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You are here: Home / Exercises / Present Continuous vs. Past Continuous

Present Continuous vs. Past Continuous

January 10, 2021 - pdf

Fill in the blanks with a present or past continuous tense.

1. I ……………………….. a movie when the lights went out.

Correct! Wrong!

When one verb is in the past tense, the other verbs too will most probably be in the past tense.

2. I ……………………….. dinner when the guests arrived.

Correct! Wrong!

When one verb is in the past tense, the other verbs too will most probably be in the past tense.

3. I …………………………. now.

Correct! Wrong!

Now is a present time expression.

4. ‘Where are the kids?’ ‘They ……………………….. in the garden.’

Correct! Wrong!

When the reference is to the present time, use present tenses.

5. We ………………………. for them to come.

Correct! Wrong!

6. The guests …………………………. in the lobby.

Correct! Wrong!

When there is no time reference assume that we are talking about now.

7. It ………………………….. We cannot go out now.

Correct! Wrong!

8. The students ………………………… for their exam.

Correct! Wrong!

9. The mother ………………………….. for the child to return.

Correct! Wrong!

10. I …………………………. for the bus when the accident took place.

Correct! Wrong!

When one verb is in the past tense, the other verbs too will most probably be in the past tense.

11. I ………………………….. in Mumbai at that time.

Correct! Wrong!

At that time shows distance. Use past tenses with it.

12. I …………………………. when the phone rang.

Correct! Wrong!

When one verb is in the past tense, the other verbs too will most probably be in the past tense.

Answers

  1. I was watching a movie when the lights went out.
  2. I was preparing dinner when the guests arrived.
  3. I am writing now.
  4. ‘Where are the kids?’ ‘They are playing in the garden.’
  5. We are still waiting for them to come.
  6. The guests are waiting in the lobby.
  7. It is raining. We cannot go out now.
  8. The students are preparing for their exam.
  9. The mother is waiting for the child to return.
  10. I was waiting for the bus when the accident took place.
  11. I was living in Mumbai when I first met him.
  12. I was sleeping when the phone rang.
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