Present continuous passive — O/L English

How do I practise Present continuous passive?

1 question with a worked solution

Check before you answer: Passive Auxiliary Structure: Avoiding the frequent error of substituting 'been' for 'being' in continuous passive forms (e.g., writing 'is being cleaned' rather than 'is been cleaned').

1. Identify the correct verb forms to complete this travel narration: 'While our train ______ through the Ella gap, heavy rain ______ to pour.'
   1. A) was passing / started
   2. B) has passed / had started
   3. C) passed / was starting
   4. D) is passing / starts
   Check my answer

   Correct answer: A) was passing / started

   When a long background action in the past continuous ('was passing') is interrupted by a shorter, completed action, the simple past ('started') is used for the interrupting event.

   Show worked solution

   Step 1: Recognize the clause structure introduced by 'While': describes an ongoing continuous action in the past ('was passing'). Step 2: Identify the sudden completed event in the main clause: 'heavy rain started to pour' (simple past). Step 3: Match options: 'was passing / started' represents the correct past continuous + simple past relationship. Answer: was passing / started.
   Modelled on: the O/L English examination pattern

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Where does Present continuous passive fit in the syllabus?

Grade 10 · Term 1