i was doing my homework yesterday

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Past simple or past continuous?

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The first one is more natural if you are referring to an action that was in progress at 8 o'clock. But it is not possible to omit the subject in English, pronoun " I " in this case.

If you are referring to an action that was concluded before 8 o'clock, you should use Past Perfect and a different preposition, " by 8 o'clock" in this case.

E.g.: I had finished my homework by 8 o'clock last night.

Both sentences are syntactically incorrect, i.e. the word order is not respected. 

You have two options: 1) to use a comma for emphasis: At 8 o'clock last night , I was doing my homework; 2) to put the whole adverbial phrase after the object: I was doing my homework at 8 o'clock last night .

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Past Continuous | When and While Exercises with Answers

Aji Sutarmaji

Normally there are three different situations when we use past continuous. Those three situations are things that happened in the past. Let’s see the situations.

Past Continuous to Describe an Action at Certain Time in the Past

Past Continuous is used to say the action is still going on at certain time in the past. Let’s see the following examples:

• At 10 o’clock last night I was still playing badminton.
• They were dancing all night long.
• It was raining at 9 o’clock last night.
• Last Sunday at this time I was swimming in the river.
• Last year at this time I was studying English.

Past Continuous to Describe an Action in the middle of Another Action in the Past

Past Continuous is frequently used together with Past Simple to say something happened in the middle of something else. Let’s see the following examples:

• Christian burnt his hand when he was cooking dinner.
• It was raining when she left.
• I was sleeping when somebody knocked at the door.
• When they were having dinner, their son came.
• My sister came back when we were watching tv last night.

Past Continuous to Describe Two Actions in Progress Simultaneously in the Past

Past continuous is used to express two actions that happened together in the past. Let’s see the following examples:

• While I was studying in my room, my neighbors were singing loudly.
• My father father was sweeping the floor when my mother and I were cooking.
• My sister was mending her clothes while I was doing my homework.
• What were you doing when I was taking a shower?
• I wasn’t doing anything while my brother was writing an application letter .

Verbs not Used in Past Continuous

Some verbs are not normally used in Past Continuous. Let’s see the following table.

believe belong forget hate havehear know like love meanneed prefer realize remember seeseem suppose think understand want

When and While

According to Oxford English Dictionary, as conjunctions when and while have similar or the same meaning. When means “at or during the time that”. Also, while means “during the time that; at the same time as”. The difference of those two conjunctions when we use it in past continuous is:

when is followed by either past continuous (progressive/long actions) or past simple (short actions);

while is followed only by past continuous (progressive/long actions).

See the following examples:

I was having breakfast when she came. ( when is followed by past simple/short action)

She came when I was having breakfast. ( when is followed by past continuous/progressive/long action)

While I was having breakfast, she came. ( while is followed by past continuous/progressive/long action)

She came while I was having breakfast. ( while is followed by past continuous/progressive/long action)

We cannot say:

While she came, I was having breakfast. (wrong)

I was having breakfast while she came. (wrong)

Past Continuous Exercises

Complete the sentences with correct tenses: past simple or past continuous.

• I (come) late school yesterday.
• At this time last Sunday I (have) lunch out.
• What time you (arrive)?
• At eight thirty last night, I (watch) a football match.
• We (go) to a party last night.
• What you (do) at 9 o’clock last Sunday morning?
• She (receive) a mysterious letter three days ago.
• Last week at this time, we (play) golf.
• This morning I (be) sick.
• Yesterday at this time, what your mother (do)?

Exercise II

Complete the sentences with when or while.

• …..the governor was giving a speech, the plane crashed just outside the building.
• ….. we arrived, everyone was waiting for us.
• Jack left …… all his friend was having fun last night.
• What were you doing …. she came home?
• The teacher was invigilating the students …… they were doing the test.
• …. my mother was reading a story, my little brother fell asleep.
• I was dancing with my high school mate …. my wife suddenly turned up.
• All people in our village were staying home …… the police was patrolling around.
• …. it was snowing in Stockholm , the sun was shining in Sydney.
• …. the boy left her alone, what happened to his girlfriend?

Exercise III

In this exercise we are going to practice changing the verb into the Past Continuous or Past Simple form. Let’s see the examples first!

• When Kim (arrive), we (have) dinner. When Kim arrived, we were having dinner.
• While my father (work), he (hurt) his back. While my father was working, he hurt his back.

