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.
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 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
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)
