Past Continuous Or Simple Past Tense Quiz

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Quizzes Created: 3 | Total Attempts: 22,533

Questions: 10 | Attempts: 1,306 | Updated: Mar 22, 2023

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Past Continuous Or Simple Past Tense Quiz - Quiz

By Learn English with Demi
Use of Past Progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past Example: He was playing football. Two actions happening at the same time (in the past) Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes. Action going on at a certain time in the past; one action happened after another. Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

Questions and Answers

1.

A: Why weren't you at the meeting?B: I _____ for an overseas call from my family.
- A.
  
  Waited
- B.
  
  Was waiting
Correct Answer
B. Was waiting

Explanation
The action 'waiting an overseas call' was taking place (in progress) at a certain time in the past.

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2.

A: What's wrong with your foot?B: I _____ on a bee while I _____ barefoot through the grass.
- A.
  
  Stepped / was running
- B.
  
  Was stepping / was running
Correct Answer
A. Stepped / was running

Explanation
The action 'running barefoot' began earlier and was in progress when the other action 'stepped on a bee' occurred.

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3.

Last night I _____ on my thesis and it took me a while to realize that my phone _____.
- A.
  
  Was working / was ringing
- B.
  
  Was working / rang
Correct Answer
A. Was working / was ringing

Explanation
Sometimes the past continuous is used in both parts of the sentence when two actions happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously. The two actions 'working on my thesis' and the phone was ringing' were in progress simultaneously.

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4.

When they _____ home last night, they _____ a terrible accident.
- A.
  
  Drove / saw
- B.
  
  Were driving / saw
Correct Answer
B. Were driving / saw

Explanation
The action 'driving home' happened earlier and was in progress when another action 'saw a terrible accident' interrupted.

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1
0
5.

I really enjoyed my vacation last January. While it _____ in Iowa, the sun _____ in Florida.
- A.
  
  Was snowing / was shining
- B.
  
  Was snowing / shone
Correct Answer
A. Was snowing / was shining

Explanation
Sometimes the past continuous is used in both parts of the sentence when two actions happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously. The two actions 'snowing' and the sun shining' were in progress simultaneously.

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2
0
6.

I _____ the thunder during the storm last night because I _____.
- A.
  
  Wasn't heard / was sleeping
- B.
  
  Didn't hear / was sleeping
Correct Answer
B. Didn't hear / was sleeping

Explanation
The action 'sleeping' began earlier and was in progress. The action 'didn't hear the thunder' happened later.

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6
0
7.

He _____ to the radio while she _____ breakfast.He _____ to He was listening to the radio while he was preparing breakfast.
- A.
  
  Listened / was preparing
- B.
  
  Was listening / was preparing
Correct Answer
B. Was listening / was preparing

Explanation
Both actions 'listening to the radio' and 'preparing breakfast' happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously.

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8.

Graham _____ out the window when he _____ a UFO.
- A.
  
  Was looking / saw
- B.
  
  Looked / saw
Correct Answer
A. Was looking / saw

Explanation
The two actions 'looking' and 'saw' happened one after another. 'Looking out the window' began earlier and was in progress when the other action 'saw a UFO' occurred.

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2
0
9.

While Tom _____, Julie _____ a documentary on TV.
- A.
  
  Reading / was watching
- B.
  
  Was reading / was watching
Correct Answer
B. Was reading / was watching

Explanation
Both actions 'reading' and 'watching' happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously.

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2
0
10.

My cell phone _____ when I _____ my car.
- A.
  
  Rang / was driving
- B.
  
  Rang / drove
Correct Answer
A. Rang / was driving

Explanation
The action 'cell phone rang' happened in the middle of another action 'driving the car' that was already in progress.

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3
0

Past Continuous Or Simple Past Tense Quiz

A: Why weren't you at the meeting?B: I _____ for an overseas call from my family.

A: What's wrong with your foot?B: I _ on a bee while I _ barefoot through the grass.

Last night I _ on my thesis and it took me a while to realize that my phone _.

When they _ home last night, they _ a terrible accident.

I really enjoyed my vacation last January. While it _ in Iowa, the sun _ in Florida.

I _ the thunder during the storm last night because I _.

He ___ to the radio while she _ breakfast.He ___ to He was listening to the radio while he was preparing breakfast.

Graham _ out the window when he _ a UFO.

While Tom _, Julie _ a documentary on TV.

My cell phone _ when I _ my car.

Past Continuous Or Simple Past Tense Quiz

A: Why weren't you at the meeting?B: I _____ for an overseas call from my family.

A: What's wrong with your foot?B: I _____ on a bee while I _____ barefoot through the grass.

Last night I _____ on my thesis and it took me a while to realize that my phone _____.

When they _____ home last night, they _____ a terrible accident.

I really enjoyed my vacation last January. While it _____ in Iowa, the sun _____ in Florida.

I _____ the thunder during the storm last night because I _____.

He _____ to the radio while she _____ breakfast.He _____ to He was listening to the radio while he was preparing breakfast.

Graham _____ out the window when he _____ a UFO.

While Tom _____, Julie _____ a documentary on TV.​

My cell phone _____ when I _____ my car.

A: What's wrong with your foot?B: I _ on a bee while I _ barefoot through the grass.

Last night I _ on my thesis and it took me a while to realize that my phone _.

When they _ home last night, they _ a terrible accident.

I really enjoyed my vacation last January. While it _ in Iowa, the sun _ in Florida.

I _ the thunder during the storm last night because I _.

He ___ to the radio while she _ breakfast.He ___ to He was listening to the radio while he was preparing breakfast.

Graham _ out the window when he _ a UFO.

While Tom _, Julie _ a documentary on TV.

My cell phone _ when I _ my car.