Excerpt from ESL Worksheets for Adults, Volume 2: Simple Past Tense Close Exercises

www.teaching-esl-to-adults.com © All rights reserved.

Exercise 1

Simple Past Sentences—Was or Were (1)

Directions: Fill in each blank with the correct verb (was or were).

Ex. Eric and David were good workers.

1. I in Greece last year.

2. You a happy child.

3. She an excellent student.

4. They at the theater last Friday.

5. Grace and I best friends.

6. Kris in the hospital last week.

7. Mr. McKnight my Spanish teacher in high school.

8. We very hungry before dinner.

9. Her parents at the baseball game last Saturday.

10. My neighbor a famous soccer player.

11. Tom and Frank at work last night.

12. We on the bus at 6:30 this morning.

13. Allen’s birthday party a lot of fun.

14. My brother at the concert last night.

15. The store closed yesterday.

16. She a good doctor.

17. My brother and his wife happy together.

18. The shoes too big for her.

19. Nikki afraid of the clown.

20. You the fastest runner in the race.

Excerpt from ESL Worksheets for Adults, Volume 2: Simple Past Tense Close Exercises

www.teaching-esl-to-adults.com © All rights reserved.

Exercise 7

Simple Past Exercise—Be, Do, Have (3)

Directions: Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb be, do, or have. Use the Past Tense.

Ex. 1 Why did you study so much?

Ex. 2 The boss was not in her office yesterday.

1. Tom and Mary’s house the biggest on the block.

2. What time you leave for the concert?

3. They not prepare for the big earthquake.

4. Richard more problems than anyone else.

5. His songs not very popular.

6. Who the most valuable player (MVP) last year?

7. your mother and father mad at you?

8. Where the accident?

9. Why his father yell at him?

10. The bathroom not very clean. Yuck!

11. What Mickey say to you?

12. The Jeffersons not have a car.

13. the weather good last weekend?

14. His Halloween costume not very scary.

15. the professor leave class early again?

16. They not like their new supervisor.

17. they borrow your car again?

18. you in love with her?

19. Joyce and Ronald not happy together.

20. Her jacket many holes.

Excerpt from ESL Worksheets for Adults, Volume 2: Simple Past Tense Close Exercises

www.teaching-esl-to-adults.com © All rights reserved.

Exercise 8

Simple Past Sentences—Regular Verbs—Affirmative (1)

Directions: Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb. Use the Past Tense.

Ex. We walked (walk) home from school yesterday.

1. We (play) tennis several times last summer.

2. She (call) her mother from college every week.

3. He (cook) a delicious dinner last Saturday.

4. Vicky (talk) too much last night.

5. Jonathon (work) hard yesterday.

6. I (travel) to eight countries last summer.

7. You (join) the club at the right time.

8. Donald and Jessie (enjoy) the movie.

9. Scott (pass) his exams with flying colors.

10. Bruce (burn) his finger on the stove.

11. She (kiss) her son on the forehead.

12. Nelson (want) four pieces of toast.

13. Rachel and I (watch) TV all night long.

14. You and Carol (finish) the job last week.

15. He (help) his neighbor cut the grass.

16. Thomas (fail) the driving test three times.

17. Karen and I (smell) the beautiful roses at the park.

18. The angry man (shout) at the politicians.

19. The music (sound) beautiful.

20. The children (collect) empty bottles for extra money.

Excerpt from ESL Worksheets for Adults, Volume 2: Simple Past Tense Close Exercises

www.teaching-esl-to-adults.com © All rights reserved.

Exercise 12

Simple Past Sentences—Irregular Verbs—Affirmative (2)

Directions: Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb. Use the Past Tense.

Ex. Anderson went (go) to Brazil last year.

1. The unhappy couple (fight) about everything.

2. Teddy (come) home late last night.

3. I (get) up at 6 o’clock this morning.

4. Perry (say) something very important to his son.

5. Simone and I (have) a wonderful time at the concert last Friday.

6. Mr. Kim (teach) English at the university for ten years.

7. Ms. Johnson (hear) her neighbors fighting last night.

8. Claire and Rodney (bring) wine for dinner last night.

9. She (set) the table for eight guests.

10. The firefighters (keep) the fire away from our house.

11. His new shoes (cost) a lot of money.

12. They (feed) the hungry children.

13. Nikki (know) everyone at the party.

14. Marvin (send) his mother a letter every week last year.

15. Ms. Gonzalez (be) my favorite teacher in high school.

16. He (lead) the country into war.

17. I (do) all my homework already.

18. The carpenter (build) a beautiful bookshelf for us.

19. Timothy (pay) for his new car with cash.

20. Jordan (read) six books last summer.

Excerpt from ESL Worksheets for Adults, Volume 2: Simple Past Tense Close Exercises

www.teaching-esl-to-adults.com © All rights reserved.

