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?
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?
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.
Correct: got
2. Mary (put)on her new clothes.
Correct: put
3. My father (make)himself a cup of coffee.
Correct: made
4. Tim (drink)his water very quickly.
Correct: drank
5. It (be)a beautiful morning!
Correct: was
6. I (know)all the answers.
Correct: knew
7. The teacher (call)his name.
Correct: called
8. They (bring)their dog on the trip.
Correct: brought
9. Robert (feel)ill.
Correct: felt
10. Thomas (have)a sandwich for lunch.
Correct: had
11. The students (walk)to school.
Correct: walked
12. The police (catch)the thief.
Correct: caught
13. I (think)about his idea.
Correct: thought
14. We (study)for three hours.
Correct: studied
15. Amelia (turn)off the light.
Correct: turned
16. My mother (cook)us a wonderful meal.
Correct: cooked
17. We (understand)the explanation.
Correct: understood
18. David (see)his friend at the supermarket.
Correct: saw
19. She (say)that she was tired.
Correct: said
20. I (finish)the test.
Correct: finished
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)
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)
