Level 3 Exam-Pattern Test — The Continuous Tenses
8 Questions • 15 min • Chapter MCQ
15:00
Question 1 of 8
Spot the error: 'When the teacher entered, the students were making noise and one boy throws a paper.'
throws → threw / was throwing
were making is wrong
entered is wrong
no error
Explanation: The sequence needs a past form: 'threw' (or 'was throwing').
Question 2 of 8
Choose: 'I ___ my dinner when the power ___.'
had / was going
was having / went
have / goes
was having / was going
Explanation: Ongoing action = past continuous 'was having'; interruption = simple past 'went'.
Question 3 of 8
Identify the error: 'She is belonging to a musical family.'
is belonging → belongs
musical is wrong
family is wrong
no error
Explanation: 'belong' is a state verb; use the simple present.
Question 4 of 8
Fill in: 'While we ___ for the bus, it ___ to rain.'
waited / began
were waiting / began
are waiting / begins
were waiting / was beginning
Explanation: Background action = past continuous; sudden start = simple past 'began'.
Question 5 of 8
Which sentence is correct?
They were play in the garden.
They were playing in the garden.
They was playing in the garden.
They are play in the garden.
Explanation: 'were' + V-ing → 'were playing'.
Question 6 of 8
Choose: 'Listen! Someone ___ at the door.'
knocks
is knocking
knocked
was knocking
Explanation: 'Listen!' signals an action happening now → present continuous.
Question 7 of 8
Rearrange: 'was / when / arrived / she / cooking / I'
She was cooking when I arrived.
She cooking was when I arrived.
When I arrived she cooking was.
She was cook when I arrived.
Explanation: 'She was cooking when I arrived.' is correct.
Question 8 of 8
Pick the correct option: 'These days, prices ___ steadily.'
rise
are rising
rose
were rising
Explanation: 'These days' signals a temporary trend → present continuous 'are rising'.