Past Simple 1

Simple Past
Simple Past
Grammar Practice Worksheets
Table of Contents
TO BE IN THE PAST TENSE
2
3
4
Affirmative and Negative

Yes/No Questions
Information Questions
REGULAR VERBS
5
Simple Past Tense
IRREGULAR VERBS
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
Simple Past Tense

Bingo
Yes/No Questions
Review
Time Expressions
14
CLASS ACTIVITY
15
ANSWER KEY
Copyright 2014, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms.
Simple Past

A. Was or Were?
B. Wasnt or Werent?
Put the correct form of the verb to be (was/were)

in the past tense in the following sentences.
Put the correct negative form of

the verb to be (wasnt/werent)
inthe following sentences.
1. Judy
2. We
3. I
sick yesterday.
tired after a long day at work.
4. The weather
beautiful yesterday.
5. Last semester my teachers

6. The children
9. They
very good.
very strong last night.

very happy last week.
closed during the rainstorm.
very happy to get your letter last week.
12. The boys
3. Carol
happy to see
her boyfriend with another girl.
4. Bonnie
at home
last night when I called her.
nervous on the first day of school.
10. Luckily, the windows

11. We
2. He
hungry at
dinnertime because he ate
abig lunch.
hungry after so much exercise.
7. The wind
8. She
1. They
at school
yesterday because it
wasSaturday.
in the same class last year.
5. The teacher
satisfied with the
studentswork.
tired after the ball game.
C. Complete the Sentences

Finish the following sentences using wasnt or werent.
1. I am at work today, but
6. The apples are sweet today, but
I wasnt here yesterday.

2. It is cold outside today, but
7. The class is interesting today, but
3. She is sick today, but
8. The boss is angry today, but
4. They are at school today, but
9. The door is locked today, but
5. The TV show is good today, but
10. The exercises are easy today, but
Simple Past
Yes/No Questions
Practice making questions and giving short
answers with the verb to be in the past tense.
1. I was tired last night.
Were you tired last night?

Yes, I was.
2. It wasnt cold outside yesterday.
3. They werent sick last week.
4. D
on was at the
office last Saturday.
5. The car was expensive.
6. The children werent excited.
7. The store wasnt open.
8. The movie was interesting.
9. The food wasnt good.
Simple Past
Use the correct question word (who, what, where, when, why, how many)
and the correct form of the verb to be in the past tense to make
questions. The bold words are the answers to the questions.
1.
Why was she absent?

She was absent because she was sick.
2.
She was tired because she worked hard all day.
3.
She was at the mall last night.
4.
There were 20 people at the party.
5.
A diamond ring was in the box.
6.
The secretary was in the office.
7.
The students were absent last Tuesday.
8.
She was late because she missed her bus.
9.
Mrs. Jones was at the door.
Simple Past
Simple Past Tense

REGULAR VERBS
A. Choose the Correct Word

Choose the correct verb from the list on the right to
complete the following sentences. Write the verb in the past tense.
1. I
my friend in the hospital last night.
2. The boys
baseball in the field behind the school.
3. Robert
his wife wash the dishes.
4. We
our living room a soft blue color.
5. Susan
TV for two hours last night.
6. We
7. I
Word List:
planes on the way to New York.
play
visit
paint
water
listen
mail
help
arrive
learn
watch
change
wait
the letter on the way to work.
8. She
9. They
10. She
for him for 20 minutes at the coffee shop.

how to swim many years ago.
the flowers in the garden yesterday.
11. The students

12. We
late for class.

to the radio until midnight.
B. Negative and Affirmative

Make the following sentences negative and then write
a follow-up sentence of your own in the affirmative.
1. Mary baked a cake.
4. Donald fixed his TV.
Mary didnt bake a cake.

She baked cookies.
2. The boys played soccer.
5. Peter danced with Betty.
3. Carol called her mother.
6. Ann studied history.
Simple Past
Simple Past Tense

IRREGULAR VERBS
A. Write the Past Tense

Write the correct past tense for each of the following verbs.
1. cut
6. ride
11. shake
16. sleep
2. dig
7. run
12. shoot
17. speak
3. cost
8. see
13. shut
18. spend
4. meet
9. sell
14. sit
19. stand
5. read
10. send
15. sing
20. swim
B. Word Scramble
Unscramble the following words. Then write the
present tense of each verb beside the past irregular verb.
Scrambled
1. etnw
Unscrambled
went
Present Tense
go
2. meca
3. ganbe
4. dema
5. lbew
6. okbre
7. hocse
8. idd
9. krdan
10. tae
11. voedr
12. ghtaut
13. oltd
14. woret
15. wkoe
Simple Past
Bingo
IRREGULAR VERBS
A. Write the Past Tense

