Past Progressive

Is this an independent or dependent clause?

When I need help.

• independent clause

• dependent clause

Where do you put the comma?

Because I forgot to set my alarm I was running late.

• after the word: because

• before the word: alarm

• after the word: alarm

They ______ in the car while he ______. 

sing - drive 

• 
  was singing -- drove

• were singing -- was driving

• singing -- was driving

• were sing -- drives

We ______ when it _____ to rain. 

hike - start 

• were hiking -- is starts

• was hiking -- started

• were hiking -- was started

• were hiking -- started

Answer explanation

Use the simple past tense in the dependent clause because the clause starts with the time marker "when". 

She _____ a movie while her parents _____. 

watch - sleep 

• was watching -- were sleeping

• were watching -- was sleeping

• watching -- were sleeping

• she watched -- was sleeping

When the phone _____ last night, I _____ dinner. 

ring - make 

• was rang -- was making

• rang -- were making

• rang -- was making

• was rang -- was make

While my sister _____, my brother _____ TV. 

study - watch 

• were studying -- was watching

• 
  was studied -- was watching

• was studying -- was watching

• is studies -- was watching

What is an independent clause? 

A group of words with a subject, verb, and complete _______. 

What is a dependent clause? 

A group of words with a subject, verb, but NOT a complete _______. 

What kind of sentence is this?

I was studying English when I fell asleep.

• simple

• compound

• complex