Simple Past

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 5
CHOOSE THE CORRECT VERB

Choose a verb from the list on the right to complete the following
sentences. Write the verb in the past tense. Use each verb only once.

Ex. I visited my friend in the hospital last night.

Verb List:
1. The boys baseball in the field behind the school. • change
• visit
2. Robert his wife wash the dishes. • paint
• travel
• listen
3. We our living room a soft blue color.
• help
• arrive
4. Susan TV for two hours last night. • learn
• watch
5. We planes on the way to New York. • play
• wait
6. She for him for 20 minutes at the coffee shop.

7. He how to swim when he was a child.

8. They all around the country three years ago.

9. The students late for class.

10. We to the radio until midnight.

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 Simple Past
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 8
CHOOSE THE CORRECT VERB

Choose a verb(s) from the list on the right to complete the following
sentences. Write the verb(s) in the past tense. Use each verb only once.

Ex. She broke a plate when she was washing the dishes.
Verb List:
1. They to Paris in a jumbo jet last week. • buy
• ring
• lie
2. I the alarm clock for 7:00 yesterday morning, but I
• break
• teach
up an hour before the alarm clock . • fly
• set
• send
3. I an email to my friend back home.
• wake
• swim
4. He a five-page essay last night. • feel
• pay
• meet
5. His mother care of him when he sick.
• have
• write
6. The teacher the mathematics class • drink
• give
• get
and then the students three exercises to do for homework.
• take
• catch
7. Matthew his wallet on the way to work yesterday. • lose

He very upset.

8. Angie a bad cold last week. She in bed for three days.

9. The children in the lake behind their house last summer.

10. We a wonderful time at your party last night.

11. I groceries on my way home yesterday and I cash.

12. I three friends at the cafe and

we several cups of coffee together.

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 Simple Past
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 11
TIME MARKERS

Complete the following sentences using yesterday, last, or ago.

Ex. We went skiing a lot last winter.

1. She came to this country three years .

2. The teacher canceled the class Monday.

3. I spoke to him for ten minutes .

4. We went dancing night.

5. The boss was away morning.

6. We began this class fall.

7. The children ran around outside afternoon.

8. She got married five years .

9. We went shopping .

10. He left five minutes .

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 Simple Past
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 12
POSITIVE & NEGATIVE

Read the example. Then complete the sentences below using the past
tense. Make the first sentence negative and the second one positive.

Ex. Ben usually eats cereal for breakfast. 6. Ben usually meets his boss in the morning.

He didn’t eat cereal yesterday. He his boss in the morning.

He ate toast. He him in the afternoon.

1. Ben usually gets up at 7:00. 7. Ben usually writes ten emails in the morning.

He at 7:00 yesterday. He ten emails yesterday.

He at 8:00. He five letters.

2. Ben usually takes a shower. 8. Ben usually eats lunch in the office.

He a shower yesterday. He lunch in the office today.

He a bath. He lunch in a restaurant.

3. Ben usually reads the Times newspaper. 9. Ben usually has a lot of appointments every day.

He the Times yesterday. He a lot of appointments yesterday.

He the Post. He only a few.

4. Ben usually leaves the house at 8:00. 10. Ben usually gets home at 6:00.

He the house at 8:00. He home at 6:00 yesterday.

He at 9:00. He home at 7:00.

5. Ben usually takes a bus to work.

He a bus yesterday.

He a taxi.

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 Simple Past
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 13
WRITE THE QUESTIONS

Use the correct question word (who, what, where, when, why, how many)
to make Wh- questions in the simple past tense. The bold words are the
answers to the questions.

Ex. Where did she buy that toy? 6.

She bought that toy at Walmart. She said “hello” to me.

1. 7.

They left the office at 6:00. I felt sick yesterday.

2. 8.

She didn’t go to work because she was sick. The sun rose at 6:45 am yesterday.

3. 9.

I spent $80.00 on groceries. She wore a beautiful dress to the party.

4. 10.

Rosa spoke to the boss.* The meeting took place in Room 29.

5.

Rosa spoke to the boss.*

*Note:
There is a difference between questions 4 and 5.
Can you explain the grammar rule?

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 Simple Past
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 16
QUIZ

Circle the correct answer.

1. Two weeks ago, I a new car. 7. They left the city a month .

a) bought a) ago
b) buyed b) last

2. Juan at the store on his way home. 8. She a cold last week.

a) stoped a) cought
b) stopped b) caught

3. I was very tired week. 9. your homework?

a) ago a) Did you finish

b) last b) Did you finished

4. It us two days to write the report. 10. Maya and Louise late for class.

a) taked a) was
b) took b) were

5. How the weather last weekend? 11. They to sell their house.

a) was a) tryed
b) were b) tried

6. Alyssa to go to Spain. 12. Chang to the party last night.

a) decideed a) didn’t go
b) decided b) didn’t went

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