Home Mushrooms English exercises in the past long time. Past Continuous (use and exercises) test in English (grade 5) on the topic. Exercise on Past Simple and Past Continuous

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English exercises in the past long time. Past Continuous (use and exercises) test in English (grade 5) on the topic. Exercise on Past Simple and Past Continuous

Do the exercises below to learn how to make sentences in the Past Continuous and work out the four main cases of its use.

As already mentioned, times Present Continuous and Past Continuous belong to the same group and are similar in construction.

Exercise 1. presentContinuous andPastbe.

CASE I. Remember! Past Continuous is used to express a long-term action (process) that took place at a certain point in time in the past.

Exercise 2. Fill in the gaps with the verbPastContinuous using the correct form of the verbbe.

I ………… reading a book at 4 o’clock yesterday.
You………. reading a book…
He………. reading a book…
We………. reading a book…
She………. reading a book…
They ………. reading a book…

Exercise 3 Here is Emily's to-do list from yesterday. Write when and what she did. Use phrases:

read; clean the room; have lunch; wash the dishes; watch TV

At 9 o'clock she had breakfast.
At 9.30 she…
At 11 a.m…
At 1 p.m. …
At 3 p.m. …
At 5 p.m. …

Exercise 4 Revealparentheses, usingVerbsinPresent Continuous orPast continuous.

I ______(to write) an English exercise now. I _______(to write) an English exercise at this time yesterday.
My little sister _______(to sleep) now. My little sister ________(to sleep) at this time yesterday.
My friends _______(not to do) their homework now. They _______(to play) volleyball.
My friends ______(not to do) their homework at seven o'clock yesterday. They ______(to play) volleyball.
What _____you ______(to do) now? - I _______(to drink) tea. ______you ______(to drink) tea at this time yesterday? - No, I ________(not to drink) tea at this time yesterday, I ________(to eat) a banana.

The Past Continuous Tense- the past continuous tense of the verb is often confused with the past simple tense ( The Past Simple Tense). Let's figure it out How are these times different?, to start building. To do this, do exercise 4.

Exercise 4 Fill in the gaps with the verbPastSimple andPastContinuous using the correct form of the verbbe.

Do the exercises below to practice the second use of the Past Continuous.

CASE II. Remember! Past Continuous is used to express a long action (process) against which a short action took place. A short action (in Past Simple) happened at a certain point in time in the past.

Exercise 5 Fill in the gaps with the verbPastContinuous and translate the sentences.

When I went out into the garden, the sun ______(to shine).
I __________(to eat) ice cream when you met me in the park yesterday.
When I came home, Tom ______ (to speak) over the phone.
Somebody got into the room when we ________(to sleep).
He saw Jane when she ______ (to cross) the street.
He ______(to wait) for Jenny when it started raining.
The woman ______(to have) a bath when she felt bad.
The man ______(to sit) by the window when he heard the noise.
We _______(to watch TV) when the door bell rank.
She______ (to read) when somebody knocked at the door.
They _____(to talk) about him when he suddenly came in.

Exercise 6 Ask for a sample.

SAMPLE. When did you meet Jerry? I met Jerry when I was walking in the park.

When did you break the window? (play football)
When did she write the story? (fly to London)
When did he catch that butterfly? (go through the fields)
When did you cut your finger? (make dinner)
When did you see the rainbow? (walk in the garden)

Exercise 7 Choose the correct option.

David (came/was coming) in when the children (wrote/were writing) a test.
Mike (telephoned / was telephoning) me when I (took I was taking) shower.
Mike (spoke/was speaking) to me when his little sister (took/was taking) his book out of his schoolbag.
We (met / were meeting) them when we (stood I were standing) at the bus stop.
I (slept I was sleeping) when his mother (came/was coming) back.
On Monday while he (cooked / was cooking) lunch the postman (brought/was bringing) him a letter from his friend.
When the teacher (came/was coming) into the classroom, the children (sat/were sitting) at their desks.

Exercise 8 Answer the question what the family members were doing when Aunt Jenny arrived.

SAMPLE. What were family doing yesterday when aunt Jenny came?

John / listen to the radio
his sister / have a bath ___________________________________
the baby / play ___________________________________
Father / read a book ___________________________________
Mother / clean the room _____________________________________
the cat / sleep ___________________________________
grandparents / watch TV

Exercise 9 Make sentences with pictures.

SAMPLE. When we came to see our friend, he was painting the fence.

