Past Continuous Tense - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

17 original exam-style questions - 7 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

Download PDFJump to mark scheme (page 8)Read the revision guide
« Previous: Past Simple vs Present SimpleNext: Conjunctions when if that although »
Revision Library
revisionlibrary.co.uk
KS2 · Grammar

Y3.2 Past Continuous Tense

Calculators not allowed · about 40 minutes
Total Marks
Name: _______________________________    Date: ____ / ____ / ______
Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

The School Fete

Source written for Revision Library (original, copyright-free). Written for Year 3 grammar practice, July 2026.

The whole school was buzzing with excitement on the morning of the summer fete. Miss Grant was carrying a box of raffle tickets across the playground when the bell rang for assembly. In the hall, the Year 3 children were rehearsing their song for the afternoon show, and Mr Adeyemi was tuning his guitar in the corner. Outside, some parents were setting up a cake stall while others unloaded chairs from a van. By lunchtime, the sun was shining brightly and everyone hurried outside to enjoy it. Priya and Tom were queuing for the coconut shy when the head teacher rang a bell to open the fete. Later, as families packed away their picnic blankets, the caretaker was already sweeping the playground for the next school day.

1
Tick the sentence in each pair that is written in the past continuous tense.
(a)(1)
  • A) The rain fell heavily all night.
  • B) The rain was falling heavily all night.
(b)(1)
  • A) Jamal was eating his breakfast quickly.
  • B) Jamal ate his breakfast quickly.
(c)(1)
  • A) They were waiting outside the shop.
  • B) They waited outside the shop.
(d)(1)
  • A) The dog barked at the postman.
  • B) The dog was barking at the postman.
2
Underline the past continuous verb phrase in each sentence.
(a)The children were singing a song in assembly.(1)
(b)I was watching a film when the lights went out.(1)
(c)The wind was howling around the old barn.(1)
(d)We were building a sandcastle near the rock pools.(1)
3
These sentences are taken from the passage above. Underline the past continuous verb phrase in each one.
(a)Miss Grant was carrying a box of raffle tickets across the playground.(1)
(b)In the hall, the Year 3 children were rehearsing their song for the afternoon show.(1)
(c)Outside, some parents were setting up a cake stall while others unloaded chairs from a van.(1)
(d)Priya and Tom were queuing for the coconut shy when the head teacher rang a bell to open the fete.(1)
4
Tick whether each sentence is written in the past continuous tense or the simple past tense.
(a)The sun was shining all morning.(1)
  • Past continuous
  • Simple past
(b)The bus arrived on time.(1)
  • Past continuous
  • Simple past
(c)We were eating lunch in the hall.(1)
  • Past continuous
  • Simple past
(d)The teacher smiled at the class.(1)
  • Past continuous
  • Simple past
(e)They were playing chess after school.(1)
  • Past continuous
  • Simple past
5
Circle was or were to complete each sentence correctly.
(a)I ___ reading my book when the fire alarm rang.(1)
  • was
  • were
(b)They ___ playing football at break time.(1)
  • was
  • were
(c)She ___ writing a letter to her grandmother.(1)
  • was
  • were
(d)We ___ walking home when it started to rain.(1)
  • was
  • were
(e)It ___ raining heavily all afternoon.(1)
  • was
  • were
6
Complete each sentence with the past continuous form of the verb in brackets.
(a)The birds ___ (sing) in the trees when we arrived.(1)
(b)I ___ (make) a sandwich when the phone rang.(1)
(c)The children ___ (play) hide and seek in the garden.(1)
(d)Grandad ___ (read) the newspaper by the fire.(1)
7
Rewrite each sentence in the past continuous tense. Keep the time expression at the start of the sentence.
(a)At six o'clock, Dad cooked the dinner.(1)
(b)All morning, the builders worked next door.(1)
(c)By nine o'clock, the baby slept soundly.(1)
8
Join the two sentences below into one sentence, using while and the past continuous tense, to show that both actions were happening at the same time.

Tom cleaned his room. Ben watched television.
(3)
9
Join the two sentences below into one sentence, using when, to show that the first action was interrupted by the second. Change the first sentence into the past continuous tense.

The children played in the garden. It started to rain suddenly.
(3)
10
Circle the sentence that correctly describes what was happening at exactly four o'clock, then explain your choice in one sentence.

A) At four o'clock, Leah finished her homework.
B) At four o'clock, Leah was finishing her homework.
C) At four o'clock, Leah finishes her homework.
  • A) At four o'clock, Leah finished her homework.
  • B) At four o'clock, Leah was finishing her homework.
  • C) At four o'clock, Leah finishes her homework.
11
Each sentence below has an incorrect helping verb. Rewrite each sentence, correcting was or were.
(a)We was walking to the shop when it started to rain.(1)
(b)She were singing loudly in the choir.(1)
(c)The children was playing outside all afternoon.(1)
(d)I were watching the news when the power went off.(1)
12
Each sentence below has an incorrect verb form. Rewrite each sentence, correcting the past continuous verb.
(a)He was walk to school when he saw his friend.(1)
(b)They were swim in the lake when the storm began.(1)
(c)I was write my diary when the lights went out.(1)
13
The paragraph below has three errors in past continuous verbs. Find and correct the three errors.

Later that morning, the fair was open and the music were playing loudly across the field. Priya and Tom was queuing for the coconut shy while their parents watch from a bench nearby.
(3)
14
Find and correct the two errors in the sentence below.

Yesterday evening, the twins was watch a film together.
(2)
15
Complete each sentence with your own idea, using the correct tense shown.
(a)While I was walking home from school, ___ (finish the sentence using the simple past tense for what happened next).(1)
(b)The whole class ___ (complete with your own past continuous verb phrase) when the fire alarm rang.(1)
16
Write two sentences of your own describing what different people were doing at the same time yesterday evening. Use the past continuous tense correctly in each sentence.
(4)
17
A writer describes the background of a scene using the past continuous tense, for example: The rain was falling steadily as the bus pulled away. Explain why the past continuous tense is a good choice for this kind of background description, rather than the simple past.
(2)
Mark scheme · Y3.2 Past Continuous Tense

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17