1. What …your wife (do) at this time yesterday? 2. I (see) Sue at the party. She (wear) a black gown. 3. When I (read) a book, she (come). 4. What …you (do) when I (call) you? 5. John (fall) off the ladder while he (paint) the door. 6. My wife (wait) for me when I (arrive). 7. When I (have) a shower, the phone (ring) 8. It (begin) to rain when I (walk) home. 9. Grace (see) the accident when she (wait) for the bus. 10.Anthony (have) breakfast when she (come).

Exercise IV

Answer the following questions. Ask and answer with your partner if possible.

• Describe what you and other family members were doing at 9 o’clock last night.
• Describe your last vacation. Tell us what you and other people were doing there.

Get your free English grammar exercises in your inbox.

• I came late school yesterday.
• At this time last Sunday I was having lunch out.
• What time you did you arrive?
• At eight thirty last night, I was watching a football match.
• We went to the party last night.
• What were you doing at 9 o’clock last Sunday morning?
• She received a mysterious letter three days ago.
• Last week at this time, we were playing golf.
• This morning I was sick.
• Yesterday at this time, what was your mother doing?

1. What was your wife doing at this time yesterday? 2. I saw Sue at the party. She was wearing a black gown. 3. When I was reading a book, she came. 4. What were you doing when I called you? 5. John fell off the ladder while he was painting the door. 6. My wife was waiting for me when I arrived. 7. When I was having a shower, the phone rang. 8. It began to rain when I was walking home. 9. Grace saw the accident when she was waiting for the bus. 10.Anthony was having breakfast when she came.

Different answers are possible.

• At night o’clock last night, I was still working, writing a new post for my blog. My wife was sleeping while my eldest son was serving his customers who bought some stuff from his store. Meanwhile, my youngest son was still playing games online. I didn’t know what my daughter was doing at that time because she doesn’t live here. She lives in another city.
• We went to a lake on our last vacation. We were swimming on the lake when suddenly a big fish appeared in front of us. To our surprise, the fish could jump out of the water for about two meters high. However, because we were scared with it, we were running out of the water. But, some other people kept on swimming and were trying to touch the fish. It was scary but surprising.

Download the exercise here.

Other Exercises

Past Simple

Present Continuous vs Present Simple

Indirect Speech

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Conditional Sentences Type 1

Enough and Too

Adjectives To Infinitive

Present Perfect

Conditional Sentences Type 2

Adjective Word Order

Written by Aji Sutarmaji

Meet Aji , a seasoned baby boomer with a passion for education and communication. His experience has honed his skills to be an excellent educator and author.

Text to speech

• Elementary School
• Reading & Speaking
• External Independent Testing
• Grammar Exercises

Past Continuous

The Past Continuous Tense

The  past continuous  is used to describe:.

• past action in progress at a given point in time:  She was still working at eight o’clock yesterday evening. 
• past action in progress interrupted by another past action:  She was leaving when the phone rang.
• simultaneous past actions:  While Jane was getting dressed, Tom was enjoying his drink.

Time expressions:

• at 3 o’clock yesterday
• all morning
• the whole day
• from 6 till 7

Past Continuous and Past Simple

• We often use the Past Continuous with the Past Simple . We use the Past Simple for a short/complete action: I broke my leg.
• We use the Past Continuous for a longer activity in progress in the past: I was playing football.
• Before the Past Continuous we often use when or while : While I was playing football, I broke my leg. I broke my  leg when I was playing football.
• Before the Past Simple we normally use when : What were you doing when the accident happened?

Exercise 1. Use the verbs in brackets in the Present Continuous or Past Continuous.

• I (to write) an English exercise now.
• I (to write) an English exercise at this time yesterday.
• My little sister (to sleep) now.
• My little sister (to sleep) at this time yesterday.
• My friends (not to do) their homework now. They (to play) volleyball.
• My friends (not to do) their homework at seven o’clock yesterday. They (to play) volleyball.
• She (to read) the whole evening yesterday.
• She (not to read) now. She (to go) to school.
• What you (to do) now? — I (to drink) tea.
• You (to drink) tea at this time yesterday? — No, I (not to drink) tea at this time yesterday, I (to eat) a banana.
• My sister is fond of reading. She (to read) the whole evening yesterday, and now she (to read) again.
• Look! My cat (to play) with a ball.
• When I went out into the garden, the sun (to shine) and birds (to sing) in the trees.
• You (to eat) ice cream now?
• You (to eat) ice cream when I rang you up yesterday?
• What your father (to do) now?
• What your father (to do) from eight till nine yesterday?
• Why she (to cry) now? Why she (to cry) when I saw her yesterday?

