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Past Continuous Tense Practice

A Grade 5 ELA worksheet focusing on understanding and using the past continuous tense to describe ongoing actions in the past.

Grade 5 ELA GrammarGrammar and MechanicsParts of SpeechVerbsVerb TensesPast Continuous Tense
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TextFill in the BlanksMultiple ChoiceShort AnswerLong Answer

Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.1.C

Topics

ELAGrammarPast Continuous TenseVerbsGrade 5
7 sections · Free to use · Printable
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Past Continuous Tense Practice

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Read each question carefully and follow the instructions to practice using the past continuous tense.

The past continuous tense describes an action that was ongoing in the past. It is formed with 'was' or 'were' + the present participle (verb + -ing).

Example: I was reading a book. They were playing soccer.

Complete each sentence using the past continuous form of the verb in parentheses.

1. My sister   (sing) a song when I walked in.

2. The students   (write) their essays all morning.

3. What   you   (do) at 7 o'clock last night?

4. The rain   (fall) heavily when we left the house.

5. He   (not listen) to the teacher.

Choose the sentence that correctly uses the past continuous tense.

1. Which sentence is correct?

a

She was watch TV.

b

She was watching TV.

c

She were watching TV.

d

She watch TV.

2. Which action was ongoing in the past?

a

He ate dinner.

b

He was eating dinner.

c

He eats dinner.

d

He will eat dinner.

Rewrite each sentence in the past continuous tense.

1. They play in the park.

2. She reads a book.

3. We watch a movie.

Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) describing what you were doing yesterday morning. Use at least three sentences in the past continuous tense.