance at the party.
• The dog is chasing the ball.
• The sun shines brightly.
• He draws a picture on the paper.
• She is cooking dinner for her family.

Past Continuous Tense Exercises-3: Answers

• They were eating pizza on Friday.
• She was reading a book last night.
• I was walking to work in the morning.
• He was playing video games all day yesterday.
• He was writing a letter to his friend.
• We were dancing at the party.
• The dog was chasing the ball.
• The sun was shining brightly.
• He was drawing a picture on the paper.
• She was cooking dinner for her family.

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Complete Tense Exercises With Answers:
Present indefinite tense exercise
Present continuous tense exercises
Present perfect tense exercises
Present perfect continuous tense exercises

Simple past tense exercises
Past continuous tense exercises