Exercise 2. Use the verbs in brackets in the Past Simple or Past Continuous Tense.

• I (to go) to the cinema yesterday.
• I (to go) to the cinema at four o’clock yesterday.
• I (to go) to the cinema when you met me.
• I (to do) my homework the whole evening yesterday.
• I (to do) my homework when mother came home.
• I (to do) my homework yesterday.
• I (to do) my homework from five till eight yesterday.
• I (to do) my homework at six o’clock yesterday.
• I (not to play) the piano yesterday. I (to write) a letter to my friend.
• I (not to play) the piano at four o’clock yesterday. I (to read) a book.
• He (not to sleep) when father came home. He (to do) his homework.
• When I (to go) to school the day before yesterday, I met Mike and Pete. They (to talk) and (to laugh). They told me a funny story. Soon I (to laugh), too. I still (to laugh) when we came to school. After school I (to tell) this story at home. My father and mother (to like) it very much.
• When we were in the country last summer, I (to go) to the wood one day. In the wood I (to find) a little fox cub. I (to bring) it home. I (to decide) to tame the cub. Every day I (to feed) it and (to take) care of it. I (to tame) it the whole summer. Now the fox cub is quite tame. It lives in my house.
• I (to play) computer games yesterday.
• I (to play) computer games at five o’clock yesterday.
• He (to play) computer games from two till three yesterday.
• We (to play) computer games the whole evening yesterday.
• My brother (not to play) tennis yesterday. He (to play) tennis the day before yesterday.
• My sister (not to play) the piano at four o’clock yesterday. She (to play) the piano the whole evening.
• . When I came into the kitchen, my mother (to cook). She (to cook) the whole day yesterday.
• We (to wash) the floor in our flat yesterday. We (to wash) the floor in our flat from three till four yesterday.
• You (to do) your homework yesterday?
• You (to do) your homework from eight till ten yesterday?
• Why she (to sleep) at seven o’clock yesterday?
• He (to sit) at the table the whole evening yesterday.
• What Nick (to do) when you came to his place?
• What you (to do) when I rang you up?
• I (not to sleep) at nine o’clock yesterday.
• What he (to do) yesterday? — He (toread) a book.
• What he (to do) the whole evening yesterday? — He (to read) a book.

Compare these sentences:

• When mother came home, I was reading .
• When mother was reading , I came home.

Exercise 3. Use the verbs in brackets in the Past Simple or Past Continuous.

• When I (to come) home, my little sister (to sleep).
• When Nick (to come) home, his brother (to play) with his toys.
• When mother (to come) home, I (to do) my homework.
• When father (to come) home, Pete (to sleep).
• When mother (to come) home, the children (to play) on the carpet.
• When I (to get) up, my mother and father (to drink) tea.
• When I (to come) to my friend’s place, he (to watch) TV.
• When I (to see) my friends, they (to play) football.
• When I (to open) the door, the cat (to sit) on the table.
• When Kate (to open) the door, the children (to dance) round the Christmas tree.
• When Tom (to cross) the street, he (to fall)
• When I (to go) to school, I (to meet) my friend.
• When we (to go) to the cinema, we (to meet) our grandmother.
• When grandmother (to go) home, she (to see) many children in the yard.
• When Henry (to walk) about in the forest, he (to find) a bear cub.
• When we (to walk) about in the forest, we (to see) a hare.
• When I (to wash) the floor, I (to find) my old toy under the sofa.
• When granny (to read) a book on the sofa, she (to fall) asleep.
• When I (to play) in the yard, I suddenly (to see) my old friend.
• When Nick (to run) about in the yard, he (to fall).
• The girl (to cook) dinner when the lights (to go) out. She (to burn) herself.
• The boy (to hurt) himself while he (to skate).
• When the woman (to enter) the room, the children (to feed) the goldfish.
• When I (to visit) my friends in Denmark, I (to buy) two presents for my family.
• When it (to start) to rain, we (to bathe) in the river.
• Yesterday at one o’clock I (to have) lunch at the canteen.
• When he (to come) in, I (to do) my exercises.
• What you (to do) at eight o’clock yesterday?
• At this time yesterday I (to go) home.
• You (to sleep) when I (to go) out.
• He (to read) on the sofa when I (to come) in and (to sit) down beside him.
• I (to walk) along the street with my friend when a tram (to pass).
• She (to look) out of the window when I (to see) her.
• We (to answer) the teacher’s questions when the headmistress (to enter) the classroom.
• They (to drink) tea when I (to come) home.
• He (to walk) along the river when a boat (to pass).
• The old man (to think) about his plan when he (to fall) asleep.
• We (to listen) to an interesting lecture yesterday.
• When I (to enter) the classroom, the teacher (to write) words on the blackboard and the pupils (to copy) them into their exercise books.
• They (to get) ready to go out when it (to begin) raining.

