Past Simple Worksheets

The past simple takes the following forms:

Past Simple Positive: Subject + past simple form of verb + objects

• Jason went to camp in Florida last week.
• We had dinner at that new restaurant two days ago.

Past Simple Negative Form: Subject + did not + verb + objects

• Mary didn't attend the meeting last week.
• They didn't pass the exam yesterday.

Past Simple Question Form: (Question Word) + did + subject + verb?

• What did you do yesterday?
• When did they meet Tim?

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Present Simple Worksheets

By Kenneth Beare

Important Notes

The verb 'to be' does not take the auxiliary verb 'did' in the question or negative form.
The regular past simple form of verbs ends in '-ed', irregular past simple form of verbs vary and must be studied.

Examples

• I was on time to the meeting yesterday.
• Alexander wasn't born in April. He was born in May.
• Were you at the party last night?

Ago / Last / In

'Ago' is used at the end of a sentence preceded by a specific amount of time such as: three days ago, two weeks ago, one month ago, etc.
'Last' is used with 'week', 'month', and 'year'.
'In' is used with specific months and years in the past.

Practice Worksheet 1

Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well.

1. Tom _____ (visit) his mother last weekend.
2. We _____ (not buy) that TV yesterday because it was too expensive.
3. _____ (you / be) at the meeting on Tuesday?
4. Where _____ (Sheila / stay) in New Orleans?
5. Alan _____ (understand) the situation two days ago.
6. They _____ (not finish) the project on time last month.
7. When _____ (Mary / fly) to New York?
8. Henry _____ (read) Harry Smith's latest book last month.
9. I _____ (not write) that letter to him last week.
10. What _____ (you do) yesterday afternoon?
11. You _____ (think) he couldn't win, didn't you?
12. She _____ (not win) the prize two weeks ago.
13. Where _____ (Andy / go) last week?
14. Thomas _____ (come) to visit us in May.
15. Susan _____ (not telephone) in time to get a ticket.
16. How _____ (you meet) him?
17. David _____ (get up) early on Saturday to play golf.
18. Betty _____ (not draw) that picture.
19. _____ (Peter forget) his books yesterday?
20. She _____ (give) him a present for his birthday yesterday.

Practice Worksheet 2

Choose the correct time expression used with the past simple tense.

1. Cathy left on holiday (last / ago) week.
2. I played football (when / last) I was in high school.
3. Were you able to go to the meeting (ago / in) May?
4. She didn't think about those problems two days (last / ago).
5. There weren't any children at the party (last / when) Saturday.
6. Jennifer wanted us to come and help three weeks (ago / when).
7. Peter went to a meeting in Chicago (last / ago) Tuesday.
8. Alexander made a number of mistakes (yesterday / tomorrow).
9. Tom was born (at / in) 1987.
10. Our teacher helped us understand the problem (this morning / tomorrow morning).
11. I bought a new chair for my office (last / next) week.
12. Did you finish the meeting on time (yesterday / last) evening?
13. Susan visited her aunt in Seattle (last / ago) Sunday.
14. My father took me to the zoo (when / last) I was a child.
15. They opened a new store (in / on) Tuesday.
16. She drove to New Mexico (in / on) February.
17. We enjoyed a lunch with our friends (yesterday / tomorrow).
18. Annabelle played the piano for two hours (on / in) Tuesday.
19. Fred didn't attend the meeting (last / ago) week.
20. Anne opened a bottle of wine two hours (ago / last).

Worksheet 1 Answers

1. Tom visited his mother last weekend.
2. We didn't buy that TV yesterday because it was too expensive.
3. Were you at the meeting on Tuesday?
4. Where did Sheila stay in New Orleans?
5. Alan understood the situation two days ago.
6. They didn't finish the project on time last month.
7. When did Mary fly to New York?
8. Henry read Harry Smith's latest book last month.
9. I didn't write that letter to him last week.
10. What did you do yesterday afternoon?
11. You thought he couldn't win, didn't you?
12. She didn't win the prize two weeks ago.
13. Where did Andy go last week?
14. Thomas came to visit us in May.
15. Susan didn't telephone in time to get a ticket.
16. How did you meet him?
17. David got up early on Saturday to play golf.
18. Betty didn't draw that picture.
19. Did Peter forget his books yesterday?
20. She gave him a present for his birthday yesterday.

Worksheet 2 Answers

1. Cathy left on holiday last week.
2. I played football when I was in high school.
3. Were you able to go to the meeting in May?
4. She didn't think about those problems two days ago.
5. There weren't any children at the party last Saturday.
6. Jennifer wanted us to come and help three weeks ago.
7. Peter went to a meeting in Chicago last Tuesday.
8. Alexander made a number of mistakes yesterday.
9. Tom was born in 1987.
10. Our teacher helped us understand the problem this morning.
11. I bought a new chair for my office last week.
12. Did you finish the meeting on time yesterday evening?
13. Susan visited her aunt in Seattle last Sunday.
14. My father took me to the zoo when I was a child.
15. They opened a new store on Tuesday.
16. She drove to New Mexico in February.
17. We enjoyed a lunch with our friends yesterday.
18. Annabelle played the piano for two hours on Tuesday.
19. Fred didn't attend the meeting last week.
20. Anne opened a bottle of wine two hours ago.