Past Progressive Tense: Trivia Test! Quiz

1. While I _________________ to the airport, I saw an accident. (drive)

The given correct answer "was driving" is the past continuous tense form of the verb "drive". It indicates that the action of driving was ongoing in the past at the time when the speaker saw the accident. This form is used to describe an action that was happening in the past at a specific moment or during a specific period of time. In this case, the speaker was in the process of driving to the airport when they witnessed the accident.

Explanation

The given correct answer "was driving" is the past continuous tense form of the verb "drive". It indicates that the action of driving was ongoing in the past at the time when the speaker saw the accident. This form is used to describe an action that was happening in the past at a specific moment or during a specific period of time. In this case, the speaker was in the process of driving to the airport when they witnessed the accident.

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2. When Mary ______________ last night, I was watching TV. (call)

The sentence is in the past tense, and the verb "called" is the correct past tense form of the verb "call." The sentence indicates that Mary performed the action of calling last night, while the speaker was watching TV at that time.

Explanation

The sentence is in the past tense, and the verb "called" is the correct past tense form of the verb "call." The sentence indicates that Mary performed the action of calling last night, while the speaker was watching TV at that time.

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3. I was planting flowers in the garden when my dog ______________ to bark. (begin)

The correct answer is "began". In this sentence, the verb "began" is used to indicate the start of an action. The phrase "to bark" suggests that the dog started barking at some point in time while the person was planting flowers in the garden.

Explanation

The correct answer is "began". In this sentence, the verb "began" is used to indicate the start of an action. The phrase "to bark" suggests that the dog started barking at some point in time while the person was planting flowers in the garden.

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4. While Joan was cleaning her house, a salesperson _____________ to the door. (come)

Joan was in the process of cleaning her house when a salesperson arrived at her door.

Explanation

Joan was in the process of cleaning her house when a salesperson arrived at her door.

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5. I _________________ when the phone rang. (sleep)

The correct answer is "was sleeping". This is because the verb "sleep" is in the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action in the past. The phrase "when the phone rang" further emphasizes that the action of sleeping was interrupted by the ringing phone.

Explanation

The correct answer is "was sleeping". This is because the verb "sleep" is in the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action in the past. The phrase "when the phone rang" further emphasizes that the action of sleeping was interrupted by the ringing phone.

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6. A police officer stopped another driver for speeding while we _____________ to work. (drive)

The correct answer is "were driving" because the sentence is in the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action in the past. The phrase "while we" suggests that both the police officer and the driver were engaged in the action of driving at the same time.

Explanation

The correct answer is "were driving" because the sentence is in the past continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action in the past. The phrase "while we" suggests that both the police officer and the driver were engaged in the action of driving at the same time.

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7. While we _____________________ (sit) in our living room last night, we felt an earthquake.

The correct answer is "were sitting" because the sentence is in the past continuous tense. The phrase "while we were sitting" indicates that the action of sitting was happening at the same time as the earthquake.

Explanation

The correct answer is "were sitting" because the sentence is in the past continuous tense. The phrase "while we were sitting" indicates that the action of sitting was happening at the same time as the earthquake.

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8. I was talking to the teacher yesterday when another student ______________(interrupt) me.

The correct answer is "interrupted" because it is the past tense form of the verb "interrupt." In the given sentence, the speaker was in the middle of a conversation with the teacher when another student abruptly disrupted or cut off their conversation. Therefore, "interrupted" accurately describes the action of the student cutting in and breaking the flow of the conversation.

Explanation

The correct answer is "interrupted" because it is the past tense form of the verb "interrupt." In the given sentence, the speaker was in the middle of a conversation with the teacher when another student abruptly disrupted or cut off their conversation. Therefore, "interrupted" accurately describes the action of the student cutting in and breaking the flow of the conversation.

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9. I was walking in the forest when a dead tree _________over. (fell)

The correct answer is "fell" because the sentence is in the past tense and the verb "fell" is the past tense form of "fall." It indicates that the dead tree came down from its upright position while the speaker was walking in the forest.

Explanation

The correct answer is "fell" because the sentence is in the past tense and the verb "fell" is the past tense form of "fall." It indicates that the dead tree came down from its upright position while the speaker was walking in the forest.

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