Exercise 4. Use the verbs in brackets in the Past Simple or Past Continuous.

• I (to go) to the theatre yesterday. At seven o’clock yesterday I (to go) to the theatre.
• What you (to do) at 5 o’clock yesterday? — I (to play) the piano.
• When I (to come) to school, the children (to stand) near the classroom.
• We (to play) in the yard the whole evening yesterday.
• When I (to prepare) breakfast in the morning, I (to cut) my finger.
• Last year I (to go) to the United States.
• You (to go) to Great Britain last year? — No, I (to go) to France.
• What you (to do) yesterday? — I (to translate) a very long article.
• When I (to ring) up my friend, he (to sleep).
• When grandfather (to watch) TV, he (to fall) asleep.
• When my friend (to come) to see me, I (to do) my homework.
• When I (to go) to the stadium, I (to meet) Kate and Ann.
• When Nick (to call) me yesterday, I (to help) mother.
• When the children (to walk) through the wood, they (to see) a fox.
• When I (to come) home, my sister (to wash) the floor.
• When Mike (to play) in the yard, he (to find) a ball.
• When I (to draw) yesterday, I (to break) two pencils.
• When I (to meet) Tom, he (to go) to the shop.
• When I (to look) out of the window, the children (to play) hide-and-seek.

Exercise 5. Use the verbs in brackets in Past Simple or Past Continuous Tenses.

Pay attention to these sentences:.

• Father was reading at 7 o’clock yesterday. (the action is in progress – Past Continuous)
• Father came home at 7 o’clock yesterday. (completed action – Past Simple)
• Father (to watch) TV at ten o’clock yesterday.
• I (to go) to bed at nine o’clock yesterday.
• I (to finish) my homework at nine o’clock yesterday.
• I (to play) the piano at five o’clock yesterday.
• He (to begin) to do his homework at four o’clock yesterday.
• She (to wash) the floor at four o’clock yesterday.
• I (to meet) Nick at three o’clock yesterday.
• When I (to come) home, Kate (to play) the piano.
• They (to play) in the yard in the evening yesterday.
• They (to play) in the yard the whole evening yesterday.
• I (to clean) my teeth at eight o’clock in the morning yesterday.
• We (to go) to the wood in summer.
• When the teacher (to open) the door of the classroom, the students (to sit) at their desks.
• He (to get) up at seven o’clock yesterday.
• Father (to come) home at six o’clock yesterday.
• I (to read) a book at six o’clock yesterday.
• She (to fall) asleep at eleven o’clock yesterday.
• Mother (to drink) tea at eleven o’clock yesterday.
• The cat (to take) a piece of fish and then (to run) away.
• He (to read) a newspaper when I (to come) in.
• Yesterday I (to get) up at seven o’clock.
• The train (to arrive) at fifteen minutes to ten.
• He (to put) on his coat and cap, (to open) the door and (to go) out.
• At this time yesterday I (to sit)in the theatre.
• I (to go) to the university when I (to see) him.
• At this time yesterday we (to have) dinner.
• He (to write) a letter when I (to come) in.
• He (to make) a report when I (to leave) the meeting.
• Yesterday he (to write) a letter to his friend.
• When I (to look) at them, they (to smile) at me.
• What you (to do) at six o’clock yesterday?
• I (to go) to bed at half past eleven.
• Yesterday the lesson (to begin) at nine o’clock.
• When somebody (to knock) at the door, she (to argue) with her husband.
• When Pete (to jog) in the park in the morning, he (to lose) his phone.
• When the police (to take) the thief to the car, I (to go) to the cinema.
• He (to shave) when he (to hear) her scream.
• They (to go) to the wood last Sunday?
• When they (to sail) down the river they (to see) a little island.
• We (to work) the whole morning yesterday.
• Mother (to cook) dinner at three o’clock yesterday.
• She (to finish) cooking at four o’clock yesterday.
• At half past four yesterday we (to have) dinner.
• They (to translate) a difficult text yesterday.
• I (to open) the window at six o’clock yesterday.
• You (to go) to the cinema yesterday?
• I (not to see) Mike last week.
• When I (to open) the door, my friends (to sit) around the table.
• When you (to begin) doing your homework yesterday?
• We (to discuss) the latest news from three till four.

