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Present Continuous vs Simple Past

Practice Exercises

1. Markiere die richtige Antwort | Mark the correct answer:

 

I ________ math in school until we ________ a new teacher.

Question 1 of 10

2. Which parts of the sentence fit together?
She was trying to get him on the phone
she was trying to get her phone working again?

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the whole afternoon.

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when their mother came home.

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any customers this afternoon.

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anything at that time

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paying attention?

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Did anyone call while
she was trying to get her phone working again?

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the whole afternoon.

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when their mother came home.

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any customers this afternoon.

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anything at that time

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paying attention?

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I wasn’t doing
she was trying to get her phone working again?

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the whole afternoon.

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when their mother came home.

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any customers this afternoon.

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anything at that time

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paying attention?

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He wasn't expecting
she was trying to get her phone working again?

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the whole afternoon.

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when their mother came home.

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any customers this afternoon.

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anything at that time

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paying attention?

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Were they not
she was trying to get her phone working again?

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the whole afternoon.

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when their mother came home.

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any customers this afternoon.

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anything at that time

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paying attention?

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The children were already eating
she was trying to get her phone working again?

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the whole afternoon.

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when their mother came home.

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any customers this afternoon.

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anything at that time

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paying attention?

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Question 2 of 10

3. Markiere die richtige Antwort | Mark the correct answer:

 

He _______________ to hide behind the door.

Question 3 of 10

4. Which statement is correct:

Some years ago McDonalds restaurants started a TV commercial campaign with the slogan: "I'm loving it!"

 

Question 4 of 10

5. Simple Past oder Past Continuous. Bitte füllen Sie die Lücken. | Simple Past or Past Continuous. Please fill the gaps.

 

The thief the gun and away as the theft alarm off. (drop / run / go)

Question 5 of 10

6. Simple Past oder Past Continuous. Bitte füllen Sie die Lücken. | Simple Past or Past Continuous. Please fill the gaps.

 

the newspaper, when suddenly the light   off.  (read / go)

Question 6 of 10

7. Markiere die richtige Antwort | Mark the correct answer:

 

What ____________ at 7:00 p.m. yesterday?

Question 7 of 10

8. Markiere die richtige Antwort | Mark the correct answer:

 

Everyone at the pub ________ their drinks. Then the police ________ .

Question 8 of 10

9. Decide which statement is correct:

 

The verbs believe, dislike, hate,  involve, know, like, love, need, prefer, realize, seem, understand, want

Question 9 of 10

10. Markiere die richtige Antwort | Mark the correct answer:

 

Police: Where were you yesterday at 4 o'clock in the aftenoon?

You: I _______ at home. I ________ TV.

Question 10 of 10


 

 

Quick Overview

The Past Continuous

The Past Continuous is used for ongoing actions at a specified time. This can be:

• an action in the past that extends over a longer period of time: Two hours later we were still waiting for the bus.

• two actions in the past that run simultaneously and last for a while: My colleague was meeting the customer while I was talking on the phone.

• a first action that takes place, and which is then interrupted by a new (second) action: While I was talking to a customer on the phone, a new email came in.

 

The Past Continuous can also be used for habitual actions in the past

• usually with adverbs like: all the time, always, constantly, forever, frequently, occasionally, often, perpetually, rarely, seldom, sometimes, usually ... Before I found this website, I was constantly making spelling mistakes.

 

The Past Continuous can also be used for the set up for a story

It was a beautiful morning. The birds were singing and the flowers were gently swaying in the wind.

Formation

• in affirmative sentences: subject + "was" or "were" + past participle →  I was reading a book the whole morning.

• in negative sentences: subject + "was" or "were" + not + past participle →  I was not listening to the speaker.

• in positive questions: [Question word +] "was" or "were" + subject + past participle. → Where was he looking all this time?

• in negative questions: [Question word +] "was" or "were" + subject [+ not] + past participle.

a) "was" or "were" + subject + not + past participle →  Were you not listening to the speaker?

b) "wasn't" or "weren't" + subject + past participleWeren't you listening to the speaker?

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