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Past simple Exercises

( Free Online English Grammar Lessons )

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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
Or a demon possessed her!아니면 악령 들렸거나!
Yeah, it was a good trick, who did you learn it from?맞아, 좋은 수였지, 누가 가르쳐주셨나 몰라?
Oh, okay, did she say why they needed to cancel it?아, 그렇구나. 왜 취소해야 하는지는 말해줬고?
Really, how long did you live here?너 말야, 여기서 얼마나 오래 살았어?
Umm, she started staying with me recently.음, 최근에 저랑 같이 살기 시작했는데요.
What the f*ck! I didn't know that!뭐야 미친! 몰랐잖아!
Unfortunately, it is... Weren't there any pictures of the house?슬프게도, 맞는 주소야... 집 사진 같은 거 없었어?
The water spilled all over the bench, too!의자에도 물이 다 튀었어!
You wanted to come here, I just helped you get the table!네가 여기 오고 싶어하길래, 테이블 구하는 방법 알려준 것 뿐이잖아!
I can't believe that, you were a very nice couple!믿을 수 없어. 정말 잘 어울리는 한 쌍이었는데!
Unbelievable, how did you know that?놀라워라, 그걸 어떻게 알아내셨담?
When did you get here? I didn't see you.언제 온 거야? 너 못 봤는데.
While I finished doing things here by myself!난 여기서 일 다 끝내놓고 있는 동안!
Any idea why they decided to sell the house suddenly?갑자기 집을 팔기로 한 이유가 뭔지 감 잡히는 거 있어?
I don't know, it was like 10.나도 몰라, 한 10시쯤.
Yes, I moved from Brighton about a month ago.네, 브라이튼에서 한달 쯤 전에 이사왔어요.
Oh god... It was a nightmare for me today!으 세상에... 오늘 정말 끔찍했어!
Didn't you hear what she said?말하는 거 못 들었어?
Oh, do you know what we forgot?앗, 우리 뭘 깜빡했게?
Also I caught the wasp before they managed to get stung.그리고 걔네가 쏘이기 전에 내가 말벌을 잡아줬다구.

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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