In the previous quiz we learnt about the present continuous tense and how the verbs change depending on a variety of situations. In this quiz we will look at the past continuous tense.
The rules regarding the use of verbs to express the past continuous tense are not too different from those that govern their use in the present continuous tense. As the name suggests, the past continuous tense is used to express an action relating to the past. Since we are looking at continuous tense it has to relate to what was happening in the past at the time of expression. Something that was happening, or going on, at some point in the past.
The past continuous tense is formed by adding the helping verb ‘to be’ (in the past tense – WAS or WERE) to the PRESENT PARTICPLE of the main verb.
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For I, HE, SHE, IT or singular nouns, WAS is used:
- 'I WAS RUNNING to catch the bus.'
- 'She WAS RUNNING a bath.'
- ‘The car WAS RUNNING at full speed.’ - In these examples WAS is added to the past participle of the main verb RUN, which is RUNNING.
For YOU, WE, THEY or plural nouns, WERE is used:
- 'We WERE RUNNING to catch the bus.'
- 'You WERE RUNNING a business.'
- 'They WERE RUNNING around.'
- ‘The cars WERE RUNNING at full speed.’ - In these examples WERE is added to the past participle of the main verb RUN, which is RUNNING.
The past continuous tense can also be used to express the negative and interrogative forms:
To express the negative form, the word ‘NOT’ is placed between the helping verb and the main verb (present participle):
‘The Prime Minister WAS NOT COMING’.
To express the interrogative form the helping verb is placed before the subject:
‘WAS the Prime Minister COMING?'
The quiz that follows will test your understanding of the past continuous tense.
1.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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The baby was sleeping in the cot. |
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The baby is sleeping in the cot. |
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The baby slept in the cot. |
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The baby sleeps in the cot. |
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2.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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I shaved my beard. |
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I shave my beard. |
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I am shaving my beard. |
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I was shaving my beard. |
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3.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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The school principals are complaining about the unruly behaviour of the pupils. |
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The school principals were complaining about the unruly behaviour of the pupils. |
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The school principals complain about the unruly behaviour of the pupils. |
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The school principals complained about the unruly behaviour of the pupils. |
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4.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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The batsman gesticulated vehemently on being declared out. |
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The batsman is gesticulating vehemently on being declared out. |
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The batsman was gesticulating vehemently on being declared out. |
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The batsman gesticulates vehemently on being declared out. |
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5.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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Cooks was cutting vegetables. |
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Cooks cut vegetables. |
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Cooks are cutting vegetables. |
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Cooks were cutting vegetables. |
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6.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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Why were you staring at her? |
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Why was you staring at her? |
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Why are you staring at her? |
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Why did you stare at her? |
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7.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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The unruly students was not attending college. |
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The unruly students are not attending college. |
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The unruly students were not attending college. |
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The unruly students were not attend college. |
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8.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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Why is Joseph placating his wife? |
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Why were Joseph placating his wife? |
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Why was Joseph placating his wife? |
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Why was Joseph placated his wife? |
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9.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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The managing director is not terminating the employee. |
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The managing director was not terminate the employee. |
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The managing director were not terminating the employee. |
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The managing director was not terminating the employee. |
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10.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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[ ] |
Why was Mustaq frightening his child? |
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Why is Mustaq frightening his child? |
[ ] |
Why were Mustaq frightening his child? |
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Why was Mustaq frighten his child? |
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1.
|
Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
|
[x] |
The baby was sleeping in the cot. |
[ ] |
The baby is sleeping in the cot. |
[ ] |
The baby slept in the cot. |
[ ] |
The baby sleeps in the cot. |
|
|
2.
|
Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
|
[ ] |
I shaved my beard. |
[ ] |
I shave my beard. |
[ ] |
I am shaving my beard. |
[x] |
I was shaving my beard. |
|
|
3.
|
Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
|
[ ] |
The school principals are complaining about the unruly behaviour of the pupils. |
[x] |
The school principals were complaining about the unruly behaviour of the pupils. |
[ ] |
The school principals complain about the unruly behaviour of the pupils. |
[ ] |
The school principals complained about the unruly behaviour of the pupils. |
|
|
4.
|
Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
|
[ ] |
The batsman gesticulated vehemently on being declared out. |
[ ] |
The batsman is gesticulating vehemently on being declared out. |
[x] |
The batsman was gesticulating vehemently on being declared out. |
[ ] |
The batsman gesticulates vehemently on being declared out. |
|
|
5.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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[ ] |
Cooks was cutting vegetables. |
[ ] |
Cooks cut vegetables. |
[ ] |
Cooks are cutting vegetables. |
[x] |
Cooks were cutting vegetables. |
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6.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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[x] |
Why were you staring at her? |
[ ] |
Why was you staring at her? |
[ ] |
Why are you staring at her? |
[ ] |
Why did you stare at her? |
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7.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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[ ] |
The unruly students was not attending college. |
[ ] |
The unruly students are not attending college. |
[x] |
The unruly students were not attending college. |
[ ] |
The unruly students were not attend college. |
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8.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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[ ] |
Why is Joseph placating his wife? |
[ ] |
Why were Joseph placating his wife? |
[x] |
Why was Joseph placating his wife? |
[ ] |
Why was Joseph placated his wife? |
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9.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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[ ] |
The managing director is not terminating the employee. |
[ ] |
The managing director was not terminate the employee. |
[ ] |
The managing director were not terminating the employee. |
[x] |
The managing director was not terminating the employee. |
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10.
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Choose the sentence with past continuous tense. |
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[x] |
Why was Mustaq frightening his child? |
[ ] |
Why is Mustaq frightening his child? |
[ ] |
Why were Mustaq frightening his child? |
[ ] |
Why was Mustaq frighten his child? |
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