Ready to Prove Your Past‑Tense IQ?

Just hit start, go through each question, and watch your confidence rise. I’ll walk you through answers with quick, crystal‑clear explanations so you stay on track.

Let’s shine that past‑tense glow! Good luck, and enjoy the ride.

Simple Past Tense Questions

Past Continuous Questions

Answers to the Fill‑In‑The‑Blank Questions

1. 51. I was watching TV when the phone rang. (a)
2. 52. They were having dinner when we arrived. (a)
3. 53. The baby was sleeping when I checked. (a)
4. 54. She was working in the garden all morning. (a)
5. 55. We were playing chess when the lights went out. (a)
6. 56. The students were finishing their projects when the bell rang. (a)
7. 57. It was raining when we left the house. (a)
8. 58. Tom was driving his car when the accident happened. (a)
9. 59. The children were studying while their mother cooked. (a)
10. 60. She was reading a book when her friend called. (a)
11. 61. The dog was playing in the yard all afternoon. (a)
12. 62. They were painting the walls when I visited. (a)
13. 63. The choir was singing when the director stopped them. (a)
14. 64. John was eating breakfast when the mail arrived. (a)
15. 65. The train was leaving when I reached the station. (a)
16. 66. Sarah was riding her bike when it started raining. (a)
17. 67. We were watching the game when the power went out. (a)
18. 68. He was practicing the piano all evening. (a)
19. 69. The cat was sitting by the window all day. (a)
20. 70. Mary was washing her clothes when her phone rang. (a)
21. 71. They were waiting for the bus when it started snowing. (a)
22. 72. The chef was preparing dinner when the guests arrived. (a)
23. 73. She was giving her presentation when the computer crashed. (a)
24. 74. The birds were singing in the trees all morning. (a)
25. 75. We were cleaning our house when you called. (a)
26. 76. The students were taking notes during the lecture. (a)
27. 77. He was working at his desk when his boss walked in. (a)
28. 78. The wind was blowing all night long. (a)
29. 79. She was drinking coffee while reading the newspaper. (a)
30. 80. The children were sleeping when their father came home. (a)
31. 81. The artist was painting when inspiration struck. (a)
32. 82. They were watching the movie when the power failed. (a)
33. 83. Jane was cooking dinner while listening to music. (a)
34. 84. The dog was barking when someone knocked. (a)
35. 85. We were playing cards when time flew by. (a)
36. 86. The audience was clapping while the band performed. (a)
37. 87. She was writing emails during the meeting. (a)
38. 88. The sun was setting when we went for a walk. (a)
39. 89. They were reading a story when bedtime came. (a)
40. 90. The phone was ringing throughout our conversation. (a)
41. 91. Peter was tying his shoes when the lace broke. (a)
42. 92. The gardener was watering the plants all afternoon. (a)
43. 93. We were enjoying the game when it started to rain. (a)
44. 94. The baby was crawling while her mother cleaned. (a)
45. 95. She was sewing her dress when the needle broke. (a)
46. 96. The teacher was explaining the test when the bell rang. (a)
47. 97. They were taking photos during the ceremony. (a)
48. 98. The cat was drinking milk when the dog entered. (a)
49. 99. He was playing the guitar all evening. (a)
50. 100. The snow was falling as we drove home. (a)

Past Perfect Questions

Corrected Past‑Perfect Sentences

Below is a list of sentences with the appropriate past‑perfect verb form, which is highlighted in bold. These choices reflect the correct tense for each context (e.g., “by the time”, “before”, or “after”).

• 1. By the time I arrived, she had left.
• 2. They had finished their work before lunch.
• 3. The movie had started when we reached.
• 4. She had read the book before class.
• 5. We had prepared dinner when guests arrived.
• 6. The train had departed before we got to the station.
• 7. He had lost his keys before leaving home.
• 8. The storm had passed before sunrise.
• 9. They had received the message before the meeting.
• 10. Sarah had completed her degree before moving abroad.
• 11. The children had done their homework before watching TV.
• 12. I had forgotten my wallet before going shopping.
• 13. The sun had risen before we woke up.
• 14. They had painted the house before selling it.
• 15. She had heard the news before coming to work.
• 16. The doctor had seen three patients before lunch.
• 17. We had booked our tickets before the concert.
• 18. The chef had prepared the meal before the guests arrived.
• 19. He had sent the email before the deadline.
• 20. The plants had died before the frost came.
• 21. They had completed the project before the weekend.
• 22. The bird had flown before we could photograph it.
• 23. She had finished her coffee before the meeting started.
• 24. The team had finished practice before the game.
• 25. We had eaten our lunch before the movie.
• 26. The police had arrived before we called them.
• 27. She had practiced the piano before taking lessons.
• 28. They had read the instructions before starting.
• 29. The cat had escaped before we found it.
• 30. He had taken his medicine before bedtime.
• 31. The rain had stopped before we left home.
• 32. They had decorated the room before the party.
• 33. The student had completed the test before lunch break.
• 34. We had packed our bags before traveling.
• 35. The snow had melted before morning came.
• 36. She had found her keys before leaving work.
• 37. The movie had ended before we arrived.
• 38. They had cooked dinner before watching TV.
• 39. The dog had run before we could catch it.
• 40. He had studied the book before the exam.
• 41. The store had closed before we got there.
• 42. They had fixed the car before the trip.
• 43. The bell had rung before class started.
• 44. She had practiced her speech before the ceremony.
• 45. We had checked our tickets before boarding.
• 46. The artist had finished the painting before the exhibition.
• 47. They had sent the message before the phone died.
• 48. The teacher had graded the papers before class.
• 49. He had drunk his coffee before the meeting.
• 50. The sun had set before we started hiking.

Mixed Past Tense Questions

Conclusion

Past Tense Mastery: Keep the Momentum Going!

Hope those quiz questions gave you a quick refresher on past tense mechanics.
Whether you aced every single one or stumbled on a few, remember: mastery comes from practice, not perfection.

What to Do Next?

• Identify the Weak Spots: If some verb forms seemed trickier—say, the irregulars or the -ed endings—zoom in on those in your next study session.
• Apply in Real Life: Drop past tense into your daily chats and emails. Describe yesterday’s brunch, the movie you watched, or the news you read.
• Keep a Log: Write a short paragraph each day about something you did the previous day. Make it fun: “I ate a pizza that tasted like a slice of heaven!”

Get Involved!

Scratch a comment below with your score, or let us know which past tense puzzles got you spinning. We’re all ears (and grammar enthusiasts).

“Practice isn’t just repetition; it’s the fire that turns shaky verbs into smooth storytellers.”

Stick with it, stay curious, and watch your confidence soar—passport to fluent English, one past tense at a time!