Simple Past Practice Test — Intermediate

All 45 questions with answers

Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.

1. Q1She ___ (hide) her diary under the mattress yesterday.

   Ahas hid Bhid Chided Dhad hid

   Answer: B. hid

   The time marker 'yesterday' requires the Simple Past. 'Hide' is an irregular verb with the past form 'hid'. The form 'hided' is incorrect because it treats an irregular verb as regular.

2. Q2The strong wind ___ (blow) the roof off the shed.

   Ablowed Bblew Chas blown Dhad blown

   Answer: B. blew

   The Simple Past of the irregular verb 'blow' is 'blew'. Avoid 'blowed', which is an incorrect attempt to make an irregular verb regular.

3. Q3He ___ (steal) the valuable documents from the office.

   Astealed Bstole Chas stole Dhad stolen

   Answer: B. stole

   'Stole' is the correct Simple Past form of the irregular verb 'steal'. 'Stealed' is not a valid word, and 'has stole' is grammatically incorrect because 'has' requires the past participle 'stolen'.

4. Q4She ___ (wear) her best dress to the party.

   Ahas worn Bwore Cweared Dworn

   Answer: B. wore

   'Wear' is an irregular verb. Its Simple Past form is 'wore'. Choices like 'weared' are incorrect, and 'worn' is the past participle, which requires an auxiliary verb like 'has' or 'had'.

5. Q5The river ___ (rise) quickly after the heavy rain.

   Ahas risen Brised Chad rose Drose

   Answer: D. rose

   The Simple Past of 'rise' is 'rose'. 'Rised' is not a correct form. We use the Simple Past here to describe a specific completed event in the past.

6. Q6They ___ (swim) across the lake last summer.

   Aswimmed Bswam Chad swum Dswum

   Answer: B. swam

   'Last summer' is a finished time expression that requires the Simple Past. 'Swam' is the correct past form of the irregular verb 'swim'. 'Swum' is the past participle used for perfect tenses.

7. Q7He ___ (teach) us everything we know about physics when we were students.

   Ateached Bhad teached Ctaught Dhas taught

   Answer: C. taught

   The irregular verb 'teach' becomes 'taught' in the Simple Past. The time clause 'when we were students' refers to a completed period in the past, which requires the Simple Past. 'Has taught' (Present Perfect) cannot be used with a specific past time reference. Regularized forms like 'teached' do not exist in standard English.

8. Q8She ___ (tear) her favorite sweater on the fence.

   Ahas torn Bteared Chad tore Dtore

   Answer: D. tore

   'Tear' is an irregular verb with the Simple Past form 'tore'. 'Teared' is incorrect when referring to ripping fabric, and 'torn' is the past participle, which cannot stand alone as the main verb.

9. Q9The heavy vase ___ (fall) and shattered on the floor.

   Ahas fallen Bfell Cfalled Dhad fell

   Answer: B. fell

   This sentence describes a sequence of completed past actions ('fell' and 'shattered'). The Simple Past of 'fall' is the irregular form 'fell'.

10. Q10He ___ (throw) the ball to the catcher with great force.

    Athrew Bhad throw Chas thrown Dthrowed

    Answer: A. threw

    'Threw' is the Simple Past of the irregular verb 'throw'. 'Throwed' is a common mistake. Present Perfect forms like 'has thrown' are not used for specific single actions in the past.

11. Q11The sun ___ (light) up the entire valley yesterday.

    Ahas lit Blight Chad lit Dlit

    Answer: D. lit

    With the time marker 'yesterday', we must use the Simple Past. The verb 'light' is irregular, and its past form is 'lit'.

12. Q12The team ___ (win) the championship last night.

    Ahad win Bwon Cwinned Dhas won

    Answer: B. won

    'Last night' indicates a completed time in the past, requiring the Simple Past. 'Won' is the irregular past form of 'win'. 'Winned' is not a valid word.

13. Q13She ___ (forget) to lock the door when she left.

    Ahas forgot Bhad forget Cforgetted Dforgot

    Answer: D. forgot

    This sentence describes two sequential actions in the past ('forgot' and 'left'). Both must be in the Simple Past. 'Forgot' is the correct past form of the irregular verb 'forget'.

