Simple Past Tense

Select the word that is a regular verb in the simple past tense.

• ran

• talked

• eaten

• is

Answer explanation

Regular verbs form the simple past by adding '-ed'. 'Talked' is the past tense of 'talk', while 'ran' and 'eaten' are irregular verb forms, and 'is' is a present tense verb.

The simple past tense is used to describe an action that...

• is happening now

• will happen later

• was completed in the past

• might happen

Answer explanation

The simple past tense describes actions or states that began and ended at a specific point in the past. The other options describe the present, future, or conditional tenses.

Fill in the blank: My dad _____ me how to ride a bike when I was six.

• teached

• taught

• teach

• teaches

Answer explanation

'Teach' is an irregular verb, and its correct simple past form is 'taught'. 'Teached' is a common error; 'teach' and 'teaches' are present tense forms.

Which sentence correctly uses a negative in the simple past?

• We not went to the party.

• We didn't went to the party.

• We didn't go to the party.

• We didn't going to the party.

Answer explanation

To form a negative in the simple past, use 'did not' (or 'didn't') followed by the base form of the verb, which is 'go'. Using the past tense form 'went' after 'didn't' is incorrect.

Identify the grammatically correct sentence that uses a time expression appropriately.

• I seen that movie yesterday.

• I saw that movie yesterday.

• I see that movie yesterday.

• I was see that movie yesterday.

Answer explanation

The time expression 'yesterday' signals the need for the simple past tense. 'Saw' is the correct simple past form of the irregular verb 'see'.

Which question is formed correctly in the simple past tense?

• Where you did go after school?

• Where did you went after school?

• Where did you go after school?

• Where you went after school?

Answer explanation

Questions in the simple past are formed with 'Did + subject + base verb'. This option correctly uses 'did' with the base verb 'go'.

Fill in the blank: My brother accidentally _____ the window with a baseball.

• break

• broked

• breaked

• broke

Answer explanation

'Break' is an irregular verb, and its simple past tense form is 'broke'. 'Broked' and 'breaked' are incorrect forms.

Why _____ you _____ the game early yesterday?

• did / leave

• did / left

• do / left

• were / leave

Answer explanation

To form a question in the simple past, use the auxiliary verb 'did' followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb ('leave'). Using the past tense form 'left' after 'did' is a common error.

Choose the sentence that correctly shows a sequence of past events.

• After I finished my project, I played video games.

• After I finish my project, I play video games.

• After I was finishing my project, then I will play games.

• After I finished my project, then I am playing video games.

Answer explanation

To show a sequence of completed past actions, both verbs should be in the simple past tense ('finished', 'played'). The other options incorrectly mix tenses.

Which sentence correctly changes 'He carries the heavy boxes upstairs' to the simple past tense?

• He did carried the heavy boxes upstairs.

• He carryed the heavy boxes upstairs.

• He carried the heavy boxes upstairs.

• He was carry the heavy boxes upstairs.

Answer explanation

To change this sentence to the past tense, you must apply the spelling rule for the verb 'carry'. The 'y' changes to 'i' before adding '-ed', resulting in 'carried'.