Ressources · 4ᵉ · Anglais
Le past continuous
was/were + V-ing : l'action en train de se dérouler dans le passé & l'opposition avec le prétérit
À propos de cette page
Choisis ton niveau. Questions et réponses mélangées à chaque partie. Bonne chance !
Les 36 questions du QCM en version texte
Pour réviser sans écran ou imprimer : chaque question avec ses propositions ; la bonne réponse et son explication se déplient.
Niveau facile — 12 questions
Le past continuous se forme avec :
- A. have / has + V-ing
- B. was / were + V-ing
- C. did / didn't + V-ing
- D. be + base verbale
Réponse
B. was / were + V-ing — was / were + V-ing.
They ___ playing outside.
- A. was
- B. been
- C. did
- D. were
Réponse
D. were — they → were.
I ___ sleeping at midnight.
- A. was
- B. were
- C. am
- D. did
Réponse
A. was — I → was.
La forme -ing de run est :
- A. runing
- B. runeing
- C. running
- D. runnning
Réponse
C. running — double consonne : running.
La négation de she was talking est :
- A. she didn't talking
- B. she not was talking
- C. she wasn't talk
- D. she wasn't talking
Réponse
D. she wasn't talking — wasn't + V-ing.
___ you listening to me?
- A. Was
- B. Were
- C. Did
- D. Have
Réponse
B. Were — you → were.
« Je regardais la télé. »
- A. I watched TV.
- B. I was watch TV.
- C. I was watching TV.
- D. I were watching TV.
Réponse
C. I was watching TV. — was watching.
La forme -ing de make est :
- A. making
- B. makeing
- C. macking
- D. makking
Réponse
A. making — on retire le -e.
Le past continuous décrit une action…
- A. en cours dans le passé
- B. terminée et datée précisément
- C. qui aura lieu demain
- D. habituelle au présent
Réponse
A. en cours dans le passé — en train de se dérouler dans le passé.
He ___ reading when I arrived.
- A. were
- B. is
- C. did
- D. was
Réponse
D. was — he → was.
La forme -ing de lie est :
- A. lieing
- B. lying
- C. liing
- D. lyeing
Réponse
B. lying — -ie → -y.
We ___ driving fast. (négation)
- A. didn't
- B. wasn't
- C. weren't
- D. not were
Réponse
C. weren't — we → weren't.
Niveau moyen — 12 questions
What ___ at 7 yesterday?
- A. you were doing
- B. did you doing
- C. were you do
- D. were you doing
Réponse
D. were you doing — Were + sujet + V-ing.
I was walking home ___ it started to rain.
- A. when
- B. while
- C. during
- D. as soon
Réponse
A. when — when + action courte.
She ___ when I called. (ne dormait pas)
- A. wasn't sleep
- B. didn't sleeping
- C. wasn't sleeping
- D. weren't sleeping
Réponse
C. wasn't sleeping — she → wasn't sleeping.
Quelle phrase est correcte ?
- A. They was swimming.
- B. They were swimming.
- C. They were swimmings.
- D. They did swimming.
Réponse
B. They were swimming. — were + swimming.
Yesterday at 5, the boys ___ football.
- A. were playing
- B. was playing
- C. played on
- D. have been playing
Réponse
A. were playing — action en cours à une heure donnée.
« Elle chantait pendant qu'il jouait de la guitare. »
- A. She sang while he played the guitar.
- B. She was singing when he was playing the guitar very loudly.
- C. She was singing while he played guitar.
- D. She was singing while he was playing the guitar.
Réponse
D. She was singing while he was playing the guitar. — while + deux actions longues.
The phone rang while I ___ a shower.
- A. had
- B. was having
- C. have
- D. were having
Réponse
B. was having — have = prendre → forme continue possible.
Dans un récit, le prétérit simple s'emploie pour…
- A. l'action longue en arrière-plan
- B. le décor de l'histoire
- C. l'action courte qui interrompt
- D. une description du temps qu'il faisait
Réponse
C. l'action courte qui interrompt — l'action soudaine.
Why ___ crying?
- A. she was
- B. was she was
- C. did she
- D. was she
Réponse
D. was she — Why was she crying?
At midnight, we ___ still ___. (dance)
- A. was / dancing
- B. were / dancing
- C. were / danced
- D. were / dancings
Réponse
B. were / dancing — were dancing.
It ___ all day yesterday, so we stayed in. (rain)
- A. was raining
- B. were raining
- C. rained on
- D. raining
Réponse
A. was raining — it was raining.
I ___ my keys while I ___ for the bus.
- A. was losing / waited
- B. lost / waited
- C. lost / was waiting
- D. was losing / was waiting
Réponse
C. lost / was waiting — perdre = action courte ; attendre = action longue.
Niveau difficile — 12 questions
Repère l'erreur : She was wanting a new phone.
- A. was wanting
- B. She
- C. a new phone
- D. phone
Réponse
A. was wanting — want = verbe d'état → wanted.
Repère l'erreur : While I was doing my homework, my mum was cook dinner.
- A. was doing
- B. While
- C. was cook
- D. my homework
Réponse
C. was cook — was cooking.
Quelle phrase plante le décor d'une histoire ?
- A. The alarm rang at six o'clock in the morning, as usual.
- B. The sun was shining and the birds were singing.
- C. He opened the door and looked outside twice.
- D. She dropped her cup of coffee on the carpet.
Réponse
B. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. — décor → past continuous.
I ___ the answer, so I raised my hand. (know)
- A. was knowing
- B. were knowing
- C. knowed
- D. knew
Réponse
D. knew — verbe d'état, irrégulier : knew.
As I ___ the road, a cyclist nearly hit me.
- A. crossed
- B. was cross
- C. was crossing
- D. were crossing
Réponse
C. was crossing — action longue : was crossing.
Repère l'erreur : What was you doing at ten?
- A. was
- B. What
- C. doing
- D. at ten
Réponse
A. was — you → were.
« Il ne pleuvait pas quand nous sommes partis. »
- A. It didn't rain when we were leaving.
- B. It wasn't rain when we left.
- C. It didn't raining when we left.
- D. It wasn't raining when we left.
Réponse
D. It wasn't raining when we left. — wasn't raining / left.
They ___ TV when the electricity ___ off.
- A. watched / went
- B. were watching / went
- C. were watching / was going
- D. watched / was going
Réponse
B. were watching / went — action longue + when + action courte.
Dans I was reading when she called, l'action courte est…
- A. was reading
- B. reading
- C. I
- D. called
Réponse
D. called — called = prétérit, action courte.
Were they sleeping? — ___
- A. Yes, they were.
- B. Yes, they slept.
- C. Yes, they did.
- D. Yes, they was.
Réponse
A. Yes, they were. — réponse courte avec l'auxiliaire.
Quel verbe n'a normalement pas de forme continue ?
- A. listen
- B. believe
- C. wait for
- D. dance
Réponse
B. believe — believe = verbe d'état.
She ___ fast when the accident ___. (not drive / happen)
- A. didn't drive / happened
- B. wasn't driving / was happening
- C. wasn't driving / happened
- D. didn't driving / happened
Réponse
C. wasn't driving / happened — wasn't driving / happened.
Moi c'est Ben, j'ai créé ce site pour aider le plus d'élèves possible, partout en France. Je peux aussi reprendre avec toi ce qui coince en cours particulier : en visio, ou à domicile si tu es à Marseille.
Prof d'anglais à Marseille · Cours particuliers au collège · Aide aux devoirs