Past Continuous Tense Worksheets and Exercises

The Past Continuous tense is used to describe actions that were happening at a specific time in the past. It often shows background activities, interruptions, or two actions happening at the same time. Practicing with worksheets and exercises will help learners understand how to form sentences, ask questions, and use this tense naturally in daily conversations.

Past Continuous Tense Worksheets 

Past Continuous Tense Exercises

🔹 Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences with the Past Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

1. She ___ (cook) dinner when I arrived.

2. They ___ (watch) TV at 8 p.m. last night.

3. I ___ (walk) home when it started to rain.

4. We ___ (not sleep) at midnight yesterday.

5. He ___ (read) a book when the phone rang.

6. The children ___ (play) football in the yard.

7. I ___ (listen) to music while doing my homework.

8. It ___ (snow) heavily all evening.

9. My parents ___ (talk) when I entered the room.

10. She ___ (write) a letter when I saw her.

🔹 Exercise 2: Make Questions

Rewrite the sentences into questions using the Past Continuous.

1. You were playing the piano at 7 p.m. → ___?

2. She was crying when you saw her. → ___?

3. They were studying last night. → ___?

4. He was working at 9 o’clock. → ___?

5. The baby was sleeping in the afternoon. → ___?

6. The teacher was explaining the lesson. → ___?

7. We were walking to school together. → ___?

8. She was waiting for the bus. → ___?

9. Tom was watching football. → ___?

10. I was reading a novel. → ___?

🔹 Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

Find and correct the mistakes in these sentences.

1. She was play football yesterday evening.

2. They was watching TV when I called.

3. He were not studying last night.

4. The girls was singing loudly.

5. I were writing a letter when she came.

6. We was walking in the park at 5 p.m.

7. My mother were cooking dinner.

8. He not was reading a book.

9. They was sleep at midnight.

10. She were listening to music.

🔹 Exercise 4: Change into Past Continuous

Rewrite the sentences using the Past Continuous tense.

1. She (cook) → She was cooking dinner at 7 p.m.

2. They (play) football in the yard.

3. I (read) a book at midnight.

4. He (write) an email when I knocked on the door.

5. We (walk) to the park yesterday evening.

6. The dog (sleep) on the sofa.

7. The teacher (explain) the lesson at that time.

8. Tom (watch) TV when his friends came.

9. I (study) for the exam yesterday afternoon.

10. My parents (talk) about their holiday plans.

🔹 Exercise 5: Complete with While or When

Fill in the blanks using while or when.

1. I was walking home ___ it started to rain.

2. She was cooking dinner ___ the phone rang.

3. They were watching TV ___ I visited them.

4. He was reading a book ___ I entered the room.

5. I was sleeping ___ the alarm went off.

6. She was singing ___ I heard her voice.

7. The children were playing ___ their mother called them.

8. We were talking ___ the teacher arrived.

9. He was driving ___ he saw the accident.

10. I was writing notes ___ the teacher explained the lesson.

🔹 Exercise 6: Make Negative Sentences

Change these sentences into the negative form of the Past Continuous.

1. She was dancing at the party.

2. They were working yesterday evening.

3. He was writing a letter.

4. I was watching TV at 10 o’clock.

5. The children were playing football in the garden.

6. We were studying at midnight.

7. My father was cooking dinner.

8. Tom was running in the park.

9. I was talking to Sarah.

10. She was listening to music in her room.

______________________________________________________

Answer Key

🔹 Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

1. was cooking

2. were watching

3. was walking

4. were not sleeping

5. was reading

6. were playing

7. was listening

8. was snowing

9. were talking

10. was writing

🔹 Exercise 2: Make Questions

1. Were you playing the piano at 7 p.m.?

2. Was she crying when you saw her?

3. Were they studying last night?

4. Was he working at 9 o’clock?

5. Was the baby sleeping in the afternoon?

6. Was the teacher explaining the lesson?

7. Were we walking to school together?

8. Was she waiting for the bus?

9. Was Tom watching football?

10. Was I reading a novel?

🔹 Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

1. She was playing football yesterday evening.

2. They were watching TV when I called.

3. He was not studying last night.

4. The girls were singing loudly.

5. I was writing a letter when she came.

6. We were walking in the park at 5 p.m.

7. My mother was cooking dinner.

8. He was not reading a book.

9. They were sleeping at midnight.

10. She was listening to music.

🔹 Exercise 4: Change into Past Continuous

2. They were playing football in the yard.

3. I was reading a book at midnight.

4. He was writing an email when I knocked on the door.

5. We were walking to the park yesterday evening.

6. The dog was sleeping on the sofa.

7. The teacher was explaining the lesson at that time.

8. Tom was watching TV when his friends came.

9. I was studying for the exam yesterday afternoon.

10. My parents were talking about their holiday plans.

🔹 Exercise 5: Complete with While or When

1. when

2. when

3. when

4. when

5. when

6. when

7. when

8. when

9. when

10. while

(Note: In some sentences, while could also fit, but when is more common for short actions that interrupt.)

🔹 Exercise 6: Make Negative Sentences

1. She was not dancing at the party.

2. They were not working yesterday evening.

3. He was not writing a letter.

4. I was not watching TV at 10 o’clock.

5. The children were not playing football in the garden.

6. We were not studying at midnight.

7. My father was not cooking dinner.

8. Tom was not running in the park.

9. I was not talking to Sarah.

10. She was not listening to music in her room.