Grammar Exercises: Simple Past Tense

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EXERCISE 1

Put the verb in simple past tense :

1. Simon (come)   to Japan in 2014.
2. Tina (sing)   a lot at the karaoke.
3. The kid (fall)   off his skateboard.
4. I (find)   your shoes under the table.
5. It (be)   very cold this morning.
6. Sam (visit)   his girlfriend last weekend.
7. Ray (arrive)   two days ago.
8. We (go)   to the cinema last night.
9. I (be)   at the supermarket this morning.
10. She (see)   Sarah at the bar last week.

ANSWERS

1. came
2. sang
3. fell
4. found
5. was
6. visited
7. arrived
8. went
9. was
10. saw

Simple Past tense exercises with answers + PDF

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EXERCISE 2

Put the verb in simple past tense: 

1. He  some pie for his grandma. (make)
2. They  (understand) why he did that.
3. I   (hear) this song this morning on the radio.
4. We  (speak) to them last week.
5. She  (spend) a lot of money to get this car.
6. We   (watch) TV for too long.
7. My friend   (forget) his girlfriend’s birthday.
8.  she  (lose) some weight?
9. She  (give) him a nice present.
10. When my dad  (tell) this sad story, I  (cry) a lot.
11. Paul (choose)   to study abroad.
12. John always (keep)   money in his pockets.
13. We (drink)   a lot of beer yesterday.
14. I (sleep)   on the couch last night.
15. She (lend)   her 200$.

ANSWERS

1. made
2. understood
3. heard
4. spoke
5. spent
6. watched
7. forgot
8. did / lose
9. gave
10. told/ cried
11. chose
12. kept
13. drank
14. slept
15. lent

Simple Past exercises for beginners

Click here to download this online exercise about the verb to be at the Past simple (was / were) in PDF.

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

EXERCISE 6

Put the sentences in the correct form ( interrogative, affirmative or negative) :

1. (I / be / at the pub last night) → I was at the pub last night.
2. (the dogs / be / quiet)? →  
3. (we / be / in a supermarket when you called)? →  
4. (we / not / be / in Korea) →  
5. (I / be / late)? →  
6. (he / be / a football player when he was young) →  
7. (where / we / be)? →  
8. (you / be / okay)? →  
9. (we / be / too tired) →  
10. (how / the movie / be)? →  

ANSWERS

1. I was at the pub last night
2. Were the dogs quiet?
3. We weren’t in Korea
4. Were we in a supermarket when you called
5. Was I late?
6. He was a football player when he was young
7. Where were we?
8. Were you okay?
9. We were too tired
10. How was the movie?

Was or Were exercises online (+free PDF)

Click here to download this online exercise about the verb to be at the Past simple (was / were) in PDF.

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

EXERCISE 5

Ask the questions correctly :

1. (what / that noise / be)? →  
2. (who / that boy / be)? →  
3. (how / the party / be)? →  
4. (where / the key / be)? →  
5. (why / the window open / be)? →  
6. (who / the singer / be)? →  
7. (how / your holiday / be)? →  
8. (what / the weather like / be)? →  
9. (why / the kids awake / be)? →  
10. (Sam / be / at the bar)? →  

ANSWERS

1. What was that noise?
2. Who was that boy?
3. How was the party?
4. Where was the key?
5. Why was the window open?
6. Who was the singer?
7. How was your holiday?
8. What was the weather like?
9. Why were the kids awake?
10. Was Sam at the bar?

Was or Were exercises pdf

Click here to download this online exercise about the verb to be at the Past simple (was / were) in PDF.

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

EXERCISE 1

Was or were ?

Put the verb in past simple tense and in affirmative form :

1. It (be) cold last night → It was cold last night.
2. she (be) thirsty →  
3. we (be) late for the movie →  
4. I (be) tired yesterday →  
5. The exam (be) difficult →  
6. They (be) in Paris last week →  
7. You (be) in the supermarket when I saw you →  
8. The movie (be) fun →  
9. He (be) early for the meeting →  
10. The people we met last night (be) Japanese →  

ANSWERS

1. was
2. was
3. were
4. was
5. was
6. were
7. were
8. was
9. was
10. were

Exercises Was Were online (+free PDF)

Click here to download this online exercise about the verb to be at the Past simple (was / were) in PDF.

