Past Progressive Tense Exercises

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| By Natale_bajang

Natale_bajang

Community Contributor

Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 169

Questions: 5 | Attempts: 169 | Updated: Mar 21, 2023

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Questions and Answers

1.

Lindsay and I …………… looking for a skirt …………… our friend called us.
- A.
  
  A. are, when
- B.
  
  B. were, when
- C.
  
  C. been, then
- D.
  
  D. was, after
Correct Answer
B. B. were, when

Explanation
The correct answer is B. were, when. The sentence is describing an action that Lindsay and I were doing in the past, which is looking for a skirt. Therefore, the verb should be in the past tense. Additionally, the word "when" is used to indicate the timing of the action, further supporting the use of the past tense verb "were."

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2.

……………………… when someone went into my room.
- A.
  
  A. I was watching the video clip
- B.
  
  B. While I was watched the video clip
- C.
  
  C. I were watched the video clip
- D.
  
  D. After I were watching the video clip
Correct Answer
A. A. I was watching the video clip

Explanation
The correct answer is A. I was watching the video clip. This is because the sentence is in the past tense, so the verb "watch" should be in the past continuous form "was watching". Additionally, the pronoun "I" should be used instead of "I were".

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3.

I ……………………. to radio while my father was watching television.
- A.
  
  A. was listened
- B.
  
  B.were listened
- C.
  
  C. was listening
- D.
  
  D. had listening
Correct Answer
C. C. was listening

Explanation
The correct answer is C. was listening. This is because the sentence is in the past continuous tense, which is used to describe an ongoing action in the past. In this case, the speaker was listening to the radio while their father was watching television. The past continuous tense is formed using "was/were" + present participle (-ing form of the verb).

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4.

I was cooking breakfast ………………….. the telephone rang.
- A.
  
  A. when
- B.
  
  B. while
- C.
  
  C. before
- D.
  
  D. after
Correct Answer
A. A. when

Explanation
The correct answer is A. when. This is because the phrase "the telephone rang" indicates an event that interrupted the ongoing activity of cooking breakfast. The word "when" is used to connect two events that happen at the same time or in close succession, making it the most appropriate choice in this context.

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5.

At this time yesterday, she ………………… television with her son.
- A.
  
  A. watching
- B.
  
  B. were watching
- C.
  
  C. watched
- D.
  
  D. was watching
Correct Answer
D. D. was watching

Explanation
The correct answer is D. was watching. This is because the sentence is in the past tense and the phrase "at this time yesterday" indicates a specific point in the past. The past continuous tense "was watching" is used to describe an action that was happening at that specific point in the past.

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Current Version
Mar 21, 2023

Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team
May 12, 2015

Quiz Created by
Natale_bajang

Past Progressive Tense Exercises

Lindsay and I …………… looking for a skirt …………… our friend called us.

……………………… when someone went into my room.

I ……………………. to radio while my father was watching television.

I was cooking breakfast ………………….. the telephone rang.

At this time yesterday, she ………………… television with her son.