1. Complete the sentences with the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 Yesterday at 6 p.m. we …………………………… (have) dinner.
2 Harry …………………………… (not listen) so he didn’t know how to do the exercise.
3 Kate …………………………… (lie) on the beach and Anna …………………………… (eat) an ice cream.
4 Sam and Ryan …………………………… (smile) and Nancy (take) a photo of them.
5 Why …………………………… you and Zoe …………………………… (argue)?
6 Hannah was annoyed because a man on the train …………………………… (talk) loudly on his mobile.
7 At 1 a.m. Fred …………………………… still …………………………… (chat) with his friends on Facebook.
8 My eyes were closed, but I …………………………… (not sleep).
Answer
1 were having 2 wasn’t listening
3 was lying, was eating 4 were smiling, was taking
5 were … arguing 6 was talking 7 was … chatting
8 wasn’t sleeping
2. Write sentences. Use the past continuous.
1 Jake / ride / his bike
Jake was riding his bike.
2 the sun / shine?
……………………………………….
3 it / not rain
……………………………………….
4 where / he / go ?
……………………………………….
5 he / not wear / a helmet
……………………………………….
Answer
2 Was the sun shining? 3 it wasn’t raining.
4 Where was he going? 5 he wasn’t wearing a helmet.
3. Complete the text with the past continuous form of the verbs below.
carry follow hurry leave rain stand wear not wear
When I got off the coach in London, the weather was awful. It 1……………………….. and there was a cold wind. A short, fat man, who 2……………………….. a hat and 3……………………….. a small briefcase, got off after me. It was five o’clock and lots of people 4……………………….. work and 5……………………….. to catch the bus or the Underground. I 6……………………….. a raincoat so I went into a department store and bought a cheap umbrella. When I came out, the short, fat man from the bus 7……………………….. outside the department store. 8……………………….. he ……………………….. me?
Answer
1 was raining 2 was wearing 3 carrying
4 were leaving 5 hurrying 6 wasn’t wearing
7 was standing 8 Was … following
4. What was happening at the park yesterday afternoon? Complete the sentences, using the verbs and phrases below. Use the past continuous.
eat an ice cream drink fruit juice have a picnic listen to music
phone someone read a magazine shine sunbathe text
1 Tom was texting.
2 Will and Emma …………………………………….
3 Kim …………………………………….
4 Max and Eve …………………………………….
5 George and Susan …………………………………….
6 Jay …………………………………….
7 Leyla …………………………………….
8 Zoe …………………………………….
9 The sun …………………………………….
Answer
2 Will and Emma were having a picnic.
3 Kim was reading a magazine.
4 Max and eve were sunbathing.
5 Ivy and Ben were listening to music.
6 Jay was drinking fruit juice.
7 Lyra was eating an ice cream.
8 Zoe was phoning somebody.
9 The sun was shining.
5. Write questions with you in the past continuous. The write true answers.
1.30 p.m. yesterday 10.30 p.m. yesterday on this day last year
3 a.m. this morning 7.30 p.m. yesterday 8.30 a.m. this morning
1 What were you doing at 1.30 p.m. yesterday?
I was … ……………………………………………………………..
2 ……………………………………………………..?
……………………………………………………..
3 ……………………………………………………..?
……………………………………………………..
4 ……………………………………………………..?
……………………………………………………..
5 ……………………………………………………..?
……………………………………………………..
6 ……………………………………………………..?
……………………………………………………..
Answer
your own answers
6. Complete the dialogues with the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1 A 1………………………………… (you / talk) on the phone at ten last night? I 2………………………………… (try) to call you.
B No, I 3………………………………… (not talk) on the phone. I 4………………………………… (take) a walk and my phone was in the house.
2 A 5………………………………… (you / play) on the beach when the storm started?
B No, we 6………………………………… (eat) lunch in the restaurant. It was quite frightening. When we started eating the sun 7………………………………… (shine) and the next minute the wind 8………………………………… (blow) and it 9………………………………… (rain) hard.
3 A 10………………………………… (you / sleep) in class this morning?
B No, I 11………………………………… (not sleep)! I 12………………………………… (try) to memorise irregular verbs for the test.
4 A What 13………………………………… (Kate / do) in the head teacher’s office this afternoon? Was she in trouble?
B No, nothing like that. She 14………………………………… (answer) questions about the theatre group’s new play.
Answer
1 Were you talking; was trying; wasn’t talking; was taking
2 Were you playing; were eating; was shining; was blowing; was raining
3 Were you sleeping; wasn’t sleeping; was trying
4 was Kate doing; was answering
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