Continue statement behavior in Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of loop with continue inside if

What is the output of this Python code?

for i in range(5):
    if i == 2:
        continue
    print(i, end=' ')

Python

for i in range(5):
    if i == 2:
        continue
    print(i, end=' ')

A 1 3 4

B 0 1 2 3 4

C 0 1 3 4

D 0 1 2 3

💡 Hint

Remember, continue skips the rest of the current loop iteration.

When i equals 2, the continue statement skips the print statement for that iteration. So 2 is not printed.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Continue in nested loops

What will be printed by this code?

for i in range(3):
    for j in range(3):
        if j == 1:
            continue
        print(f"{i},{j}", end=' ')

Python

for i in range(3):
    for j in range(3):
        if j == 1:
            continue
        print(f"{i},{j}", end=' ')

A 0,0 1,0 2,0

B 0,0 0,2 1,0 1,2 2,0 2,2

C 0,1 1,1 2,1

D 0,0 0,1 0,2 1,0 1,1 1,2 2,0 2,1 2,2

💡 Hint

Continue skips printing when j equals 1.

The inner loop skips printing when j is 1, so only j=0 and j=2 print for each i.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Continue with else clause in loop

What is the output of this code?

for i in range(3):
    if i == 1:
        continue
    print(i)
else:
    print('Done')

Python

for i in range(3):
    if i == 1:
        continue
    print(i)
else:
    print('Done')

A

0
2
Done

B Done

C

0
2

D

0
1
2
Done

💡 Hint

The else block runs after the loop finishes normally.

The loop skips printing 1 due to continue, prints 0 and 2, then prints 'Done' after the loop.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Continue inside while loop

What will this code print?

i = 0
while i < 5:
    i += 1
    if i == 3:
        continue
    print(i, end=' ')

Python

i = 0
while i < 5:
    i += 1
    if i == 3:
        continue
    print(i, end=' ')

A 2 3 4 5

B 1 2 3 4 5

C 1 2

D 1 2 4 5

💡 Hint

Continue skips printing when i is 3.

When i is 3, continue skips the print statement, so 3 is not printed.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Continue with multiple conditions and loop control

What is the output of this code?

result = []
for x in range(1, 6):
    if x % 2 == 0:
        continue
    if x == 5:
        break
    result.append(x)
print(result)

Python

result = []
for x in range(1, 6):
    if x % 2 == 0:
        continue
    if x == 5:
        break
    result.append(x)
print(result)

A [1, 3]

B [1, 3, 5]

C [1, 3, 5, 7]

D [2, 4]

💡 Hint

Continue skips even numbers, break stops loop at 5.

Only odd numbers less than 5 are appended: 1 and 3. When x is 5, loop breaks before append.

Practice

1. What does the continue statement do inside a loop in Python?

easy

A. Exits the current function

B. Stops the entire loop immediately

C. Skips the rest of the current loop iteration and moves to the next one

D. Repeats the current iteration without moving forward

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of continue

   The continue statement tells the loop to skip the remaining code in the current iteration.

2. Step 2: Identify the loop behavior after continue

   After skipping, the loop moves to the next iteration without stopping the whole loop.

3. Final Answer:

   Skips the rest of the current loop iteration and moves to the next one -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   continue skips current step [OK]

Hint: Remember: continue skips current step, break stops loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing continue with break
• Thinking continue exits the function
• Assuming continue repeats the iteration

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to use continue inside a for loop?

easy

A. for i in range(5) { continue }

B. for i in range(5): continue

C. for i in range(5) continue

D. for i in range(5):
continue

Solution

1. Step 1: Check Python loop syntax

   Python requires a colon after the for statement and indentation for the loop body.

2. Step 2: Identify correct placement of continue

   continue must be inside the loop body, properly indented on the next line.

3. Final Answer:

   for i in range(5):\n continue -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Colon + indent + continue line [OK]

Hint: Use colon and indent for loop body with continue [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Missing colon after for statement
• Writing continue on same line without colon
• Using braces {} which are not Python syntax

3. What is the output of this code?

for i in range(5):
    if i == 2:
        continue
    print(i)

medium

A. 0 1 3 4

B. 0 1 2 3 4

C. 2

D. 0 1

Solution

1. Step 1: Trace loop iterations and condition

   The loop runs i from 0 to 4. When i is 2, continue skips printing.

2. Step 2: List printed values

   Values printed are 0, 1, 3, and 4 because 2 is skipped.

3. Final Answer:

   0 1 3 4 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   continue skips i=2 print [OK]

Hint: Skip printing when continue triggers, others print [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including 2 in output
• Thinking continue stops loop
• Confusing continue with break

4. Find the error in this code snippet:

i = 0
while i < 5:
    if i == 3:
        continue
    print(i)
    i += 1

medium

A. Infinite loop because i is not incremented when i == 3

B. SyntaxError due to missing colon

C. Prints numbers 0 to 4 correctly

D. TypeError because of continue in while loop

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze loop and continue effect

   When i equals 3, continue skips the rest, so i += 1 is not executed.

2. Step 2: Understand consequence

   Since i stays 3 forever, the loop never ends, causing an infinite loop.

3. Final Answer:

   Infinite loop because i is not incremented when i == 3 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   continue skips i++ causes infinite loop [OK]

Hint: Increment loop variable before continue or use else [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring that continue skips increment
• Thinking continue causes syntax error
• Assuming loop ends normally

5. You want to print all numbers from 1 to 10 except multiples of 3 using a for loop and continue. Which code correctly does this?

hard

A. for i in range(1, 11):
if i % 3 == 0:
pass
else:
print(i)

B. for i in range(1, 11):
if i % 3 == 0:
continue
print(i)

C. for i in range(1, 11):
if i % 3 == 0:
break
print(i)

D. for i in range(1, 11):
if i % 3 != 0:
continue
print(i)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   We want to skip printing numbers divisible by 3, so use continue when i % 3 == 0.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 == 0: continue print(i) skips multiples of 3 correctly and prints others. for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 != 0: continue print(i) skips non-multiples wrongly. for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 == 0: break print(i) breaks loop early. for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 == 0: pass else: print(i) uses pass but prints all except multiples of 3 correctly but without continue.

3. Final Answer:

   for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 == 0: continue print(i) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   continue skips multiples of 3 print others [OK]

Hint: Use continue to skip unwanted cases inside loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using break instead of continue
• Reversing condition logic
• Not skipping multiples of 3