grammar

What ......... you doing when I called you last afternoon?

• was

• are

• did

• were

Answer explanation

We use Past Continuous for:

An action that was in progress when another action happened in the PAST.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

Our class ........ to the planetarium last Wednesday.

• go

• was going

• went

• will go

Answer explanation

We use Past Simple for:

An action that was completed in a specific time in the Past.

The verb GO is irregular and turns into WENT.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

My mum was cooking while I ....... for my exam.

• studied

• was studying

• study

• did study

Answer explanation

We use Past Continuous for:

Two actions that were happening at the same time in the past.

Time expressions: while, as, during (+ noun)

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

George's aunt made a pasta last night but the kids said it ............... good.

• wasn't tasting

• don't taste

• didn't taste

• isn't tasting

Answer explanation

Remember that stative verbs cannot be used with continuous tenses.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.3.1A

CCSS.L.K.1B

Abigail was reading a book when somebody ......... her door.

• was knocking

• knocks

• knocked

• knock

Answer explanation

We use past continuous for:

A long action in the past that was interrupted.

The interruption is usually a shorter action in Simple Past.

Tags

CCSS.L.2.1D

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.4.1B

CCSS.L.5.1D

Greece ...... the world cup in 2004.

• won

• win

• winned

• was winning

Answer explanation

The verb win is irregular and turns into won.

Time expression: in 2004

Past simple because something happened in the past.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.2.1D

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

They .............. outside when it stared to rain.

• are playing

• played

• were playing

• was playing

Answer explanation

We use past continuous for:

A long action in the past that was interrupted by another action.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.2.1D

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.3.1E

CCSS.L.5.1D

She woke up, got dressed and ........ for school.

• leaves

• left

• lefted

• leaved

Answer explanation

We use Past Simple for:

Actions that happened one after the other in the past.

Leave is an irregular verb that turns into left.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.5.1.B-D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

As I ......... down my neighborhood, I saw my friend Jenny.

• was walking

• were walking

• walked

• walk

Answer explanation

As is used with past continuous.

Describes an action with progress in the past.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.2.1D

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D

When I ...... 15 I travelled to Hungary.

• am

• was

• were

• did

Answer explanation

Action that happened in the past.

Tags

CCSS.L.1.1E

CCSS.L.2.1D

CCSS.L.3.1D

CCSS.L.5.1C

CCSS.L.5.1D