We use the present continuous tense to talk about an action or situation that is going on at the moment of speaking. We use the past continuous tense to talk about an action or situation that was going on at a particular point of time in the past.

Fill in the blanks with a present or past continuous tense form.

1. The boy ……………………………… football when he broke his leg. (play)

2. I ………………………………. when the lights went out. (read)

3. They …………………………… (sleep) when the thieves entered their house.

4. It ………………………………… (rain) now.

5. It ………………………………. (rain) when we went out.

6. The child …………………………… (play) with her toys when her mother reached home.

7. I ……………………………. (meet) your father tonight.

8. He …………………………….. still …………………………… (teach) at that school.

9. He ………………………………. (work) on a new project.

10. I ………………………………. (watch) a movie in the afternoon.

11. They ………………………………. (play) in the garden.

12. I …………………………….. (write) my exam tomorrow.

Answers

1. was playing, 2. was reading, 3. were sleeping, 4. is raining, 5. was raining, 6. was playing, 7. am meeting, 8. is still teaching, 9. is working, 10. am watching, 11. are playing, 12. am writing

Worksheet 2

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.

1. What ………………………….. (he do) these days?

2. Don’t disturb him while he …………………… (work)

3. They …………………….. (sleep) when thieves broke in.

4. I …………………….. (drive) down the road when a deer jumped in front of my car.

5. We cannot go out now. It ……………………….. (rain)

6. Temperatures ………………………. (rise)

7. Don’t disturb me. I ………………………….. (work)

8. It …………………….. (get) late.

9. The weather …………………….. to improve. (start)

10. They ………………….. a new house in the countryside. (build)

11. The dog ………………………… (wag) his tail.

12. The birds ………………………. (chirp)

Answers

1. is he doing, 2. is working, 3. were sleeping, 4. was driving, 5. is raining, 6. are rising, 7. am working, 8. is getting, 9. is starting, 10. are building, 11. is wagging, 12. are chirping