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

EXERCISE 2

Ask the questions correctly :

1. (you / be / tired last night)? → Were you tired last night?
2. (the movie / be / good)? →  
3. (we / be / too fast)? →  
4. (he / be / a writer when he was young)? →  
5. (you / be / in the class last tuesday)? →  
6. (he / be / a good player)? →  
7. (he / be / on time)? →  
8. (Tom and Tina / be / at the party)? →  
9. (They / be / in London)? →
10. (where / you / be)? →  

ANSWERS

1. Were you tired last night?
2. Was the movie good?
3. Were we too fast?
4. Was he a writer when he was young?
5. Were you in the class last tuesday?
6. Was he a good player?
7. Was he on time?
8. Were Tom and Tina at the party?
9. Were they in London?
10. Where were you?

Was Were negative exercises (+PDF)

Click here to download this online exercise about the verb to be at the Past simple (was / were) in PDF.

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

EXERCISE 4

1. That woman (not/be) Australian →  
2. Tom (not/be) late for the class →  
3. The meal (not/be) very good →  
4. They (not/be) my parents →  
5. I (not/be) rude to the teacher →  
6. The exam (not/be) easy →  
7. They (not/be) tired when we arrived →  
8. We (not/be) on the train when I called →  
9. You (not/be) here when she came →  
10. She (not/be) my girlfriend →  

ANSWERS

1. wasn’t (or was not)
2. wasn’t (or was not)
3. wasn’t (or was not)
4. weren’t (or were not)
5. wasn’t (or was not)
6. wasn’t (or was not)
7. weren’t (or were not)
8. weren’t (or were not)
9. weren’t (or were not)
10. wasn’t (or was not)

To Be Past simple exercises

Click here to download this online exercise about the verb to be at the Past simple (was / were) in PDF.

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

EXERCISE 3

Put the sentences in the correct form (interrogative, affirmative and negative):

1. (they / be / late for the meeting) →  
2. (you / be / in the garage) →  
3. (what / her name / be)? →  
4. (it / not / be / hot) →  
5. (he / be / handsome)? →  
6. (he / not / be my husband at the time) →  
7. (he / be / scared) →  
8. (why / you / be / late)? →  
9. (you / not / be / early) →  
10. (they not / be / happy together) →  

ANSWERS

1. They were late for the meeting
2. You were in the garage
3. What was her name?
4. It wasn’t hot
5. Was he handsome?
6. He wasn’t my husband at the time
7. He was scared
8. Why were you late?
9. You weren’t early
10. They weren’t happy together

Present perfect exercises with answers PDF

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Exercise 7

Put the verbs in present perfect tense :

1. She  (drink) a lot of beer.
2. Simon  (pass) his exam.
3. She  (see) the car. => forme négative
4. He  (study) for the test. => forme négative
5. They  (win).
6. Sam  (make) a cake.
7. I  (make) my bed.
8. I  (break) my leg.
9.  The car  (stop).
10. She  (write) a poem.
11. He  (catch) the train. => forme négative
12. Tina  (cook) fish. => forme négative
13. The dog  (bite) Mr Simpson.

ANSWERS

1. has drunk
2. has passed
3. hasn’t seen
4. hasn’t studied
5. have won
6. has made
7. have made
8. have broken
9. has stopped
10. has written
11. hasn’t caught
12. hasn’t cooked
13. has bitten

Present perfect tense exercises with answers PDF

Click here to download this exercise in PDF. Answers are at the bottom of the page.

Exercise 1

Put the verbs in present perfect tense :

1. They  (travel) to Japan.
2. He  (go) to work. => forme négative
3. The dog  (break) the TV.
4. He  (buy) a new TV.  => forme négative
5. I  (wash) my hair.
6. She  (eat) the pizza. => forme négative
7. I  (cut) my finger.
8. Sarah  (have) a shower.
9. The match  (start).
10. They  (play) soccer. => forme négative
11. He  (hurt) his leg.
12. He  (answer) the phone.
13. An accident    (happen).
14. Tom (finish) his work.

ANSWERS

1. have travelled
2. hasn’t gone
3. has broken
4. hasn’t bought
5. have washed
6. hasn’t eaten
7. have cut
8. has had
9. has started
10. haven’t played
11. has hurt
12. has answered
13. has happened
14. has finished