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Past simple Exercises

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Past simple form : ( verb 2 )

In English we use the past simple tense to talk about finished actions in the past.

We use 'did' as an auxiliary verb in negatives and questions and we often use the past simple with past time phrases such as 5 minutes ago, yesterday, last week, in the 1980s, and when I was a child.

Notes for use of past simple  :

In English, to change verbs to the past tense, we add '-ed' to regular verbs. For example;

work --> worked

live --> lived

walk --> walked

If the verb ends in 'e', we drop the 'e' before adding '-ed'. For example;

dance --> danced

smile --> smiled

phone --> phoned

If the verb ends in a vowel + consonant, we double the last consonant. For example;

stop --> stopped

tag --> tagged

plan --> planned

If the verb has more than one syllable, we double the consonant at the end only if the last syllable is stressed. For example;

prefer --> preferred

permit --> permitted

regret --> regretted

If the last syllable of the verb is not stressed, we do not double the last consonant. For example;

visit --> visited

happen --> happened

develop --> developed

In British English, verbs ending in 'l' double the 'l' before '-ed' whether the last syllable is stressed or not. For example;

travel --> travelled

cancel --> cancelled

If the verb ends in a 'y' or a 'w', we do not double it when we add '-ed'. For example;

stay --> stayed

play --> played

sew --> sewed

In English we do not double the consonant if the verb has two vowels before the last consonant. For example;

boil --> boiled

explain --> explained

In English we also do not double the consonant if the verb ends in two consonants. For example;

help --> helped

start --> started

However, irregular verbs change to completely different words in the past tense. For example;

go --> went

take --> took

know --> knew

The table below shows the different forms of past simple :

Example Verb : live
I / You  / We / They / He / She / It
Positive... lived.
Negative... didn't live.

Questions

Did ... live?
Short answers

Yes, ... did. /

No, ... didn't.

For the verb 'to be' we use 'was' and 'were'' in the past simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.

Verb : Be
I / He / She / It
You / We / They
Positive... was ...... were ...
Negative... wasn't ...... weren't ...
QuestionsWas ... ... ?Were ... ...?
Short answers

Yes, ... was. /

No, ... wasn't.

Yes, ... were. /

No, ... weren't.

Past Simple Example Sentences :

Positive Examples of Past Simple :

  • I went to Japan last year.
  • She worked as a consultant for 5 years.
  • We saw a film last night.
  • He was ill yesterday.
  • They were at the party last Saturday night.

Negative Examples of Past Simple :

  • You didn't go to the gym last night.
  • He didn't attend the meeting this morning.
  • We didn't have a dog when I was a child.
  • I wasn't at home last weekend.
  • They weren't happy with the service.

Question Examples of Past Simple :

  • Did you visit New York last summer?
  • Did you eat at the Japanese restaurant last night?
  • Who did you meet at the conference?
  • Was she angry?
  • Where were you yesterday afternoon?

Past simple example sentences
There was nothing wrong with you at the shop.No te pasaba nada en la tienda.
I hope the other appointments weren't very far apart from each other.Espero que tus otras citas no fueran muy lejanas.
I can't believe you, where did you get it from?No te creo, ¿dónde conseguiste eso?
I checked the train schedule on the internet.Comprobé el horario de los trenes en internet.
Because a girl had an argument with Diego?¿Porque una chica tuvo una pelea con Diego?
I found out we didn't have many things in the fridge.He descubierto que no teníamos muchas cosas en la nevera.
After hearing that, she decided to leave suddenly.Después de escucharlo decidió marcharse repentinamente.
Then suddenly, a vicious dog just came and...Entonces, de repente, un perro malo acaba de llegar y...
And... Your cat? I didn't know you had a cat!Y... ¿Tu gato? ¡No sabía que tenías un gato!
It seems I forgot to turn it on after I plugged it into the charger!¡Parece que olvidé encenderlo una vez lo conecté al cargador!
Sorry dear, I didn't mean to annoy you at all.Lo siento querido, no es mi intención enojarte.
I hadn't realised you could remember things so fast before!¡No me había dado cuenta de que podías recordar las cosas tan rápido antes!
We've been coming here since Pogo was a kitten.Hemos estado viniendo aquí desde que Pogo era un gatito.
Hmm, I guess it was about 5 or 6 months ago.Hmm, supongo que hace unos 5 o 6 meses.
I didn't realise there was a problem with the toilet!¡No me había dado cuenta de que había un problema con el inodoro!
It totally slipped my mind!¡Se me olvidó totalmente!
I see... at least you weren't far from home.Ya veo... al menos no estabas lejos de casa.
Didn't they call you when you didn't show up at 11:00?¿No te llamaron cuando no te presentaste a las 11:00?
Did you have much money in your purse?¿Tenías mucho dinero en tu bolsa?
Really, how long did you live here?En serio, ¿durante cuánto tiempo viviste aquí?

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Be going to
Be going to passive
Be used to / Get used to
Comparative
Defining relative clause
Echo tag
Expression
First conditional
Future
Future continuous
Future perfect continuous
Future perfect passive
Future perfect simple
Future simple passive
Greeting
Have/Get something done
Imperative
Implied conditional
Indirect question
Infinitive of purpose
Interjection
Mixed conditional
Modal
Modal passive
Non-defining relative clause
Other
Past continuous
Past continuous passive
Past perfect continuous
Past perfect passive
Past perfect simple
Past simple
Past simple passive
Polite request / offer / suggestion
Present continuous
Present continuous passive
Present perfect continuous
Present perfect passive
Present perfect simple
Present simple
Present simple passive
Question tag
Reduced relative clause
Reported speech imperative
Reported speech question
Reported speech request
Reported speech statement
Second conditional
Short answer
Superlative
Third conditional
Used to / would (past habit)
Was/were going to
Was/were supposed to
Wish
Would rather
Zero conditional