Choose 24 words from the list below and write the past tense of each
one in any space on your bingo card on the next page. Mix the verbs up.
Do not write them in the same order as the list. (This will ensure you
all have a different card.)

become
begin
bet
bite
blow
break
bring
build
catch
choose
come
cost
cut
dig
do
draw
drink
drive
eat
fall
feel
fight
find
fly
forget
freeze
get
give
go
grow
hang
have
hear
hide
hit
hold
hurt
keep
know
leave
let
lose
make
mean
meet
pay
quit
ring
read
ride
run
see
sell
send
shake
shoot
shut
sink
sit
sleep
speak
spend
stand
stick
sweep
swing
swim
take
teach
tell
think
throw
understand
wake
wear
win
write
B. Play Bingo!
Your teacher will call out certain past tense verbs. If you have one, cover it
with a bean, piece of cardboard, candy, or any other marker your teacher
gives you. When you have one line in any direction covered, shout Bingo!
(You must have the correct past tense under each marker in order to win.)
Simple Past
Bingo Card
IRREGULAR VERBS
Free
Space
Simple Past

IRREGULAR VERBS
Complete the Sentences

Complete the sentences below. The first question is filled in as an example.
1. Ben usually eats cereal for breakfast.
7. Ben usually meets his boss in the morning.
He didnt eat
cereal yesterday.
He
his boss in the morning.
He ate
toast.
He
him in the afternoon.
2. Ben usually gets up at 7:00.
8. Ben usually writes ten emails in the morning.
He
at 7:00 yesterday.
He
ten emails yesterday.
He
at 8:00.
He
five letters.
3. Ben usually takes a shower.
9. 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.
4. Ben usually reads the Times newspaper.
10. Ben usually has a lot of appointments every day.
He
the Times yesterday.
He
He
the Post.
He only
5. Ben usually leaves the house at 8:00.
a lot of appointments yesterday.

a few.
11. 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.
6. Ben usually takes a bus to work.

He
a bus yesterday.
He
a taxi.
Simple Past
Yes/No Questions
IRREGULAR VERBS
Write the questions. The first question has been filled in as an example.
1.
Did you wake up
early?
10.
No, I didnt. I woke up late.
No, he didnt. He caught a small one.

at 7:00?
2.
No, she didnt. She made a pie.

in the pool?
12.
No, he didnt. He swam in the lake.
No, they didnt. They told me.

French?
No, we didnt. We sat on chairs.

to school?
No, she didnt. She wore a dress.
on time?
No, I didnt. I shut the door.

to Paris?
No, she didnt. She flew to Rome.

9.
the windows?
16.
No, he didnt. He came late.

8.
a skirt?
15.
No, I didnt. I drove to the office.
7.
on the sofa?
14.
No, they didnt. They spoke Spanish.
6.
their mother?
13.
No, she didnt. She brought oranges.
5.
eight hours?
No, I didnt. I slept nine hours.
apples?
4.
a cake?
11.
No, we didnt. We met at 8:00.

3.
a big fish?
17.
at the front of the room?

No, she didnt. She stood at the back of the room.
your purse?
No, I didnt. I lost my wallet.
10
Simple Past
IRREGULAR VERBS
Use the correct question word (who, what, where, when, why, how many) to
make questions in the simple past tense. The bold words are the answers
to the questions.
1.
Where did she buy the toy?

She bought the toy at Walmart.
2.
They left the office at 6:00.
3.
She didnt go to work because she was sick.
4.
I spent $80.00 on groceries.
5.
Rosa spoke to the boss.*
6.
*Note:
There is a difference between
questions 5 and 6. Can you
explain the grammar rule?
Rosa spoke to the boss.*

7.
She said hello to me.
8.
I felt sick yesterday.
9.
The sun rose at 6:45 am yesterday.
10.
She wore a beautiful dress to the party.
11.
The meeting took place in Room 29.
11
Simple Past
Review
IRREGULAR VERBS
A. Choose the Correct Word

Choose the correct verb from the list below to complete
the following sentences. Put the verb in the past tense form.
1. She
a plate
when she was washing the dishes.
9. Matthew
to work yesterday. He
2. They
to
Paris in a jumbo jet last week.
10. The children

in the lake behind their house.
3. I
the alarm clock for 7:00 yesterday
morning, but I
up a half-hour
before the alarm clock
.
11. We
a wonderful
time at your party last night.
4. I
a letter
to my friend back home.
6. His mother
of him when he
three friends at the caf and

several cups of coffee together.
Word List:
care
sick.
7. The teacher
the mathematics
class and then
the students
three exercises to do for homework.
8. Angie
She
12. I
groceries on my way
home yesterday and I
in cash.
13. I
we
5. He
flowers to
his girlfriend for her birthday.
his wallet on the way

very upset.
a bad cold last week.