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Which one is correct? "I did my homework" or "I did my homework yesterday"?

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I did my homework

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate completion of homework without specifying the time frame.

• I did my homework before dinner.
• She asked if I had done my homework.
• Did you do your homework yet?
• He always does his homework on time.
• Make sure you do your homework every day.

Alternatives:

• I have completed my homework.
• I finished my homework.
• I completed my homework.
• I have done my homework.
• I got my homework done.

I did my homework yesterday

This phrase is correct and provides a specific time frame, indicating that the homework was completed on the previous day.

• I did my homework yesterday, so I can relax today.
• She finished her homework yesterday evening.
• Did you do your homework yesterday?
• He told me he did his homework yesterday.
• I remember doing my homework yesterday.
• I completed my homework yesterday.
• I finished my homework yesterday.
• Yesterday, I did my homework.
• My homework was done yesterday.
• I got my homework done yesterday.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

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Yesterday my uncle (repair) the car while I (do) my homework.

A. was repairing, was doing

B. repaired, did

C. repairs, am doing

D. repaired, was doing

Select your answer:          

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I _____ this film already, so I’m not going to the cinema with you.

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Tenses Exercise

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate tense form.

1. This time yesterday, I ………………………….. in my garden.

The past continuous is used to talk about an activity that was in progress at a particular point of time in the past.

2. This time tomorrow, I ………………………….. my homework.

The future continuous is used to talk about an activity that will be in progress at a particular point of time in future.

3. My grandfather ………………………….. own six cars.

Used to can be used to talk about past states.

4. I will call you when I ………………………… ready.

When the main clause is in the simple future, use a simple present in the when clause to refer to future.

5. Although he was the most deserving candidate, he …………………….. the job.

6. she ………………………. many national and international awards for her work..

Use the present perfect to give news.

7. We …………………………. the project by the end of this month.

Use the future perfect to say that an activity will have been completed by a certain point of time in future.

8. She told me that she ……………………….. her homework.

'I have done my homework,' she told me. She told me that she had done her homework. Present perfect tense in the direct speech becomes past perfect in the indirect speech.

9. He …………………………. jobless for six months.

To talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has continued up to the present, use the present perfect or present perfect continuous with the time expressions since or for.

10. He ………………………….. stray dogs for many years.

11. i looked around but i ……………………….. anyone..

When the main clause is in the past tense, use a past tense in the subordinate clause as well.

12. I said that I …………………………… in that offer.

• This time yesterday, I was working in my garden.
• This time tomorrow, I will be doing my homework.
• My grandfather used to own six cars.
• I will call you when I am ready.
• Although he was the most deserving candidate, he did not get the job.
• She has won many national and international awards for her work.
• We will have delivered the project by the end of this month.
• She told me that she had done her homework.
• He has been jobless for six months.
• He has been feeding stray dogs for many years.
• I looked around but I didn’t see anyone.
• I said that I was not interested in that offer.

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Mastering the Past Tense of Do: Your Ultimate Guide to Fluent English

By: Author ESLBUZZ

Posted on Last updated: September 14, 2023

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Learning English grammar can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to understanding the past tense of irregular verbs. One of the most commonly used verbs in English is “do”, and its past tense can be tricky for non-native speakers to grasp. In this article, we will explore the different forms of the past tense of do and provide examples to help you understand how to use them correctly.