14. Q14He ___ (lend) me his car for the weekend.

    Ahas lent Bhad lended Clended Dlent

    Answer: D. lent

    'Lend' is an irregular verb where the '-d' changes to a '-t' to form the Simple Past: 'lent'. 'Lended' is incorrect.

15. Q15The heavy curtain ___ (hang) crookedly after the party.

    Ahas hung Bhung Changed Dhad hanged

    Answer: B. hung

    When referring to objects, the Simple Past of 'hang' is 'hung'. 'Hanged' is a specific form used only for execution (capital punishment).

16. Q16I ___ (visit) Paris in 2015.

    Ahave visited Bwas visiting Cvisited Dhad visited

    Answer: C. visited

    The specific time reference 'in 2015' describes a finished period, which requires the Simple Past. Present Perfect ('have visited') is never used with specific past dates.

17. Q17She ___ (complete) her report during the meeting.

    Ahad completed Bhas completed Cwas completing Dcompleted

    Answer: D. completed

    The phrase 'during the meeting' identifies a specific, finished time period. We use the Simple Past ('completed') for actions finished within that time.

18. Q18They ___ (move) to New York last year.

    Ahad moved Bhave moved Cwere moving Dmoved

    Answer: D. moved

    'Last year' is a finished time marker. In English, we use the Simple Past for events that happened at a specific, finished time. 'Have moved' is incorrect because the time is specified.

19. Q19He ___ (buy) a new car yesterday.

    Ahad bought Bbought Cwas buying Dhas bought

    Answer: B. bought

    The time marker 'yesterday' triggers the Simple Past. 'Bought' is the irregular past form of 'buy'.

20. Q20We ___ (see) that movie when we were in London.

    Ahad seen Bsaw Cwere seeing Dhave seen

    Answer: B. saw

    The clause 'when we were in London' defines a finished time period in the past. Therefore, we use the Simple Past 'saw'. Present Perfect ('have seen') is only used when the time period is unspecified or continues to the present.

21. Q21I ___ (lose) my keys while I was shopping.

    Alost Bhad lost Cwas losing Dhave lost

    Answer: A. lost

    In this sentence, the Past Continuous ('was shopping') describes the background action, while the Simple Past ('lost') describes the sudden, completed event that happened during it.

22. Q22She ___ (study) medicine for three years before changing her major.

    Ahas studied Bwas studied Cstudied Dhad study

    Answer: C. studied

    We use the Simple Past for an action or state that lasted for a period of time in the past but is now finished. Since she changed her major, her medical studies are completed.

23. Q23The train ___ (arrive) ten minutes ago.

    Awas arriving Bhad arrived Chas arrived Darrived

    Answer: D. arrived

    The word 'ago' is a specific signal for the Simple Past. It indicates the distance in time from the present to a completed past event.

24. Q24They ___ (get) married in 2005.

    Agot Bhave got Cwere getting Dhad gotten

    Answer: A. got

    'In 2005' is a finished time. We use the Simple Past 'got' to describe a specific event that occurred at that time.

25. Q25I ___ (know) him when we were at university.

    Ahave known Bwas knowing Chad known Dknew

    Answer: D. knew

    'Know' is a state/feeling verb, which means it is rarely used in continuous forms like 'was knowing'. Since the period at university is finished, we use the Simple Past 'knew'.

26. Q26He entered the room, ___ (sit) down, and opened his book.

    Ahas sat Bwas sitting Chad sat Dsat

    Answer: D. sat

    This sentence describes a narrative sequence of short, completed actions. When actions happen one after another in a story, we use the Simple Past for each verb ('entered', 'sat', 'opened').

27. Q27She walked to the window, ___ (look) outside, and sighed.

    Ahad looked Bhas looked Cwas looking Dlooked

    Answer: D. looked

    For a series of completed actions in a narrative sequence, use the Simple Past for all verbs in the list: 'walked', 'looked', and 'sighed'.

28. Q28The phone rang, he ___ (answer) it, and left the house.

    Ahad answered Bwas answering Canswered Dhas answered

    Answer: C. answered

    All three actions happened in a chronological sequence. Narrative sequences like 'rang', 'answered', and 'left' require the Simple Past.

