SIMPLE PAST TENSE EXERCISE 1: AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES (ESL)
level: Beginner (A1/A2)
✓ Useful for IELTS
✓ Useful for TOEFL
This is the foundation of the simple past tense: positive (affirmative) sentences. Covers both regular verbs (add -ed) and common irregular verbs. Once you're confident here, move on to negative sentences and questions.
Need a refresher? Jump to the grammar review ↓
Need a refresher? Jump to the grammar review ↓
Choose the correct simple past form of the verb in parentheses to complete each sentence.
Example: "We ate (eat) 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
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?
TRY SOME OF OUR OTHER VERB TENSE EXERCISES!
Simple Past 2: Negative (B)
Simple Past 3: Irregular Verbs (B/I)
Simple Past 4: Wh-Questions (B)
Simple Past 5: Yes/No Questions (B)
Past continuous 1 (B)
Simple Present/Present Continuous? 1 (I)
Simple Past/Present Perfect? 1 (I)
Simple Past 2: Negative (B)
Simple Past 3: Irregular Verbs (B/I)
Simple Past 4: Wh-Questions (B)
Simple Past 5: Yes/No Questions (B)
Past continuous 1 (B)
Simple Present/Present Continuous? 1 (I)
Simple Past/Present Perfect? 1 (I)
