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EXERCISES ON PAST TENSES – 10A10

Exercise 1: Complete the following sentences with the past form of the verb to be
1. Jessi _________ not in my class.
2. Jimin and Jungkook_________ so glad to see me.
3. My car ________ very fast.
4. I ________ a doctor in the movie.
5. Your teacher ________ from Italy.
6. __________ this her iPad?
7. Our neighbor's kids _________ really naughty.
8. Not all my friends________ at my birthday party.
9. Our doctor _________very kind.
10. The waiter ________ so rude.
11. His uncle _______ very rich.
12. _________the exams hard?
13. Jessica and Andy ________ not here yesterday.
14. The children ________ so tired after the festival.
15. The news ________ very upsetting.

Exercise 2: Put the verbs in the brackets into the past simple tense:
1. We (go)…………….. on holiday to Scotland last year.
2. I (not/ take)……………… a taxi from the airport to the city centre. I (take)…………….. a bus instead.
3. We (walk)……………… to the park and then we (play)……………… tennis.
4. The man in the shop (say) ……………….. something to the woman, but she (not/hear)…………… him.
5. I (ring)………………. the doorbell and a woman …………….. (open) the door.
6. She (write) …………….a letter to her friend, and then she (post )……………….. it.
7. A: …………….. (you/ understand) the film?
B: No. I (try)……………….to understand it, but the actors (speak)…………….. very quickly.
8. A:……………………..(you/ enjoy) the festival?
B: Yes. It (not rain)………………… and we (listen)……………….. to some good music.

Exercise 3: Put the verbs in the brackets into the past progressive tense:
1. At this time last year, I (build)……………………… this house.
2. She (drive)………………….her car very fast when I saw her.
3. I (chat)……………………. with my friends while my teacher (teach)……………… the lesson yesterday.
4. My brother (sit)………………….on the sofa when I got home.
5. At this time yesterday, I (prepare)………………………… for my son's birthday party.
6. What you (do) ……………………at 8 pm yesterday?
7. Where you (go) …………………………..when I saw you last night?
8. They (not go) …………………….swimming when I met them yesterday.
9. My mother (not cook)……………………..the meal when my father came home.
10. My sister (listen) …………………………to music while my brother (see)…………….. a movie yesterday
afternoon.

Exercise 4: Put the verbs in the brackets into the past perfect tense:
1. The tornado destroyed the tent that we (build) ____________.
2. She (not / be) ____________ to Hanoi before 2018.
3. When he went out to play, he (do / already) ____________ his homework?
4. My sister ate all of the cake that our mum (make) ____________ .
5. The nurse took off the plaster that she (put on) ____________ six weeks before.
6. The waitress brought a drink that I (not / order) ____________ .

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7. I could not remember the song we (learn) ____________ three week before.
8. The children collected mangos that (fall) ____________ from the tree.
9. (she / phone) ____________ Nam before she went to see him in Laos?
10. He (not / ride) ____________ a elephants before that day.

Exercise 5: Supply the correct verb forms: Simple Past or Past Continuous.
1. When I (arrive) ____________ at his house, he still (sleep) ____________
2. She (water) ____________the flowers in her garden when I (see) ____________ her.
3. While we (cross) ____________the street, we (see) ____________an accident.
4. The bell (ring) ____________while Tom (take) ____________ a bath.
5. I first (meet)_________ Hoa while we (study) ____________ in the university.
6. The children (play) ____________football when their mother (come) ____________ back.
7. What you (do) ____________ at this time yesterday? – I (listen) ____________to my favourite songs.
8. We (wait) ____________for the bus when he (pass) ____________by in his car and (offer)
____________us a lift.
9. Tom (fix) ____________the table when I (come) ____________ into his house.
10. When the students (hear) ____________the bell, they (get up) ____________and (leave) ____________.

Exercise 6. Give the right forms of the verbs in brackets: Simple Past or Past Perfect.
1. The house was very quiet when I (get)…………………….home. Everybody (go)………………..to bed.
2. I was late. The teacher (already/ give)……………a quiz when I (get)………………….to the class.
3. Mary (have)………………………a big breakfast before she (go)……………………to school.
4. They (go)………………………… home after they (finish)……………………… their work.
5. When we came to the stadium, the match (already, begin)………………………………….
6. They told me they (not eat)…………………………………. such kind of food before.
7. After they (go)…………………., I (sit)………………….. down and (rest)…………………………..
8. After taking a bath, he (go)……………………….. to bed.
9. What …………………………..(he/do) when he (be)……………………………. young?
10. It was the first time I (ever, see)……………………………………. such a beautiful girl.

Exercise 7: Give the right forms of the verbs in brackets: Past Tense.
1. By the time we (get)……………………to the supermarket, it (already/close)………………..
2. Before you (mention) ………………………..him, I never (hear)………………………… of the author.
3. She (win)…………………………………… the gold medal in 1986.
4. When he (go)…………………….. to see them last night, they (play)………………………….. cards.
5. He (teach)……………………….. in this school before he (leave)………………………….. for London.
6. Daisy (agree)………………………. with other members in the last meeting.
7. Our teacher (tell)…………………………. us yesterday that he (visit)……………… England in 1970.
8. While you (play)………………………. the piano this morning, I (write) ……………………….a letter.
9. She (be) ……………………… a music teacher 5 years ago.
10. After she (finish) …………………….doing the washing-up, she (go) …………….out for a walk.

