Exercise 2: English past continuous - (exercise).

In the sentences below, something or someone interrupted the action. Insert the correct form of the verb (shown in brackets at the end of each sentence) into the spaces. (You can also do this test as a listening exercise or to practise English pronunciation and intonation after you finish.)

A group of friends were having dinner in an old house in the country when suddenly there 1. a noise and the door 2. slowly. ... (be) (open)

John was sitting in his office reading the newspaper when he 3. the sound of a car crash in the street. ... (hear)

Mary was walking home late one night when a strange man 4. her and 5. for a cigarette. ... (stop) (ask)

Policeman Plod was leaving home one morning when his wife 6. to him from the door. "You've forgotten your umbrella!" she said. ... (call)

We were driving along a country road when suddenly a fox 7. out in front of the car and 8. at us. ... (jump) (look)

While I was studying my English grammar lesson, my husband 9. in and 10. he wanted to watch the television. ... (come) (say)

Change the verbs in brackets to the past continuous to show that two actions are happening at the same time and for the same length of time.

I 11. on the grass relaxing while the band 12. classical music. ... (lie) (play)

It was a cold day. The wind 13. hard and the rain 14. heavily. ... (blow) (fall)

John 15. in the sea while the children 16. on the beach. ... (swim) (play)

We 17. the plans while our boss 18. about the project. ... (draw) (talk)

While John 19. the presentation, nobody 20. . ... (give) (listen)

*Incorrect answers are shown in red. You have TWO chances to find the correct answers.

Solutions and help...