PAST CONTINUOUS exercises and grammar rules (with answers)

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EXERCISE 1
EXERCISE 2
EXERCISE 3

Urban legends are stories about strange things that happen in everyday life. But they are probably not true. Or are they?

EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ALLIGATORS.

Years ago in Florida and Georgia, you could buy baby alligators. But they are difficult pets, so people set them free.

Where did these alligators go?

While we were studying English, my wife and I were living in New York.

At that time everyone was talking about the alligators in the sewers.

A friend told me that one day a man was working in the sewers. It was five o'clock and he was just finishing for the day. His friends were waiting for him in the street. They heard a scream. When they pulled the man out of the sewer, he was scared and he was shaking.

There was an alligator in the sewer.

What do you think? Is this story true?

PAST CONTINUOUS GRAMMAR RULES

1. Use the past continuous to talk about events which were in progress at a particular time in the past.

At that time everyone was talking about the alligators in the sewers.

2. Use the past continuous to set the background to a story - to talk about what was going on when an event happened. The main events are usually in the past simple.

His friends were waiting for him in the street. They heard a scream.

3. Use when or while to link past simple and past continuous. We can use when before the past simple or the past continuous.

When his friends were waiting for him, they heard a scream.

We can also use while before the past continuous.

While his friends were waiting for him, they heard a scream.

4. Use while with the past continuous in both parts of a sentence to talk about two situations going on at the same time.

While we were studying English, my wife and I were living in New York.

TIP

When when and while come at the beginning of a sentence, put a comma in the middle of the sentence.

While I was falling, I closed my eyes.

5. Use the past continuous to give the reason for a past event.

I forgot about the bath because I was talking on the telephone.

She shouted at me because I was driving fast.

6. Make the past continuous using the verb was / were + verb + -ing form.

YOU - WE - THEY

were working (statement)  

were not working or weren't working (negative)

I - HE - SHE - IT

was working (statement) 

was not or wasn't (negative)

Were you/we/they working? (question)

Yes, you were. (short answer)

No, you weren't. (short answer)

Was I/he/she/it working? (question)

Yes, I was. (short answer)

No, I wasn't. (short answer)

EXERCISE 1
EXERCISE 2
EXERCISE 3