CASE III. Remember! Past Continuous is used to express two long-term actions (processes) occurring simultaneously at a certain point in time in the past.

Exercise 10 Make upsuggestionsonpictures.

SAMPLE. While we were talking to our friend, he was painting the fence.

Exercise 11 Make sentences according to the model usingPast Simple orPast Continuous.

SAMPLE. mum/wash up/telephone/ring. Mum was washing up when the telephone rank.

Tom/have a shower/doorbell/ring.
I/study/Jill/call.
Dad/have breakfast/post/arrive.
Nancy/read a book/she/hear a noise.
John/shop in town/he/meet Kevin.
The whole class/write a test/I/come.
We/drive along Park Avenue/something/go wrong in the car.

Exercise 12 Read a story that could very well have happened. Choose the correct version of the action verb.

I (met/was meeting) a friend while I (did/was doing) the shopping. While I (paid/was paying) for my things, I (heard/was hearing) someone call my name. I (turned/was turning) round and (saw/seeing) Paula. She (wore/was wearing) bright red coat. We (decided/were decided) to have a cup of coffee. 6While we (had/were having) a drink, a waiter (dropped/was dropping) pile of plates. We all (got/were getting) a terrible shock. While the waiter (picked/was picking) up the broken plates, he (cut/was cutting) his finger. We (left/were leaving) the cafe and (said/were saying) goodbye. I (finished/was finished) my shopping and (went/was going) home.

1. Open the brackets using Past Continuous verbs

1. Around me people (to talk) German, Italian and English.

2. Robert (to talk) to some of the other guests on the terrace when Hardy came.

3. Michael (to look) at his watch.

4. All night long the stars (to glitter).

5. Lizzie (to eat) and didn't raise her head.

6. He drank some of the wine and ate several chunks of bread while he (to wait) for his dinner to come up.

7. The family (to prepare) for the party.

8. She (to argue) that only Belinda knew how to treat men.

9. A few minutes later Dixon (to hurry) through the streets to his bus stop.

10. They moved across the room, which (to start) to fill up, to a vacant corner.

1. They (to write) the test at this time yesterday.

2. He (to work) in the garden from two till five o "clock.

3. We (to watch) television the whole evening.

4. You (to play) football at six o "clock?

5. You (to drink) tea at seven o'clock?

6. He (to draw) from three till four o "clock?

7. Who (to listen) to the radio at this time?

8. It (to rain) the whole day yesterday?

9. They (to skate) at three o'clock?

10. She (not to help) mother about the house from two till six.

3. Write down what Mrs. Taylor was doing at a particular time.

H - R: Mrs. Taylor was packing her bags at 6 a.m. (Mrs. Taylor was packing her bags at 6 am.)

6 a.m. pack her bags

7 a.m. drive to the airport

9 a.m. fly to Liverpool

noon have a business meeting

1 p.m. have lunch

2 p.m. check in at a hotel

3 p.m. talk to her boss on the phone

4 p.m. work in the Internet

4. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Continuous form. Translate the sentences.

I … (live) in Mexico in June, 2010.

When I entered the bathroom…(shave).

When she met him, they … (work) for the same company.

What did you … (do) last night?

I showed him my new dress, but he …(not look) at it.

When it started to rain, they …(sit) on the grass.

Which hotel Anna … (stay) when she lost her credit card?

We … (sleep) when the phone rank.

Doctor Fleming discovered penicillin while he …(study) influenza.

Sam … (stand) under the tree because it …(rain).

When the teacher came into the classroom, the children …(run) and … (scream).

While Bob … (chop) the meat, his wife …(peel) potatoes.

When I arrived at the party, all the guests …(dance).

The waiter cut his finger while he … (pick up) the broken glasses.

What did you … (wear) when he met you?

5. Read the text and answer the questions.

Tom was sleeping in his bed when somebody stole his car. His wife was watching TV in the living room. His mother, Mrs. Crown, was talking on the phone in her bedroom. His father, Mr. Crown, was playing cards with his neighbors. Tom's son was listening to music with his headphones. And Tom's daughter was taking a shower. The dog wasn't barking.

Was Tom sleeping?

What was his wife doing?

Was Mrs. Crown talking on the phone in Tom's bedroom?

Was Mr. Crown playing chess or cards?

What was Tom's son listening to?

Tom's daughter was taking a bath, wasn't she?

Was the dog barking?

