SIMPLE PAST TENSE EXERCISE (ESL) 1

level: Beginner (A1/A2)

GRAMMAR REVIEW Use the simple past to talk about actions that happened and finished in the past.

Examples:
I visited Paris last year.
She cooked dinner yesterday.

STRUCTURE

Affirmative:
Subject + past tense verb
→ He watched a movie.
Regular verbs: add -ed (e.g., play → played)
Irregular verbs: change form (e.g., go → went)

Negative:
Subject + did not (didn't) + base verb
→ They didn't watch the show.

Question:
Did + subject + base verb?
→ Did you see that?

READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

Choose the correct past simple form of the (verb) to complete each sentence.
Example: "We (eat) ate soup for dinner."

1. I (get) up at 8:00 AM today.

2. Mary (put) on her new clothes.

3. My father (make) himself a cup of coffee.

4. Tim (drink) his water very quickly.

5. It (be) a beautiful morning!

6. I (know) all the answers.

7. The teacher (call) his name.

8. They (bring) their dog on the trip.

9. Robert (feel) ill.

10. Thomas (have) a sandwich for lunch.

11. The students (walk) to school.

12. The police (catch) the thief.

13. I (think) about his idea.

14. We (study) for three hours.

15. Amelia (turn) off the light.

16. My mother (cook) us a wonderful meal.

17. We (understand) the explanation.

18. David (see) his friend at the supermarket.

19. She (say) that she was tired.

20. I (finish) the test.

TRY SOME OF OUR OTHER VERB TENSE EXERCISES! Simple past 1 (B)
Simple past 2 (B)
Past continuous 1 (B)
Simple Present/Present Continuous? 1 (I)
Simple Present/Present Continuous? 2 (I)
Simple Past/Present Perfect? 1 (I)
Simple Past/Present Perfect? 2 (I)
Past continuous 2 (B)