Past Continuous Or Simple Past Tense Quiz

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| By Juliar_t
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Quizzes Created: 3 | Total Attempts: 28,670
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  • 1/10 Questions

    My cell phone _____ when I _____ my car.

    • Rang / was driving
    • Rang / drove
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About This 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.

Past Continuous Or Simple Past Tense Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

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

    • Waited

    • Was waiting

    Correct Answer
    A. 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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  • 3. 

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

    • Reading / was watching

    • Was reading / was watching

    Correct Answer
    A. Was reading / was watching
    Explanation
    Both actions 'reading' and 'watching' happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously.

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  • 4. 

    Graham _____ out the window when he _____ a UFO.

    • Was looking / saw

    • 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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  • 5. 

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

    • Drove / saw

    • Were driving / saw

    Correct Answer
    A. 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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  • 6. 

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

    • Listened / was preparing

    • Was listening / was preparing

    Correct Answer
    A. 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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  • 7. 

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

    • Was snowing / was shining

    • 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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  • 8. 

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

    • Wasn't heard / was sleeping

    • Didn't hear / was sleeping

    Correct Answer
    A. 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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  • 9. 

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

    • Stepped / was running

    • 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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  • 10. 

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

    • Was working / was ringing

    • 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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  • Current Version
  • Mar 22, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Apr 15, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Juliar_t
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