Past Tenses – Free Exercise

display incorrect answers

Exercises

Choose the correct verbs so that each tense appears once.
Simple past, past progressive, past perfect simple, past perfect progressive

  1. We to the cinema last week.simple action in the past → simple past
  2. A bird pooed on the window that I only a minute before.looking back to an action that took place before another action in the past, signal word: a minute before → past perfect simple
  3. Yesterday at nine he in front of his computer.action that was taking place at a certain point in the past → past progressive
  4. When their mum got home, the boys TV for two hours.how long an action had already been taking place by a certain point in the past → past perfect progressive

Complete the sentences for situations in the past. Decide which tense you need to use.

  1. A plumber (come)   to our house yesterday.normal narrative past form → simple past
  2. He (want)   to repair our washing machine that (break)   a few days before.1st space: normal narrative past form → simple past|2nd space: looking back to something that had happened earlier → past perfect simple
  3. Before he (ring)   at my door, he (look)   for a parking space for about ten minutes.1st space: normal narrative past form → simple past|2nd space: looking back to something that had happened earlier (emphasising how long an action lasted) → past perfect progressive
  4. While the plumber (repair)   the washing machine, I (watch)   the news.simultaneous actions → past progressive
  5. Suddenly, I (realise)   that they (show)   our street on TV.second action was already taking place when the first action began|1st space → simple past|2nd space: past progressive
  6. The reporter (say)   that a car (crash)   into a stop sign just before reaching the crossroads.1st space: normal narrative form → simple past (say is generally only used in the simple form)|2nd space: looking back to something that had happened earlier → past perfect simple
  7. While I (listen)   carefully to what (happen)  , someone (knock)   at my door.1st space: emphasising the action's progression → past progressive|2nd space: looking back to something that had happened earlier → past perfect simple|3rd space: shorter action that started while another action was already taking place → simple past (past progressive would sound as if the person had been knocking on the door the whole time)
  8. I (open)   the door and (see)   a police officer standing there.normal narrative past form → simple past
  9. He (ask)   for the plumber.normal narrative past form → simple past
  10. As it (turn)   out, it (be)   our plumber’s car that (roll)   down the street.1st space: normal narrative past form → simple past|2nd space: condition in the past (after all, it was still his car) → simple past|3rd space: looking back to something that had happened earlier → past perfect simple
  11. In his haste, the plumber (forget)   to put the handbrake on.looking back to something that had happened earlier → past perfect simple