Exercise 8. Choose the word or phrase that best complete the sentence (A, B, C, or D):
1. John ............................... tennis once or twice a week.
A. is playing usually B. is usually playing C. usually plays D. plays usually
2. Tom ......................... his hand when he was cooking dinner.
A. burnt B. was burning C. has burnt D. had burnt
3. Jim is away on holiday. He ........................ to Spain.
A. is gone B. have been C. has been D. was
4. Everything is going well. We ....................... any problems so far.
A. didn’t have B. don’t have C. haven’t had D. hadn’t had
5. I think the weather ............................ be nice later.

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A. shall B. will C. is going to D. can
6. Jane .................................... just a few minutes ago.
A. left B. has left C. leaves D. had left
7. Timson ...................... 13 films and I think her latest is the best.
A. made B. had made C. has made D. was making
8. ................................. Robert lately ?
A. Did you see B. Have you seen C. Do you see D. Are you seeing
9. When I was a child, I ............................... the violin.
A. was playing B. am playing C. played D. play
10. He ......................... for the national team in 65 matches so far.
A. has played B. has been played C. played D. is playing
11. I’m busy at the moment. I .................................. on the computer.
A. work B. worked C. am working D. working
12. When I looked round the door, the baby ............................. quietly.
A. is sleeping B. slept C. was sleeping D. were sleeping
13. Robert ....................... ill for three weeks. He is still in hospital.
A. had been B. has been C. is D. was
14. I’m very tired. I ..................... over four hundred miles today.
A. drive B. am driving C. have drived D. have driven
15. Our friends ............................... meet us at the airport tonight.
A. are B. are going to C. go to D. will be to
16. This isn’t my first time to visit London ........................... here before.
A. I’m B. I’d been C. I was D. I’ve been
17. What time ............................. to work this morning ?
A. did you get B. are you getting C. have you got D. do you get
18. When I ..................... him, the man was running away.
A. see B. was seeing C. saw D. had seen
19. I haven’t seen Kate ............................. Christmas.
A. for B. never C. ever D. since
20. He’s worked for this company ......................... many years.
A. since B. for C. in D. at
21. As soon as Martina saw the fire, she _______ the fire department
A. was telephoning B. telephoned C. had telephoned D. has telephoned
22. Every time Parkas sees a movie made in India, he _______homesick
A. will have left B. felt C. feels D. is feeling
23. Since I left Venezuela six years ago, I _______to visit friends and family several times
A. return B. will have returned C. am returning D. have returned
24. After the race _______, the celebration began
A. had been won B. is won C. will be won D. has been won
25. While he was washing his car, Mr. Brown _______a small dint in the rear fender.
A. has discovered B. was discovering C. is discovering D. discovered
26. The earth _______ on the sun for its heat and light
A. is depended B. depends C. is depending D. has depended
27. I don’t have free time at the moment _______on my school project.
A. I work B. I’m worked C. I’m working D. I worked
28. At this time tomorrow _______over the Atlantic
A. we’re flying B. we’ll be flying C. we’ll fly D. we’re to fly
29. Our friends _______a big party tonight
A. are B. are going to C. go to D. will be to
30. When I entered the room, everyone _____________.
A. has been dancing B. was dancing C. had danced D. danced
31. He said that he _________ his homework since 7 o’clock.

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A. had done B. did C. has done D. was doing
32. How long __________ able to drive? - Since 1990.
A. could you B. have you been C. were you D. are you
33. She won't get married until she __________ 25 years old.
A. is B. will be C. had been D. was.
34. They ____ to know each other for more than ten years.
A. get B. got C. have got D. had got
35. I ____ the film with my friends last week.
A. watched B. watch C. have watched D. had watched
36. He ____ up at five every morning.
A. is getting B. got C. gets D. was getting
37. Jane and I________ school in 1987.
A. finish B. have finished C. finishes D. finished
38. John and Ann ………. married last Saturday.
A. get B. got C. is getting D. have got
39. His brother…………….high school 6 years ago
A. finish B. finished C. finishes D. has finished
40. We have been living here………...1990
A. for B. from C. since D. during
41. Pasteur _____ in the 19th century.
A. was living B. lived C. had lived D. has lived
42. Now my sister _____ a bicycle of her own.
A. is having B. are having C. has D. had
43 .Don’t bother me while I ………………..
A. am working B. was working C. will work D. will have completed
44 .How ................since we ................school?
A. are you / left B. will you be / had left C. have you been / left D. had you been/ had left
45. When he came..........................
A. I was watching TV B. I watched TV C. I am watching TV D. I have watched TV
46. The piano _____ at the moment.
A. repairs B. repaired C. is repaired D. is being repaired
47. I saw Jack yesterday morning while I ________ home from work.
A. walked B. was walking C. am walking D. had been walking
48. My brother................out at weekend.
A. doesn’t usually go B. does usually not go
C. doesn’t usually goes D. usually doesn’t goes.
49. Everyday, my sister .................the floor.
A. usually clean B. cleans usually C. usually cleaned D. usually cleans
50. Your English …………wonderfully since last month.
A. improved B. was improved C. have improved D. has been improved
51. Anita ........ very hard at the moment.
A. is studying B. studies C. studied D. has studied
52. He ____ for London one year ago.
A. left B. has left C. leaves D. had left
53. She ____ in Hue for twenty years.
A. lives B. has lived C. lived D. will live
54. I ____ to the market with my mother yesterday.
A. go B. went C. have gone D. was going
55. How long ____ you ____ her? – For five months.
A. do/know B. are/knowing C. have/known D. had/known
56. I usually ____ to school by bus.
A. went B. am going C. go D. have gone

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