Answers

1. Open the brackets using Past Continuous verbs.

1. Around me people were talking German, Italian and English.

2. Robert was talking to some of the other guests on the terrace when Hardy came.

3. Michael was looking at his watch.

4. All night long the stars were glittering.

5. Lizzie was eating and didn't raise her head.

6. He drank some of the wine and ate several chunks of bread while he was waiting for his dinner to come up.

7. The family was preparing for the party.

8. She was arguing that only Belinda knew how to treat men.

9. A few minutes later Dixon was hurrying through the streets to his bus stop.

10. They moved across the room, which was starting to fill up, to a vacant corner.

2. Open the brackets using Past Continuous verbs.

1. were writing

2. was working

3. were watching

4. Were you playing football…?

5. Were you drinking tea…?

6. Was he drawing…?

7. Who was listening…?

8. Was it raining…?

9. Were they skating…?

10. She wasn't (=wasn't) helping

Mrs. Taylor was driving to the airport at 7 a.m. ( Mrs. Taylorhalalavairport at 7am.)

She was flying to Liverpool at 9 a.m. ( She flew to Liverpool at 9 am.)

She was having a business meeting at noon.(She was at a business meeting at noon.)

She was having lunch at 1 p.m. ( She had lunch at noon.)

She was checking in at a hotel at 2 p.m. ( She checked into the hotel at 2 pm.)

She was talking to her boss on the phone at 3 p.m. ( She talked to the boss over the phone for 3 hours.)

She was working in the Internet at 4 p.m. ( She worked on the Internet for 4 hours.)

was living (I lived in Mexico in June 2010)

was shaving (When I entered the bathroom, he was shaving.)

were working (When she met him, they worked for the same company.)

What were you doing last night?(What did you do last night?)

wasn't looking (I showed him my new dress, but he didn't look at it.)

were sitting (When it started to rain, they were sitting on the grass.)

Which hotel was Anna staying when she lost her credit card?(Which hotel was Anna staying at when she lost her credit card?)

were sleeping (We were sleeping when the phone rang.)

was studying (Dr. Fleming discovered penicillin while studying the flu.)

was standing - was raining (Sam was standing under a tree because it was raining.)

were running and screaming (When the teacher entered the classroom, the children were running and screaming.)

was chopping - was peeling (While Bob was chopping meat, his wife was peeling potatoes.)

were dancing (When I came to the party, all the guests were dancing.)

was picking up (The waiter cut his finger while picking up broken glasses.)

What were you wearing when he met you?(What were you wearing when he met you?)

Yes, he was. He was sleeping. (Yes. He was sleeping.)

She was watching TV. (She was watching TV.)

No, she wasn't. She was talking on the phone in her bedroom.(No. She was talking on the phone in her bedroom.)

He was playing cards. (They played the cards.)

He was listening to music. (He was listening to music.)

No, she wasn't. She was taking a shower.(No. She took a shower.)

No, it wasn't. The dog wasn't barking.(No. The dog didn't bark.)

Exercise 1.

Open the brackets using verbs in the form Past Continuous.

1. Around me people (to talk) Russian, Italian and English.
2. Arnold (to talk) to some of the other guests on the terrace when Hardy came.
3. Alex (to look) at his watch.
4. All night long the stars (to glitter).
5. Elizabeth (to eat) and didn't raise her head.
6. He drank some of the wine and ate several chunks of bread while he (to wait) for his dinner to come up.
7. The family (to prepare) for the party.
8. She (to argue) that only Belinda knew how to treat men.
9. A few minutes later Edward (to hurry) through the streets to his bus stop.
10. They moved across the room, which (to start) to fill up, to a vacant corner.

Answers:

1. Around me people were talking German, Italian and English.
2. Robert was talking to some of the other guests on the terrace when Hardy came.
3. Michael was looking at his watch.
4. All night long the stars were glittering.
5. Lizzie was eating and didn't raise her head.
6. He drank some of the wine and ate several chunks of bread while he was waiting for his dinner to come up.
7. The family was preparing for the party.
8. She was arguing that only Belinda knew how to treat men.
9. A few minutes later Dixon was hurrying through the streets to his bus stop.
10. They moved across the room, which was starting to fill up, to a vacant corner.

Exercise 2.

Translate into English.

