Simple Past Tense | C1 – C2 Grammar

When we say when something happened, we use the simple past tense.

• She lived in Mumbai when she was a child.
• I met him the other day.
• She lives with her parents at the moment. Before that she lived alone.
• I went to his house but he refused to talk to me.
• The robbers threatened to kill me.
• She got the job because she had the required qualifications.

In the simple past tense, we make questions and negatives with did.

• Did you see him yesterday?
• I didn’t pass the test.
• She didn’t come.
• Who took the money?
• Why did you shout at him?
• My parents got married in 1978.
• I spent the whole day in bed.

Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with the past simple form of the verb. In some cases, you need the passive form of the verb.

1. The town ……………………. abandoned. (look)

2. The girl ……………………… the butterfly. (chase)

3. I ……………………….. three books from the library last week. (borrow)

4. ……………………… (you enjoy) the party?

5. I …………………….. him shouting at his neighbour. (hear)

6. Who ……………………. the door open? (leave)

7. I ………………………… my finger while toasting the bread. (burn)

8. When they ……………………….. (find) him he was already dead.

9. They ……………………….. (grind) the wheat into powder.

10. As soon as the gun ………………….. (fire), the birds …………………… (fly) away.

11. It was an expensive resort. It ………………………. a bomb to stay there. (cost)

12. He …………………….. to remain a bachelor all his life. (choose)

13. This movie ………………………. in Vienna. (shoot)

14. They …………………….. to kill me. (threaten)

15. Who ………………………. you Spanish? (teach)

16. I …………………….. the whole day in the park. (spend)

17. …………………….. (you catch) any fish?

18. The man ……………………….. for murder. (arrest)

Answers

1. looked, 2. chased, 3. borrowed, 4. did you enjoy, 5. heard, 6. left, 7. burned / burnt, 8. found, 9. ground, 10. was fired, flew, 11. cost, 12. chose, 13. was shot, 14. threatened, 15. taught, 16. spent, 17. did you catch, 18. was arrested