Past continuous tense – exercise 2
Answer questions by when / while
1) The mouse was running across the room _____________ the cat saw it.
2) _____________ the cat saw the mouse, he started chasing it.
3) _____________the little mouse was running across the room, she saw the cat!
4) The poor mouse panicked _____________ she saw the cat.
5) _____________ the mouse panicked, she began to run faster.
6) The cat also ran faster_____________ he saw the mouse go faster.
7) _____________ the cat and mouse were running across the room, a bird flew in the
window.
8) _____________ the bird flew in the window, the cat jumped at the bird.
9) _____________ the cat was still flying through the air to catch the bird, the bird flew
out the window.
10) The lucky mouse ran away _____________ the cat was trying to catch the bird.
1. I (was falling down / fell down) while I (went / was going) down the stairs.
2. He (was driving / drove) very fast when he (had / was having) the accident.
3. It (snowed / was snowing) when we (were leaving / left) home.
4. I (wasn't answering / didn't answer) your call because I (was working / worked).
5. This morning I (got up / was getting up) and I (was making / made) breakfast for
everybody.
6. When I (saw / was seeing) her, she (wore / was wearing) a really nice purple dress.
7. Last Saturday we (got up / were getting up) late and we (were missing / missed) the
train.
8. I (didn't say / wasn't saying) hello because you (walked / were walking) very fast.
9. I (slept / was sleeping) happily when a loud noise (woke me up / was waking me up).
10. What (were you doing / did you do) when I (called / was calling) you last night?
When I ____________ (arrive) at the station, Raimond ____________ (wait) for me.
He ____________ (wear) a nice black suit and he ____________ (hold) a red rose in his right
hand. When I ____________ (get off) the train, he ____________ (run) up to me
and ____________ (kiss) me passionately.
It ____________ (rain) heavily so he ____________ (take off) his jacket and ____________
(put) it over my head. I ____________ (tell) Raimond to go to a café so that we could talk,
but he ____________ (insist) on going to another place.
While he ____________ (drive), I ____________ (throw) a look at him.
He ____________ (smile) all the time, but he also ____________ (look) nervous.
He finally ____________ (stop) his car on the top of a hill with fantastic views. It was so
wonderful. We ____________ (get out) of the car, and he ____________ (kneel) in front of
me and ____________ (take) a ring out of his pocket. “Kathy, will you...” he said. “Listen,
Raimond, I want to break up with you,” I interrupted.
11. After the conference, I _____ that a man _____ the walls of the building.
[Link] seeing / was painting
[Link] / was painting
[Link] seeing / painted
12. He was so angry that he _____ and _____.
[Link] getting up / left
[Link] up / was leaving
[Link] up / left
13. I _____ the vase while I _____ the bookshelf.
[Link] / was cleaning
[Link] / cleaned
[Link] breaking / was cleaning
14. As soon as we walked into the room, we _____ a noise. Someone ______ my computer.
[Link] / used
[Link] hearing / used
[Link] / was using
15. The bus in which the football team ______ had an accident, but nobody ______.
[Link] travelling / died
[Link] / died
[Link] travelling / were dying
16. I _____ the party, but Sonia _____ to leave.
[Link] enjoying / was wanting
[Link] / was wanting
[Link] enjoying / wanted
7
17. The police _____ him while he ______ to escape.
[Link] / tried
[Link] / was trying
[Link] catching / was trying
8
18. We _____ what to do, so we just called the police and ______.
[Link]'t know / waited
[Link]'t knowing / waited
[Link]'t know / were waiting
9
19. When I last _____ her she ______ high-heeled shoes.
[Link] / wore
[Link] seeing / was wearing
[Link] / was wearing
10
20. The sun _______, so we _____ our clothes and got into the water.
[Link] shining / took off
[Link] / took off
[Link] / were taking off
21. While I _________________, the school bus _________________. (to text) (to arrive)
22. Cindy _________________ her leg while she _________________. (to break) (to
snowboard)
23. He _________________ to the radio while he _________________ breakfast. (to listen)
(to prepare)
24. My father _________________ at 70 km/h when a
policeman _________________ him. (to drive) (to stop)
25. The girl _________________ that the boy _________________ her. (to notice) (to
watch)
26. My dad _________________ the ladder while he _________________ the carport. (to
fall off) (to paint)
27. While we _________________, we _________________ crossword puzzles. (to wait) (to
do)
28. Nick _________________ sick while he _________________ in Texas. (to become) (to
travel)
29. What _________________ when you _________________ about 9/11? (to do) (to hear)
30. She said that she _________________ happy, so I _________________ to her. (not/to
feel) (to talk)
Exercise 1: Time Clause Exercises with “When” and “While”
31. I’ll call you _________ I get home.
32. Please be quiet _________ I am studying.
33. He was watching TV _________ the phone rang.
34. I will send you the email _________ I finish writing it.
35. She was cooking dinner _________ her husband was setting the table.
36. They were playing soccer _________ it started raining.
37. I usually listen to music _________ I am working.
38. He broke his arm _________ he fell off his bike.
39. We were having a picnic _________ we saw a deer.
40. She fell asleep _________ she was reading.
41. They were dancing _________ the music stopped.
42. I met her _________ I was traveling in Europe.
43. He was reading a book _________ his sister was watching a movie.
44. We were walking in the park _________ we found a lost wallet.
45. I always drink coffee _________ I am reading the news.