Exercise 15

Simple Past Sentences (1)

Complete the sentences using the following verbs. Use the Past Tense. Use each word only once.

act arrive bake burn change cook laugh like listen live love

need play rain serve study talk travel visit watch work

1. Michael always laughed at my silly jokes.

2. The waiter the customers very quickly.

3. Rene her mind a million times yesterday!

4. Andrew in all his high school plays.

5. Bill his wife very much.

6. I to the radio until very late last night.

7. It every afternoon last month.

8. The cook everyone’s toast this morning.

9. You always before taking tests.

10. We football every Sunday last summer.

11. She her mother in the hospital yesterday.

12. I to play video games when I was a kid.

13. We never about our problems.

14. Allen and Ralph in a factory by the freeway.

15. Mr. Bunker in a big house.

16. Zelda fresh bread yesterday.

17. Grace a big dinner for her guests.

18. I several reruns on TV last summer.

19. Rebecca at school late three times last week.

20. The flowers more water and sunshine to survive. They are dead now.

21. Norma to South America last summer.

Excerpt from ESL Worksheets for Adults, Volume 2: Simple Past Tense Close Exercises

www.teaching-esl-to-adults.com © All rights reserved.

Exercise 20

Simple Past—Negative

Directions: Complete the sentences with didn’t plus the correct verb form.

Ex. He wanted cake, but he didn’t want ice cream.

1. Marie visited her mother, but she her father.

2. Sheldon and Raj watched Star Wars, but they Legally Blonde.

3. Rudy knew Beverly, but he her sister.

4. I signed up for Biology, but I for Chemistry.

5. Cindy had a job two years ago, but she a job last summer.

6. Tim read six books last summer, but he Treasure Island.

7. You ate the salad, but you the soup.

8. We played some games, but we Monopoly.

9. Karen spoke English well, but she Spanish very well.

10. The coffee kept me awake last night, but it you awake.

11. Alex lived in California, but he in San Francisco.

12. Jeff stayed up late last night, but I late with him.

13. Jenny changed her clothes, but she her shoes for the party.

14. He and his wife traveled to South America, but they to Argentina.

15. The plane flew to Boston, but it to New York.

16. Anna and I cooked dinner last Saturday, but we dinner last Sunday.

17. Abraham studied for his History exam, but he for his French exam.

18. The dog bit the little boy, but he the little girl.

19. Susanna sang my favorite song, but she it very well.

20. Her new car cost a lot of money, but it more than my car.

Excerpt from ESL Worksheets for Adults, Volume 2: Simple Past Tense Close Exercises

www.teaching-esl-to-adults.com © All rights reserved.

Exercise 29

Simple Past Sentences—Positive to Negative (3)

Directions: Make the following sentences negative. Use contractions.

Ex. 1 Samuel lost his car keys. Samuel didn’t lose his car keys .

Ex. 2 Luca burned the potatoes. Luca didn’t burn the potatoes .

1. Edwin did his homework last night. ______________________________________

2. The farmers grew many vegetables. ______________________________________

3. Oprah Winfrey had a talk show. ______________________________________

4. Jenny wore her favorite shoes. ______________________________________

5. Pete and Tina knew each other. ______________________________________

6. Victor measured the ingredients. ______________________________________

7. The cat and dog liked each other. ______________________________________

8. The baby ate all her food. ______________________________________

9. It was very cold outside. ______________________________________

10. Cecil wanted a new bicycle. ______________________________________

11. Gloria ran very fast. ______________________________________

12. John was late to the meeting. ______________________________________

13. Watson wrote about adventures. ______________________________________

14. Linda read to the children. ______________________________________

15. The dog barked all night long. ______________________________________

16. The weather was hot today. ______________________________________

17. Sarah had a nice party last Friday. ______________________________________

18. Rafael played tennis very well. ______________________________________

19. Chris cleaned her room this morning.______________________________________

20. We agreed on a price for the car. ______________________________________