01Was/were with verb-ing
Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they, followed by verb-ing, for an action in progress at a past time.
I was making soup at seven.A2
Past continuous Exercises
About this lesson
Past continuous · A2. Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they, followed by verb-ing, for an action in progress at a past time.
Practise Past continuous in short situations. Read the clue, choose or write a form, then check the reason. The level is an editorial guide.
12 items
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Knowledge map
Start practisingPast continuous
02Negating a continuous action
For a past continuous negative, put not after was/were and keep verb-ing.
They were not arguing.03Questions about an ongoing action
In a past continuous question, move was/were before the subject; do not add did.
Was he waiting outside?Illustrated guide
01 / 12D01Save it to find it in My collection.
At nine last night, I ___ a report. (write)
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
Your learning route
01
Step 1 · Warm-up
0/3Warm-up
02
Step 2 · Build the skill
0/2Was/were with verb-ing
Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they, followed by verb-ing, for an action in progress at a past time.
I was making soup at seven.03
Step 3 · Build the skill
0/1Negating a continuous action
For a past continuous negative, put not after was/were and keep verb-ing.
They were not arguing.04
Step 4 · Build the skill
0/1Questions about an ongoing action
In a past continuous question, move was/were before the subject; do not add did.
Was he waiting outside?05
Step 5 · New contexts
0/3New contexts
06
Step 6 · A fresh challenge
0/2A fresh challenge
Practice notes in this unit
0Make mistakes useful.
Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
Lesson map
A2Past continuous
Lesson points
Was/were with verb-ing
Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they, followed by verb-ing, for an action in progress at a past time.
I was making soup at seven.Negating a continuous action
For a past continuous negative, put not after was/were and keep verb-ing.
They were not arguing.Questions about an ongoing action
In a past continuous question, move was/were before the subject; do not add did.
Was he waiting outside?Questions & answers
Opening an answer records help for that question.
At nine last night, I ___ a report. (write)
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
- did writing
- were writing
- was writing
- was write
Answer & explanation
was writing
Look at “At nine last night, I ___ a report. (write)”. Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they, followed by verb-ing, for an action in progress at a past time. Complete sentence: “At nine last night, I was writing a report. (write)”.
At midnight we were awake. We ___. (not sleep)
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
- not were sleeping
- did not sleeping
- was not sleeping
- were not sleeping
Answer & explanation
were not sleeping
Look at “At midnight we were awake. We ___. (not sleep)”. For a past continuous negative, put not after was/were and keep verb-ing. Complete sentence: “At midnight we were awake. We were not sleeping. (not sleep)”.
___ you working at six yesterday?
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
- Do
- Was
- Were
- Did
Answer & explanation
Were
Look at “___ you working at six yesterday?”. In a past continuous question, move was/were before the subject; do not add did. Complete sentence: “Were you working at six yesterday?”.
At this time yesterday, the children ___ in the pool. (swim)
Complete with the past continuous of swim to show the activity in progress. Write only the missing form.
Answer & explanation
were swimming
Reference completion: “At this time yesterday, the children were swimming in the pool. (swim)”. Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they, followed by verb-ing, for an action in progress at a past time.
The engine was off. The driver ___ at that moment. (not drive)
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
- did not driving
- were not driving
- not was driving
- was not driving
Answer & explanation
was not driving
Look at “The engine was off. The driver ___ at that moment. (not drive)”. For a past continuous negative, put not after was/were and keep verb-ing. Complete sentence: “The engine was off. The driver was not driving at that moment. (not drive)”.
___ Mina studying when you called?
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
- Was
- Did
- Were
- Does
Answer & explanation
Was
Look at “___ Mina studying when you called?”. In a past continuous question, move was/were before the subject; do not add did. Complete sentence: “Was Mina studying when you called?”.
At ten yesterday morning, Dad ___ the gate. (paint)
Complete with the past continuous of paint to show the activity in progress. Write only the missing form.
Answer & explanation
was painting
Reference completion: “At ten yesterday morning, Dad was painting the gate. (paint)”. Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they, followed by verb-ing, for an action in progress at a past time.
The birds ___ loudly at sunrise yesterday. (sing)
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
- were sing
- was singing
- did singing
- were singing
Answer & explanation
were singing
Look at “The birds ___ loudly at sunrise yesterday. (sing)”. Use was with I/he/she/it and were with you/we/they, followed by verb-ing, for an action in progress at a past time. Complete sentence: “The birds were singing loudly at sunrise yesterday. (sing)”.
At eight I was on the train. I ___ at home. (not sit)
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
- was not sitting
- were not sitting
- not was sitting
- did not sitting
Answer & explanation
was not sitting
Look at “At eight I was on the train. I ___ at home. (not sit)”. For a past continuous negative, put not after was/were and keep verb-ing. Complete sentence: “At eight I was on the train. I was not sitting at home. (not sit)”.
What ___ the guests eating when you arrived?
Complete the gap. Write only the missing word or words.
Answer & explanation
were
Reference completion: “What were the guests eating when you arrived?”. In a past continuous question, move was/were before the subject; do not add did.
The lights were off. They ___ in the office at nine. (not work)
Choose the option that completes the gap in this situation.
- was not working
- were not working
- did not working
- not were working
Answer & explanation
were not working
Look at “The lights were off. They ___ in the office at nine. (not work)”. For a past continuous negative, put not after was/were and keep verb-ing. Complete sentence: “The lights were off. They were not working in the office at nine. (not work)”.
Where ___ your sister staying last week?
Complete the gap. Write only the missing word or words.
Answer & explanation
was
Reference completion: “Where was your sister staying last week?”. In a past continuous question, move was/were before the subject; do not add did.