The past continuous is used to say that an activity was going on at a particular point of time in the past. It is commonly used with time expressions referring to the past.

We make the past continuous tense form by putting was/were before the -ing form of the verb.

• Use was when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun.
• Use were when the subject is a plural noun or pronoun.
• Use was when the subject is the first person singular pronoun I.

Fill in the blanks with the past continuous tense form of the verb.

1. I ………………………. my homework at this time yesterday. (do)

2. What ………………. you ………………….. at 8 o’clock last night? (do)

3. The girl ……………………….. (cry) when I saw her.

4. They ………………………. (work) in the yard when I reached their home.

5. It ……………………….. when we started. (rain)

6. He ………………………. for his exams last month. (prepare)

7. I …………………….. (cook) when the lights went out.

8. I knew you would fail the test. You …………………….. (play) when I …………………… (study)

9. The children ………………………… (play) in the garden when it started raining.

10. I ………………………. (take) a bath when the doorbell rang.

Answers

1. was doing, 2. were you doing, 3. was crying, 4. were working, 5. was raining, 6. was preparing, 7. was cooking, 8. were playing, was studying, 9. were playing, 10. was taking