Yesterday at 5 pm I was reading a newspaper.
On Sunday from 2 to 4 we worked in the garden.
We studied English all day.
When I called him, he was preparing for the lessons.
We were walking to the library when she met us.
What did you do last Saturday night from 5 o'clock to 7 o'clock?
When I was writing the letter, he was doing an English exercise.
We watched TV and they listened to the radio.
During lunch he read the newspaper.
It was already dark when they left the forest.
Where were you working today at 9 o'clock in the morning?
I waited for you from 3 to 4 and then left.
We sat down on a bench. Next to us, two boys were talking loudly about something. One of them asked questions and the otheranswered. Two girls were playing under a tree. Several students were walking along the paths of the park. Birds sang in the trees. It got hot and wedecided to take a dip.

Answers:

garden.

4. When I rank

5. We were going to thelibrary when she met us.

listening to the radio.

away.

1. I was reading a newspaper yesterday at 5 o'clock in the evening.

2. On Sunday from 2 o'clock till 4 o'clock we were working in thegarden.

3. We were studying English the whole day.

4. When I rankhim up he was preparing for the lessons.

5. We were going to thelibrary when she met us.

6. What were you doing last Saturday in theevening from 5 o'clock till 7 o'clock?

7. When I was writing a letter, hewas doing an English exercise.

8. We were watching TV, and they werelistening to the radio.

9. He was reading a newspaper during dinner.

10. It was already dark when they were going out of the forest.

11. Where were you working today at 9 o'clock in the morning?

12. I was waiting for you from 3 o'clock till 4 o'clock, and then I wentaway.

13. We sat on the bench. The two boys were talking loudly nearus. One of them was asking questions and the other was answering
them. The two girls were playing under the tree. Some students werewalking along the paths of the park. The birds were singing in the
trees. It was getting hot and we decided to bathe.

Greetings my dear reader.

Remember what I say all the time: practice, practice and only practice! If you already know, then I can congratulate you - we are moving to the next level - "Past Continuous: Exercises"!

Today we are waiting for you with a selection of the most interesting and useful exercises with answers that will help you quickly learn the rule on the topic. Sit back, take a leaf from your hand and start practicing online right now.

For grade 5, where they sometimes begin to study this topic, I advise you to do the following exercises.

Exercise 1.

She (to write) a letter at 6 p.m. last evening.
Her father (to go) to the art gallery when he (to meet) her mother.
At 8.20 yesterday morning my mother (to drive) me to the university.
They (to sit) at the café at that time.
She (to study) in the library when they suddenly called.

Exercise 2.

Insert the correct form of the verb.

We had a family evening yesterday. My grandfather and my father (to play) chess, while my grandmother (to knit). My mother (to clean) while I and my brother (to read).
I (to walk) on the street, when I (to see) a man fell. I called the emergency and (to wait) for help. I (to sit) near the man, when the medicals arrived.
Tony and Ann (to ride) through the forest. The sun (to shine) bright and the birds (to sing) beautifully.

Here are the exercises for 6th grade , where this topic is already repeated, and not taught, become a little more complicated.

Exercise 3

Insert the words in the correct form.

Tom (to walk) home when the storm (to begin).
What (you \ to read) when they came in?
While I (to dig) in the garden, I (to hurt) my arm.
I (to wait) for my flight yesterday morning.
How fast (she\to drive) when the accident (to happen)?
We (to have) a dinner when she called.
At 10.35 we (to play) tennis in the club.

Exercise 4

Change the sentence using the words "as, while, when".

Kim was crossing the street. He saw Jane.
I was serving the table. She dropped a glass.
She was driving home. The engine broke down.
Jake and Kiley were leaving the shop. The police officer stopped them.
The children were playing. Their mother was cooking.

For students in grade 7 or even grade 8, it will be much more interesting and much more useful to do translation assignments. They already have enough knowledge of the rules, and practice too, so it’s worth taking on something more difficult.

Exercise 5

Translate into English.

They had a conference last Tuesday at 5 pm.
We were setting the table when the guests arrived.
I was already asleep when I heard a knock on the door.
He was walking down the road when he slipped on a banana skin.
Mom cooked while I did my homework.
He was reading the contract when his boss called.

It wasn't difficult, was it? I am sure that you coped with everything without difficulty, because you know everything. But if you have any problems or questions that you could not figure out - write in the comments. I will gladly give you answers to all your questions.

And if you want even more information, even more practice, even more English - subscribe to my blog newsletter. I promise you only the most interesting is waiting for you.

See you again, my dears.

I propose to fix this topic in comparison with Past Simple - move on and practice further.

Answers:

Exercise 1.

was writing.
Was going, met.
was driving.
We're sitting.
was studying.

Exercise 2.

Were playing, was knitting, was cleaning, were reading.
Was walking, saw, was waiting, was sitting.
Was riding, was shining, were singing.

