English 2

Exercises for Simple Past Tense

Karina Henao

I. Read the story:

JAMAICA is a large island in the Caribbean Sea. Nearly a million tourists visit the island every
year to relax in the sun and swim in the clear blue sea. For tourists, the island is a paradise,
but for most Jamaican people life is hard. There are very few jobs, except in the tourist
industry. Jamaica is also famous for reggae music.

Chilli’s friend Della was on holiday in Jamaica.

A) Read her letter to Chilli and complete it with the correct verbs in the affirmative
or negative form.

* invite * stop * talk * stay * travel * enjoy* sleep * go * watch * be * listen

Dear Chilli,

I ____had___ a fantastic holiday in Jamaica. It _______________ hot and the sea

_______________ blue and lovely. I _______________ by plane from London to Kingston. I
really _______________ the flight. It _______________ eight hours long but I
_______________ at all because I _______________ so excited. During the flight I
_______________ to music, _______________ a film and _______________ to the girl in
the seat next to me.
I _______________ with my aunt and uncle in Kingston. They _______________ me
on a trip to Montego Bay. We _______________ at an Orchid Farm. It was brilliant. On my
last night there I _______________ to bed until there o’clock in the morning!

See you soon!

Love,
Della

B) Answer the questions with long and complete sentences.

1. Why did Della go to Jamaica?

__________________________________________________________________________
2. How did she go to Kingston?
__________________________________________________________________________
3. How was the weather?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. What did she do on the plane?
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Did she visit her grandparents?
__________________________________________________________________________
6. Did she like the Orchid Farm?
__________________________________________________________________________
7. When did she go to bed on her last night?
__________________________________________________________________________
8. Where is Jamaica?
__________________________________________________________________________
9. What do the tourists do in Jamaica?
__________________________________________________________________________
10. How is the life for Jamaican people?
__________________________________________________________________________

C) Complete these sentences in the PAST TENSE, using the correct verb:

* play * forget * see * listen * speak * teach* finish * eat * travel * get * feel * buy * drink

1. I ___saw_______ the film on TV last night. It _______________ very late.

2. She _______________ to Cancún with her friends last summer.
3. Germany _______________ very well in the last World Cup.
4. My parents _______________ me to be honest and responsible.
5. I _______________ a very delicious dessert last night.
6. We _______________ for hours yesterday in the party.
7. We really _______________ sorry when we _______________ Jhonny in the hospital.
8. She _______________ a new cell phone in Ktronix last Saturday.
9. The man _______________ her wife’s birthday. She _______________ angry.
10. I _______________ to the new Bruno Mars’ album yesterday. It’s great.
11. They _______________ many beers in the bar last night.

D) Complete the conversation with the verb be in the past form: WAS / WASN’T /
WERE / WEREN’T.

A: Where were you last night? I phoned you but you ___weren’t__ at home.
B: - I _______________ out with friends. We _______________ at the Bluenote Cafe.
A: _______________ Julia there?
B: - No, she _______________. Why?
A: Oh, I just wondered.
B: - She _______________ out with Nick. They _______________ at the Oasis. I think.
A: No, they _______________.
B: - How do you know?
A: Because I _______________ there!

E) Complete the man’s statement with the PAST SIMPLE form of the verbs in
brackets:

Last night I _______________ (go) to my favorite restaurant in West Street. I

_______________ (leave) the restaurant at about 11 o’clock. It _______________ (be) a
warm evening and I _______________ (decide) to walk along the beach.
Suddenly, I _______________ (hear) a noise. I _______________ (turn) and
______________ (see) three boys of about eighteen years old. One boy _______________
(come) up to me and _______________ (ask) me the time. When I _______________ (look)
down at my watch, he _______________ (hit) me and I _______________ (fall) to the
ground. Another boy _______________ (take) my wallet. I _______________ (shout) for
help. Then they _______________ (run) away.

Taken and adapted from www.elt-time.com