Past tense worksheet

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate past tense form.

1. The train ………………. before I …………….. the station.

a) had departed, had reached
b) had departed, reached
c) departed, had reached

2. I first ………………. him in Bombay in 1982.

a) meet
b) met
c) had met

3. He …………………. home late when a dog bit him.

a) was returned
b) was returning
c) returning

4. After she ………………. her lunch, she went to the theatre.

a) finished
b) had finished
c) Either could be used here

5. The fire ……………….. the house down by the time the fire force arrived.

a) burnt
b) had burnt
c) was burning

6. She ………………. here yesterday.

a) came
b) had come
c) has come

7. When she came to meet me in December 1980, I ………………………. for her for 3 years.

a) was waiting
b) had been waiting
c) have been waiting

8. The boy ……………………. the road when a truck knocked him down.

a) was crossing
b) crossed
c) had been crossing

Answers

1. The train had departed before I reached the station.

2. I first met him in Bombay in 1982.

3. He was returning home late when a dog bit him.

4. After she finished / had finished her lunch, she went to the theatre.

5. The fire had burnt the house down by the time the fire force arrived.

6. She came here yesterday.

7. When she came to meet me in December 1980, I had been waiting for her for 3 years.

8. The boy was crossing the road when a truck knocked him down.