in bed for three days.
buy
ring
lie
break
teach
fly
set
send
wake
swim
be
pay
meet
have
write
drink
give
get
take
catch
lose
B. Opposites
Write the opposite of each verb below. Make sure to use the past tense.
There may be more than one possible opposite, but try to think of one that
has an irregular past form.
1. remembered
6. opened
2. bought
7. rose (the sun)
3. found
8. learned
4. brought
9. floated
5. arrived
10. saved (money)
12
Simple Past
Time Expressions for the Past

IRREGULAR VERBS
Complete the following sentences using yesterday, last, or ago.
1. She came to this country three years
2. I was very tired
week.
3. The class was canceled
Monday.
4. I spoke to him ten minutes
5. The weather was beautiful
summer.
6. We went dancing
night.
7. The boss was away
morning.
8. We began this class
fall.
9. The children ran around outside
afternoon.
10. She got married five years

11. We went skiing a lot
12. We went shopping
13. She left five minutes
.
winter.
afternoon.
.
14. They left the city a month

15. They came back
.
week.
13
Simple Past
Class Activity
Walk around the classroom and ask your classmates questions.
Write the questions in the spaces provided below, and write
your classmates name on the right if he/she answers yes.
FIND SOMEONE...
1. ...who woke up late this morning.
2. ...who didnt take the bus to school this morning.
3. ...who ate an egg for breakfast this morning.
4. ...who saw a good movie on TV last night.
5. ...who bought something expensive yesterday.
6. ...who had a bad cold last week.
7. ...who won something last year.
8. ...who read a great book last month.
9. ...who heard some interesting gossip last week.
10. ...who went on a vacation outside the country last year.
14
Simple Past
Answer Key
Affirmative and Negative (Be)
Simple Past Tense (Regular)
A. WAS OR WERE?
A. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
1.
was
4.
was
7.
was
10. were
1.
visited
4.
2.
were
5.
3.
was
6.
were
8.
was
11. were
2.
played
5.
were
9.
were
12. were
3.
helped
6.
B. WASNT OR WERENT ?
werent
3.
wasnt
2.
wasnt
4.
wasnt
5.
wasnt
C. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

1.
...I wasnt here yesterday.
2.
...it wasnt cold yesterday.
3.
...she wasnt sick yesterday.
4.
...they werent
5.
...it wasnt good yesterday.
6.
...they werent
at school today.
7.
...it wasnt
interesting yesterday.
8.
...he wasnt
angry yesterday.
9.
...it wasnt locked

yesterday.
10. ...they werent
sweet yesterday.
mailed
10. watered
watched
8.
waited
11. arrived
changed
9.
learned
12. listened
1.
Mary didnt bake a cake.
4.
Donald didnt fix his TV.
2.
The boys didnt play soccer.
5.
Peter didnt dance with Betty.
3.
Carol didnt call her mother.
6.
Ann didnt study history.
Simple Past Tense (Irregular)

A. WRITE THE PAST TENSE
1.
cut
2.
3.
4.
5.
read
9.
dug
6.
rode
cost
7.
ran
met
8.
saw
sold
13. shut
17. spoke
10. sent
14. sat
18. spent
11. shook
15. sang
19. stood
12. shot
16. slept
20. swam
easy yesterday.
B. WORD SCR AMBLE
Yes/No Questions (Be)

1.
Were you tired last night? Yes, I was.
2.
Was it cold outside yesterday? No, it wasnt.
3.
Were they sick last week? No, they werent.
4.
Was Don at the office last Saturday? Yes, he was.
5.
Was the car expensive? Yes, it was.
6.
Were the children excited? No, they werent.
7.
Was the store open? No, it wasnt.
8.
Was the movie interesting? Yes, it was.
9.
Was the food good? No, it wasnt.
Information Questions (Be)

1.
Why was she absent?
6.
Where was the secretary?
2.
Why was she tired today?
7.
When were the
3.
Where was she last night?
4.
How many people
8.
Why was she late?
were at the party?
9.
Who was at the door?
What was in the box?
7.
B. NEGATIVE AND AFFIRMATIVE
1.
5.
painted
students absent?
1.
went / go
6.
broke / break
11. drove / drive
2.
came / come
7.
chose / choose
12. taught / teach
3.
began / begin
8.
did / do
13. told / tell
4.
made / make
9.
drank / drink
14. wrote / write
5.
blew / blow
10. ate / eat
15. woke / wake
Bingo (Irregular)
became
dug
got
left
sold
swung
began
did
gave
let
sent
swam
bet
drew
went
lost
shook
took
bit
drank
grew
made
shot
taught
blew
drove
hung
meant
shut
told
broke
ate
had
met
sank
thought
brought
fell
heard
paid
sat
threw
built
felt
hid
quit
slept
understood
caught
fought
hit
rang
spoke
woke
chose
found
held
read
spent
wore
came
flew
hurt
rode
stood
won
cost
forgot
kept
ran
stuck
wrote
cut
froze
knew
saw
swept
15
Simple Past
Answer Key cont.