Exercise 3

Was walking, began.
Were you reading.
Was digging, hurt.
was waiting.
Was she driving, happened.
We're having,
We're playing.

Exercise 4

Kim was crossing the street when he saw Jane.
I was serving the table when she dropped a glass.
As she was driving home the engine broke down.
Jake and Kiley were leaving the shop when the police officer stopped them.
The children were playing while their mother was cooking.

Exercise 5

They were having a conference last Tuesday at 5 o "clock in the evening.
We were serving the table when guests arrived.
I was already sleeping when I heard a knock at the door.
He was walking down the road when he slipped on the banana skin.
Mother was cooking while I was doing my homework.
He was reading the contract, when his boss called.

I didn't take my umbrella. It ... when I left home. (rain)
Last night at 10 o "clock my brother ... for his exam. (prepare)
Everyone ... in silence. (sit)
I don't know what the teacher ... about, I ... .(talk, listen)
A man ... along the road when he saw a cat. (walk)

Task 2. Ask special questions to the sentences using the question words given in brackets.

Paul's grandma was watching TV to learn the latest news. (why)
Yesterday evening was chilly so everyone was wearing a jacket. (who)
On Tuesday at 10 o "clock his boss was flying from Berlin to Moscow. (when)
Her children were playing outside all the time. (where)
John was cleaning his flat from six till eight. (when)

Task 3. Translate the sentences into English, paying special attention to verbs that are not used in the Past Continuous form.

Oliver was playing with his sister when his mother entered the room.
He loved her all his life.
I was talking to a friend when my phone rang.
She heard a knock on the door, but did not open it.
What were you doing at 3 o'clock?

Task 4. Correct the mistakes in the sentences.

There were a lot of people on the beach but nobody wasn't swimming.
This house was belonging to her grandparents when she moved out.
My cat slept on the sofa when I came back from work.
At 11 o "clock in the morning we were finishing the project.
The television was on because the whole family was watching it.

Task 5. Write the verbs in the Past Continuous form with the pronoun given in brackets. Pay special attention to spelling.

Example: play (I) - I was playing

sit (we)
run (he)
lie (they)
live (she)
ski (I)

Answers with explanations

Exercise 1.

was not raining
Negative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was/were + not + the verb with the ending -ing.
was preparing/was not preparing
Negative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was/were + not + the verb with the ending -ing;
was sitting
Affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was/were + the verb with the ending -ing.
was talking, was not listening
Affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was / were + the verb with the ending -ing; negative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was/were + not + the verb with the ending -ing.
was walking
Affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was/were + the verb with the ending -ing.

Task 2.

Why was Paul's grandma watching TV?
Who was wearing a jacket yesterday evening?
Interrogative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed using the auxiliary verb was / were, which is put in place before the subject, and verbs ending in -ing.
When was his boss flying from Berlin to Moscow?
Interrogative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed using the auxiliary verb was / were, which is put in place before the subject, and verbs ending in -ing.
Where were her children playing all the time?
Interrogative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed using the auxiliary verb was / were, which is put in place before the subject, and verbs ending in -ing.
When was John cleaning his flat?
Interrogative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed using the auxiliary verb was / were, which is put in place before the subject, and verbs ending in -ing.

Task 3.

Oliver was playing with his sister when their mother entered the room.
Affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was/were + the verb with the ending -ing.
He loved her all his life.
The verb love (to love) expresses emotions. Such verbs, as a rule, are not used in the Continuous tenses.
I was talking to my friend when my phone rank.
Affirmative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed with the help of the auxiliary verb was/were + the verb with the ending -ing.
She heard a knock at the door but she didn't open it.
The verb hear (hear) refers to the verbs of sensory perception. Such verbs are not used in Continuous tenses.
What were you doing at 3 o "clock?
Interrogative sentences in the Past Continuous are formed using the auxiliary verb was / were, which is put in place before the subject, and verbs ending in -ing.

Task 4.

no one was swimming
The pronoun nobody is negative. There can only be one negative in an English sentence.
house owned
The verb belong belongs to the group of exception verbs that are not used in the tenses of the Continuous group.
cat was sleeping
This sentence describes a situation where a single action occurs against the background of another (longer in time).
we were finishing
Past Continuous is formed using the auxiliary verb were for 1st person plural pronouns.
was watching it
The Past Continuous is formed using the auxiliary verb was/were + verb ending -ing.