Class 4 English Grammar: Past Progressive Tense Practice Worksheet

The past progressive tense shows an ongoing action that happened in the past. Here are 10 examples of past progressive sentences:

• I was studying for my test.
• She was reading a book in the library.
• They were playing football in the park.
• We were eating dinner when the phone rang.
• He was watching his favourite cartoon.
• The birds were singing on the tree.
• My father was cooking in the kitchen.
• The children were laughing loudly.
• The cat was sleeping on the sofa.
• You were drawing a beautiful picture.

The main difference is that the past progressive tense shows an ongoing past action, while the past simple tense shows a completed past action.

• Past Progressive Tense: Describes an action that was in progress. Example: “I was walking home.” (The action of walking was ongoing).
• Past Simple Tense: Describes an action that started and finished in the past. Example: “I walked home.” (The action of walking is complete).

To teach the past progressive tense effectively, especially to Grade 4 students, follow these simple steps:

1. Explain the Concept: Start by explaining that this tense is used for actions that were continuing in the past.
2. Introduce the Rule: Teach the simple formula: Subject + was/were + the main verb with an -ing ending.
3. Use Clear Examples: Show simple sentences like “He was running” and “They were eating.”
4. Practice with Worksheets: Use a grammar practice worksheet with exercises like fill-in-the-blanks and sentence completion to reinforce learning.

This worksheet for Class 4 is designed for easy use at home for homework help or revision.

• First, download the free PDF printable worksheet.
• Print the sheet for your child to solve the exercises.
• The worksheet includes various activities like fill in the blanks and sentence completion to make learning fun.
• After your child finishes, you can use the included answer key to check their work and explain any mistakes.

The choice between 'was' and 'were' depends on the subject of the sentence, following subject-verb agreement rules.

• Use was with singular subjects like I, he, she, it, and single nouns (e.g., the boy, the cat). Example: “He was writing.”
• Use were with the subject you and with plural subjects like we, they, and plural nouns (e.g., the boys, the cats). Example: “They were writing.”

Yes, this downloadable worksheet comes with a complete answer key for all the exercises. This is included to help parents and teachers quickly check the student's work, providing immediate feedback and making it a reliable resource for grammar practice.

This past progressive tense worksheet helps Grade 4 students develop several important English language skills.

• Grammar Skills: It reinforces the correct use of verb tenses, specifically the past progressive.
• Sentence Structure: Students practice forming grammatically correct sentences using was/were + verb-ing.
• Writing Skills: Correct tense usage is fundamental for clear and effective writing.
• Comprehension: Understanding tenses helps students better understand texts they read.

Certainly. Here are some examples of fill-in-the-blanks questions and answers for the past progressive tense, similar to what you'd find in the worksheet.

• Question: The sun ______ (shine) brightly. | Answer: The sun was shining brightly.
• Question: We ______ (listen) to music. | Answer: We were listening to music.
• Question: My mother ______ (bake) a cake. | Answer: My mother was baking a cake.

To form a sentence in the past progressive tense, you follow a simple structure. The formula is:

Subject + was/were + Verb(-ing form) + Object.

• Example 1 (Singular Subject): She (Subject) + was + painting (verb-ing) + a picture (object).
• Example 2 (Plural Subject): The students (Subject) + were + reading (verb-ing) + their books (object).