Affirmative and Negative (Irregular)
1.
didnt eat / ate
7.
didnt meet / met
2.
didnt get up / got up
8.
didnt write / wrote
3.
didnt take / took
9.
didnt eat / ate
4.
didnt read / read
10. didnt have / had
5.
didnt leave / left
11. didnt get / got
6.
didnt take / took
Review (Irregular)
A. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
1.
broke
5.
gave
10. swam
2.
flew
6.
took / got
11. had
3.
set /
7.
taught / gave
12. bought / paid
woke / rang
8.
caught / lay
13. met / drank
wrote
9.
lost / was
4.
Yes/No Questions (Irregular)
B. OPPOSITES
1.
Did you wake...
10. Did he catch...
1.
forgot
6.
shut
2.
Did you meet...
11. Did she make...
2.
sold
7.
set
3.
Did he swim...
12. Did you sleep...
3.
lost
8.
taught
4.
Did she bring...
13. Did they tell...
4.
left/took
9.
sank
5.
Did they speak...
14. Did you sit...
5.
left
10. spent
6.
Did you drive...
15. Did she wear...
7.
Did he come...
16. Did you shut...
8.
Did she fly...
17. Did she stand...
9.
Did you lose...
Information Questions (Irregular)

1.
Where did she buy the toy?
2.
When did they leave the office?
Time Expressions (Irregular)

1.
ago
6.
last
11. last
2.
last
7.
yesterday
12. yesterday
3.
last
8.
last
13. ago
4.
ago
9.
yesterday
14. ago
5.
last
10. ago
15. last
3.
Why didnt she go to work?
4.
How much did you spend on groceries?
5.
Who did Rosa speak to?
6.
Who spoke to the boss?
7.
What did she say to you?
8.
How did you feel yesterday?
SPELLING NOTE:
9.
When did the sun rise yesterday?
This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Color,
10. What did she wear to the party?

11. Where did the meeting take place?
Class Activity
Answers will vary.
Canceled, and Practice. Most other English-speaking countries

spell these words this way: Colour, Cancelled, andPractise (when
used as a verb; Practice when used as a noun). Make it a challenge
for your students to findthese words in the lesson and see if they
know the alternatespellings.
16

Past Simple 1

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Simple Past

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Affirmative and Negative

Simple Past Tense

Simple Past Tense

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Affirmative and Negative

Put the correct form of the verb to be (was/were)

Put the correct negative form of

tired after a long day at work.

5. Last semester my teachers

very strong last night.

closed during the rainstorm.

very happy to get your letter last week.

12. The boys

nervous on the first day of school.

10. Luckily, the windows

hungry after so much exercise.

in the same class last year.

tired after the ball game.

C. Complete the Sentences

6. The apples are sweet today, but

I wasnt here yesterday.

7. The class is interesting today, but

3. She is sick today, but

8. The boss is angry today, but

4. They are at school today, but

9. The door is locked today, but

5. The TV show is good today, but

10. The exercises are easy today, but

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Were you tired last night?

2. It wasnt cold outside yesterday.

3. They werent sick last week.

5. The car was expensive.

6. The children werent excited.

7. The store wasnt open.

8. The movie was interesting.

9. The food wasnt good.

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Why was she absent?

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Simple Past Tense

A. Choose the Correct Word

my friend in the hospital last night.

baseball in the field behind the school.

his wife wash the dishes.

our living room a soft blue color.

TV for two hours last night.

planes on the way to New York.

the letter on the way to work.

for him for 20 minutes at the coffee shop.

11. The students

late for class.

B. Negative and Affirmative

4. Donald fixed his TV.

Mary didnt bake a cake.

5. Peter danced with Betty.

3. Carol called her mother.

6. Ann studied history.

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Simple Past Tense

A. Write the Past Tense

Grammar Practice Worksheets

2. Ben usually gets up at 7:00.

8. Ben usually writes ten emails in the morning.

3. Ben usually takes a shower.

4. Ben usually reads the Times newspaper.

10. Ben usually has a lot of appointments every day.

5. Ben usually leaves the house at 8:00.

10. The children

9. The children ran around outside