Past Continuous Or Simple Past Tense Quiz

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| By Juliar_t
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Juliar_t
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Quizzes Created: 3 | Total Attempts: 28,826
| Attempts: 1,606 | Questions: 10 | Updated: Mar 22, 2025
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1. My cell phone _____ when I _____ my car.

Explanation

The action 'cell phone rang' happened in the middle of another action 'driving the car' that was already in progress.

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About This Quiz
Past Continuous Or Simple Past Tense Quiz - Quiz

By Learn English with Demi
Use of Past Progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past Example: He was playing football. Two actions happening at the same time (in the past) Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes. Action going on at a certain time in... see morethe past; one action happened after another. Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
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2. A: Why weren't you at the meeting?B: I _____ for an overseas call from my family.

Explanation

The action 'waiting an overseas call' was taking place (in progress) at a certain time in the past.

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3. While Tom _____, Julie _____ a documentary on TV.​

Explanation

Both actions 'reading' and 'watching' happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously.

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4. Graham _____ out the window when he _____ a UFO.

Explanation

The two actions 'looking' and 'saw' happened one after another. 'Looking out the window' began earlier and was in progress when the other action 'saw a UFO' occurred.

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5. When they _____ home last night, they _____ a terrible accident.

Explanation

The action 'driving home' happened earlier and was in progress when another action 'saw a terrible accident' interrupted.

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6. He _____ to the radio while she _____ breakfast.He _____ to He was listening to the radio while he was preparing breakfast.

Explanation

Both actions 'listening to the radio' and 'preparing breakfast' happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously.

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7. I really enjoyed my vacation last January. While it _____ in Iowa, the sun _____ in Florida.

Explanation

Sometimes the past continuous is used in both parts of the sentence when two actions happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously. The two actions 'snowing' and the sun shining' were in progress simultaneously.

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8. I _____ the thunder during the storm last night because I _____.

Explanation

The action 'sleeping' began earlier and was in progress. The action 'didn't hear the thunder' happened later.

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9. A: What's wrong with your foot?B: I _____ on a bee while I _____ barefoot through the grass.

Explanation

The action 'running barefoot' began earlier and was in progress when the other action 'stepped on a bee' occurred.

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10. Last night I _____ on my thesis and it took me a while to realize that my phone _____.

Explanation

Sometimes the past continuous is used in both parts of the sentence when two actions happened at the same time and were in progress simultaneously. The two actions 'working on my thesis' and the phone was ringing' were in progress simultaneously.

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My cell phone _____ when I _____ my car.
A: Why weren't you at the meeting?B: I _____ for an overseas call...
While Tom _____, Julie _____ a documentary on TV.​
Graham _____ out the window when he _____ a UFO.
When they _____ home last night, they _____ a terrible accident.
He _____ to the radio while she _____ breakfast.He _____...
I really enjoyed my vacation last January. While it _____ in Iowa, the...
I _____ the thunder during the storm last night because I _____.
A: What's wrong with your foot?B: I _____ on a bee while I _____...
Last night I _____ on my thesis and it took me a while to realize that...
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