Understanding the correct usage of these different forms of the past tense of “do” is essential for effective communication in English. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into each form and provide examples to help you master this important grammatical concept. So, let’s get started!

Past Tense of Do – Image

Understanding the Verb ‘Do’

In English grammar, the past tense refers to the form of a verb that indicates that an action took place in the past.

The verb ‘do’ is one of the most frequently used verbs in the English language. It is used to form questions, negatives, and to emphasize the main verb in a sentence. Understanding the correct usage of the past tense of ‘do’ is essential for effective communication in English.

Simple Past Tense of ‘Do’

The simple past tense of ‘do’ is ‘did’. It is used to talk about completed actions in the past. For example:

• I did my homework yesterday.
• She did not come to the party last night.
• Did you watch the movie last weekend?

Past Continuous Tense of ‘Do’

The past continuous tense of ‘do’ is ‘was/were doing’. It is used to talk about actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. For example:

• I was doing my homework when my friend called me.
• They were not doing anything when I arrived.
• What were you doing at 5 o’clock yesterday?

Past Perfect Tense of ‘Do’

The past perfect tense of ‘do’ is ‘had done’. It is used to talk about actions that were completed before another action in the past. For example:

• I had done my homework before I went to bed.
• She had not done her laundry when she ran out of clean clothes.
• Had you done your research before the presentation?

Past Perfect Continuous Tense of ‘Do’

The past perfect continuous tense of ‘do’ is ‘had been doing’. It is used to talk about actions that had been in progress for a period of time before another action in the past. For example:

• I had been doing my homework for two hours before I took a break.
• They had not been doing anything productive for weeks before the deadline.
• Had you been doing your exercises regularly before the injury?

In conclusion, understanding the past tense of ‘do’ is crucial for effective communication in English. Practice using the different tenses in various contexts to improve your fluency.

The Past Tense of Do

Form and Usage

In English grammar, the past tense of ‘do’ is ‘did’. ‘Did’ is used to express an action that occurred in the past. The verb ‘do’ is an irregular verb, which means that it does not follow the regular pattern of adding ‘-ed’ to the base form to form the past tense.

To form the past tense of ‘do’, we use ‘did’ as an auxiliary verb followed by the base form of the main verb. For example, “I did my homework” or “He did not eat breakfast this morning”.

Examples in Sentences

Here are some examples of ‘did’ in sentences:

• She did not like the movie.
• They did their best to finish the project on time.
• Did you finish your work before leaving the office?
• He did not want to go to the party.

It is important to note that ‘did’ is used in both affirmative and negative sentences, as well as questions. In questions, ‘did’ is placed at the beginning of the sentence followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb.

Knowing the past tense of ‘do’ is essential for anyone learning English grammar. By using ‘did’ correctly, you can accurately express actions that occurred in the past. Practice using ‘did’ in sentences and questions to improve your understanding of this important verb tense.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

When it comes to using the past tense of “do,” there are a few common mistakes and misconceptions that English learners often encounter. In this section, we’ll explore some of these common issues and provide tips on how to avoid them.

Using “did” Too Much

One common mistake that English learners make when using the past tense of “do” is using “did” too much. While “did” is the correct past tense form of “do,” it’s important to vary your language and use other forms of the past tense as well. For example, instead of always saying “did you do your homework?” try saying “have you finished your homework?” or “completed your homework?”

Forgetting the Auxiliary Verb

Another common mistake is forgetting to use the auxiliary verb “did” in questions and negatives. In English, we use “did” to form questions and negatives in the past tense. For example, instead of saying “you do your homework?” say “did you do your homework?” or instead of saying “I not do my homework,” say “I didn’t do my homework.”

Confusing “Done” and “Did”

A common misconception is that “done” is the past tense of “do.” While “done” is a form of the verb “do,” it’s actually the past participle form, not the past tense form. The past participle is used in perfect tenses, such as “I have done my homework.” The past tense form is “did,” as in “I did my homework yesterday.”

By avoiding these common mistakes and misconceptions, you can improve your use of the past tense of “do” and communicate more effectively in English.

Exercises and Practice

To reinforce your understanding of the past tense of do, we have created several interactive exercises that you can try out. These exercises are designed to help you practice using the past tense of do in different contexts and sentence structures.

Fill in the Blank : In this exercise, you will be given a sentence with a blank space where the past tense of do should be. You will need to select the correct form of the past tense of do to complete the sentence.

