Past Continuous Tense Quiz 1 — Question with Full Explanation & Word Meaning To Improve English (Past Progressive Tense)
Past Continuous Tense — Exercise 1 (Q&A with Full Explanation and Vocabulary Builder, Learn English)
This practice test trains you to recognize and use the Past Continuous Tense (was/were + verb-ing) in real contexts. Each question includes the correct past-continuous form, a short verb definition (vocabulary builder + POS notes), and detailed one-sentence explanations for every option (A–D) that tell why the option is correct or incorrect and what choosing it would mean. Practice, prepare and improve both English grammar and vocabulary.
English Grammar Definition: Past Continuous (was/were + verb-ing)
- Form: was / were + present participle (-ing).
- Examples: I was writing; They were waiting; Was she sleeping?
- Main uses:
- Ongoing actions in the past (background actions).
- Actions that were in progress when another action interrupted.
- Parallel past actions (two things happening at the same time).
- Signal words: while, as, at 10 a.m., when, during.
- Negatives / Questions: was/were not (wasn’t/weren’t) + verb-ing; Was/Were + subject + verb-ing?
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Quiz Instructions
- Read each question and choose the best answer out of four given options.
- On top, header section of the quiz, you will see the “title of the quiz,’ ‘spending-time,’ ‘value of question in points,’ and ‘number of questions.”
- Below on footer, you will see Full Screen mode. As the name suggests, it covers the whole screen. It will save a lot of your time attempting the quiz.
- You can zoom the images given in the questions.
- After submitting the quiz, you can see your score and compare with other users.
- The Full Leaderboard link will take you to a page, where you can see all users attempts.
- Below the quiz box, there are explanation of each options. You can study and try again.
- Best of Luck!
Quiz Question, Answer and Explanation
Note: Do remember in the quiz box above, the questions and options will shuffle, so they won’t have the same sequence like 1, 2, 3, or A, B, C as below.
1. While the analyst __ the dataset, the manager walked in.
A) was analysing B) analysed C) is analysing D) has been analysing
Verb (POS & meaning): analyse — verb. To examine data or information carefully to discover patterns or meanings.
Correct: A) was analysing
A) Correct: Past continuous — shows the analysis was in progress when the manager arrived; choosing it means the action was ongoing at that past moment.
B) Wrong: Past simple — would say the analysis finished (not emphasise that it was happening when someone entered).
C) Wrong: Present continuous — would place the action in the present, not in the past.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — implies it started earlier and continues now, which conflicts with the past narrative.
2. They __ the conference room while the vendor set up the projector.
A) were arranging B) arranged C) are arranging D) have been arranging
Verb: arrange — verb. To put things in order or plan/setup an event or space.
Correct: A) were arranging
A) Correct: Past continuous — indicates the room setup was in progress simultaneously with the vendor’s work; choosing it means both actions overlapped.
B) Wrong: Past simple — would state a completed action, not overlapping actions.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — places the event in the present.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — suggests ongoing up to now, conflicting with past description.
3. I __ the new user while she tried to log in.
A) was assisting B) assisted C) am assisting D) have been assisting
Verb: assist — verb. To give support or help to someone.
Correct: A) was assisting
A) Correct: Past continuous — shows help was ongoing during the login attempt; choosing it means the action was in progress then.
B) Wrong: Past simple — would imply the help was completed; less emphasis on simultaneity.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — places the action now.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — implies a continuing action up to the present, not purely past.
4. At noon they __ the training session when the alarm sounded.
A) were attending B) attended C) are attending D) have been attending
Verb: attend — verb. To be present at an event, meeting, or session.
Correct: A) were attending
A) Correct: Past continuous — indicates they were in the middle of the session when interrupted; choosing it emphasises the ongoing nature.
B) Wrong: Past simple — would state the session occurred but not that it was in progress at that moment.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — wrong time.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — indicates ongoing to present; not suitable for the past interruption.
5. The manager __ the budget while the accountant double-checked the numbers.
A) was authorizing B) authorized C) is authorizing D) has been authorizing
Verb: authorise — verb. To give official permission or approval.
Correct: A) was authorizing
A) Correct: Past continuous — authorisation was in progress simultaneously with checking; choosing it means the manager was midway through approving.
B) Wrong: Past simple — implies the authorisation was finished, not ongoing.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — wrong timeframe.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — implies a continuing process up to now.
6. He __ the sensors when the indicator flashed red.
A) was calibrating B) calibrated C) is calibrating D) has been calibrating
Verb: calibrate — verb. To adjust and set instruments so they measure accurately.
Correct: A) was calibrating
A) Correct: Past continuous — calibration was underway at the moment the indicator flashed; choosing it means the work was ongoing then.
B) Wrong: Past simple — would mean the calibration finished earlier.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — wrong tense.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — indicates current continuity, not a past-in-progress action.
7. While she __ the forecast, colleagues discussed contingencies.
A) was calculating B) calculated C) is calculating D) has been calculating
Verb: calculate — verb. To compute or work out numbers or estimates.
Correct: A) was calculating
A) Correct: Past continuous — indicates computation was ongoing during the discussion; choosing it highlights simultaneous actions.
B) Wrong: Past simple — implies completion rather than ongoing process.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — places it now.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — implies continuation to present, not a past overlap.
8. They __ the plan on the whiteboard while the CEO explained the vision.
A) were clarifying B) clarified C) are clarifying D) have been clarifying
Verb: clarify — verb. To make something clear or easier to understand.
Correct: A) were clarifying
A) Correct: Past continuous — clarification was in progress concurrently with the CEO’s explanation; choosing it shows the background action.
B) Wrong: Past simple — a single completed clarification, not a background activity.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — wrong time.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — would suggest it still continues now.
9. I __ with the design team while they sketched wireframes.
A) was collaborating B) collaborated C) am collaborating D) have been collaborating
Verb: collaborate — verb. To work together with others toward a common goal.
Correct: A) was collaborating
A) Correct: Past continuous — collaboration was ongoing as the team sketched; choosing it implies active joint work then.
B) Wrong: Past simple — suggests a completed act of collaboration.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — wrong timeframe.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — implies ongoing to present, not purely past.
10. She __ the update to stakeholders when the outage began.
A) was communicating B) communicated C) is communicating D) has been communicating
Verb: communicate — verb. To convey information or messages to others.
Correct: A) was communicating
A) Correct: Past continuous — she was in the act of communicating when the outage began; choosing it shows interruption in progress.
B) Wrong: Past simple — would suggest she finished the communication before the outage.
C) Wrong: Present continuous — not past.
D) Wrong: Present perfect continuous — implies continuity to present; not appropriate here.