Example: Yesterday, I __________ my homework before dinner.

Sentence Scramble : In this exercise, you will be given a scrambled sentence that contains the past tense of do. You will need to unscramble the sentence to make it grammatically correct.

Example: Yesterday, homework I did my.

Multiple Choice : In this exercise, you will be given a sentence with a missing word. You will need to select the correct form of the past tense of do from a list of options.

Example: She __________ her laundry last night. a) do b) did c) does d) doing

We hope these exercises and worksheets will help you master the past tense of do. Keep practicing and you’ll be using it like a pro in no time!

Summary and Conclusion

In this article, we have covered the past tense of “do” in English grammar. We started with an overview of the verb “do” and its various forms in the present tense, before moving on to its past tense forms.

We learned that the past tense of “do” is “did,” and that it is used to talk about actions or events that occurred in the past. We also discussed the different ways in which “did” can be used, including as an auxiliary verb to form questions and negatives.

To help you better understand the past tense of “do,” we provided numerous examples throughout the article. We also included exercises for you to practice using “did” in context.

Overall, mastering the past tense of “do” is an important step in improving your English grammar skills. With practice and persistence, you can become more confident in using this verb tense correctly in your writing and speaking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the past tense form of the verb ‘do’?

The past tense form of the verb ‘do’ is ‘did’. For example, “Yesterday, I did my homework.”

Can the past tense be used with the verb ‘do’?

Yes, the past tense form of ‘do’ (‘did’) can be used in sentences where the action has already happened in the past. For example, “Did you do your homework?”

What are the different verb forms (V1, V2, V3) for the verb ‘do’?

The different verb forms for ‘do’ are:

• V1 (base form): do
• V2 (past tense): did
• V3 (past participle): done

How is the verb ‘do’ used for emphasis?

The verb ‘do’ can be used for emphasis by adding it before a verb in a sentence. For example, “I do love chocolate!”

The past tense form of the verb 'do' is 'did'. For example, \"Yesterday, I did my homework.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Can the past tense be used with the verb 'do'?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

Yes, the past tense form of 'do' ('did') can be used in sentences where the action has already happened in the past. For example, \"He did his best to help me.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the correct past tense for the verb 'learn'?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The correct past tense for the verb 'learn' is 'learned' in American English and 'learnt' in British English. For example, \"I learned a lot from that experience.\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the different verb forms (V1, V2, V3) for the verb 'do'?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The different verb forms for 'do' are:

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How is the verb 'do' used for emphasis?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

The verb 'do' can be used for emphasis by adding it before a verb in a sentence. For example, \"I do love chocolate!\"

"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are some examples of using 'do' and 'does' in the present tense?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

• Do: \"Do you like pizza?\"
• Does: \"He does his homework every day.\"
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Past Continuous Quiz

You can do this grammar quiz online or print it on paper. It tests what you learned on the Past Continuous page.

1. My brother and sister _____ playing tennis at 11am yesterday.

2. _____ you still working at 7pm last night?

3. At 8.30am today I _____ driving to work.

4. We _____ sleeping when the police came.

5. Why _____ he having lunch at 4pm?

6. Was he not _____ his homework?

7. Snow _____ lightly. Suddenly a reindeer appeared.

8. Somebody threw a shoe at him _____ he was speaking.

9. They ________ TV when I arrived.

10. I was reading a detective story _____ I heard a noise.

Your score is:

Correct answers:

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Using the past continuous tense in English

Forming the Past Continuous Tense

When past continuous is used.

Today we’ll look at another verb form in English, the past continuous tense. You already know what the present continuous tense is and how to use it. So past continuous is its “older brother.” In other words, it’s the equivalent of the present continuous, except we use it to speak about the past.

The past continuous tense is used to speak about an action that occurred in the past and continued for a certain period of time.

Unlike the past simple tense, the time of the action must be clearly stated or understandable from the context; when the action began and ended may be unknown. It is the process itself – the act of its duration – that is important.

First, let’s look at how to form the past continuous tense in English.

Check out our ultimate guide to learning English grammar .

In order to form this verb tense, we need to use the verb to be in its past tense form. This is dependent on the person ( was for I , he , she , it ; were for you , we , they ), and then add –ing to the action verb. This is the way to form a positive sentence.

For example:

•          I was cooking at 5 o’clock yesterday.
•          We were watching TV when Ann came.
•          Bob was driving home when I phoned him.

A negative sentence can be formed using the structure you are already familiar with: Put the adverb not after was/were : was + not = wasn’t ; were + not = weren’t .

•          She wasn’t listening to me when I tried to warn her.
•          My brothers weren’t playing games. They were doing their homework.
•          I wasn’t working last Friday.

If you need to ask a question in the past continuous tense, use the following structure: was/were + subject + action verb + the rest of the sentence .

This structure is also used when asking special questions :

•          Were you listening to the radio all the time?
•          Was he carrying your bags all the way home?
•          What were you doing last night?

Now let’s look at when to use the past continuous tense.

To describe an action that was occurring at a certain time in the past.

•          She was driving to work at 8:00 a.m.
•          The elevator wasn’t working after 5:00 p.m.

When one action interrupted another (ongoing action). Usually, the interrupting action is expressed by the past simple .

•          We were talking when she came in.
•          Mark was washing the dishes when Ellen called.

When two actions in the past occurred at the same time. Often the word “while” is used to connect the actions.

•          He was watching TV while his wife was cooking dinner.
•          Mary was standing still while Jim was jumping on one leg.

In informal speech, the word when is often used instead of while .

•          Chris was reading the magazine when I was watching TV.

Finally, notice marking words that identify the verb tense as past continuous: at that moment, all day long, during summer, while, when, all the time, the whole morning, at 6:00 o’clock yesterday and others.

Also, remember that there are verbs that are not used in the continuous form. You can see such verbs here.

That’s all for today.

In order to practice the past continuous verb form, write 15 sentences about what you did, for example, all day (yesterday), all last summer, or all last Saturday.

Until we meet again!

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Adelaide is passionate about languages and has taught language classes for over 12 years. She teaches with a personalized approach, focusing on the specific needs of each student and taking advantage of their strengths. She is a Cambridge C2 proficient English speaker, C2 proficient Spanish speaker, and a native Portuguese speaker. Whether it's simple conversation practice, IELTS study, or an intensive course, get in touch with Adelaide!

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At 7 o'clock yesterday I <was doing> <did> my homework.

• Thread starter Maloven
• Start date Apr 27, 2016
• Apr 27, 2016

Thomas Tompion

Member emeritus.

The action wasn't necessarily long in the case of the past continuous. It just tells us how the person was occupied at 7 o'clock. At 7 o'clock I did my homework could well mean that I started doing it then and maybe it took me a little time.  

Senior Member

"I did my homework at 7 o'clock yesterday" strikes me as more plausible than the other way around. If the question is "What were you doing at 7:00 yesterday?," the answer needs to be "I was doing my homework."  

• Apr 28, 2016

At 7 o'clock yesterday I was doing my homework. Click to expand...

At 7 o'clock yesterday I did my homework. Click to expand...

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what's the difference between did and was doing?

Here are examples of the sentences. What is the difference between them? They seem to be almost the same to me so I don’t exactly understand the difference.

We worked from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm yesterday. We were working from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm yesterday. When we came home, she talked with her friends. When we came home, she was talking with her friends. I slept when the cat came in through the window. I was sleeping when the cat came in through the window.

• progressive-aspect

3 Answers 3

Here is an example I like to use with my students.

Sarah says, "I was doing my homework and my friend called." Rachel says, "I did my homework and my friend called."

This means that Rachel finished her homework, but Sarah did not finish her homework. The "was doing" means that something was still going on, that it was interrupted or that it never finished.

For my info, you could see englishpage.com's article on this topic.

"We worked from 9 am to 5 pm yesterday" implies that work only took place from 9-5, but "we were working from 9:00 to 5:00 yesterday" implies that, in addition to having worked from 9-5, work may have also been taking place before and/or after the period of 9-5.

We worked from 9 am to 5 pm yesterday.

is best as a simple statement of fact. But you could use:

We were working from 9:00 to 5:00 yesterday. Around 1:00 the power went out.

if you are describing other things that were going on at that time.

When we came home, she was talking with her friends. I was sleeping when the cat came in through the window.

are best. Since you are describing activities occurring in the present (based on your narrative) she was talking and the cat came in , you should keep the same tense in the other phrase.

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