29. Q29I woke up, ___ (make) coffee, and started my day.

    Ahad made Bhas made Cmade Dwas making

    Answer: C. made

    This sentence lists a routine sequence of events in the past. 'Make' is an irregular verb, and its Simple Past form is 'made'.

30. Q30They drove to the coast, ___ (rent) a boat, and sailed.

    Arented Bhad rented Chave rented Dwere renting

    Answer: A. rented

    Each action in this sequence ('drove', 'rented', 'sailed') is a completed past event. 'Rent' is a regular verb, so we add '-ed' to form the Simple Past.

31. Q31Choose the correct sentence:

    AI had went to the store yesterday. BI have went to the store yesterday. CI went to the store yesterday. DI have gone to the store yesterday.

    Answer: C. I went to the store yesterday.

    The time marker 'yesterday' requires the Simple Past 'went'. 'Have went' is grammatically incorrect, and Present Perfect ('have gone') cannot be used with a specific finished time.

32. Q32Choose the correct sentence regarding a completed action at 5 PM:

    AShe has finished her homework at 5 PM. BShe had finish her homework at 5 PM. CShe was finishing her homework at 5 PM. DShe finished her homework at 5 PM.

    Answer: D. She finished her homework at 5 PM.

    'At 5 PM' is a specific point in the past. Simple Past ('finished') is used for actions completed at a specific time. Past Continuous ('was finishing') would suggest the action was still in progress at that moment.

33. Q33Choose the correct sentence:

    AHe broke the vase when he was cleaning. BHe has broken the vase when he was cleaning. CHe breaks the vase when he was cleaning. DHe had broke the vase when he was cleaning.

    Answer: A. He broke the vase when he was cleaning.

    We use the Simple Past ('broke') for a shorter, interrupting action that occurs during a longer background action in the Past Continuous ('was cleaning').

34. Q34Choose the correct sentence:

    AThey have arrived at the party, drank wine, and danced. BThey arrive at the party, drank wine, and danced. CThey were arriving at the party, drank wine, and danced. DThey arrived at the party, drank wine, and danced.

    Answer: D. They arrived at the party, drank wine, and danced.

    This is a sequence of completed past actions. All verbs must be in the Simple Past ('arrived', 'drank', 'danced'). Mixing tenses like 'have arrived' with Simple Past verbs is incorrect in a narrative.

35. Q35Choose the correct sentence:

    AThe storm began, the lights went out, and we screamed. BThe storm begins, the lights went out, and we screamed. CThe storm has begun, the lights went out, and we screamed. DThe storm had began, the lights went out, and we screamed.

    Answer: A. The storm began, the lights went out, and we screamed.

    Narrative sequences of events that happen one after another use the Simple Past. 'Began', 'went', and 'screamed' are all correct past forms. Note that 'had began' is incorrect because the past participle of 'begin' is 'begun'.

36. Q36Choose the correct sentence:

    AI have bought the ticket, stood in line, and entered. BI bought the ticket, stood in line, and entered. CI buy the ticket, stood in line, and entered. DI had bought the ticket, stand in line, and entered.

    Answer: B. I bought the ticket, stood in line, and entered.

    Each action in the series must be in the Simple Past to maintain parallel structure. 'Bought', 'stood', and 'entered' are the correct forms. Using the present 'buy' or perfect 'have bought' breaks the narrative flow.

37. Q37Choose the correct sentence regarding a completed action at 2 PM:

    AShe has talked to the manager at 2 PM. BShe talks to the manager at 2 PM. CShe talked to the manager at 2 PM. DShe had talk to the manager at 2 PM.

    Answer: C. She talked to the manager at 2 PM.

    'At 2 PM' specifies a finished point in time, which requires the Simple Past 'talked'. Present Perfect ('has talked') is not used with specific past time points.

38. Q38Choose the correct sentence regarding a completed action in 2010:

    AThey move to New York in 2010. BThey have moved to New York in 2010. CThey had move to New York in 2010. DThey moved to New York in 2010.

    Answer: D. They moved to New York in 2010.

    Specific years in the past, such as 'in 2010', require the Simple Past. Present Perfect ('have moved') is used for unspecified times or actions continuing to the present.

39. Q39Choose the correct sentence:

    AHe has missed the train when the alarm failed to go off. BHe had miss the train when the alarm failed to go off. CHe missed the train when the alarm failed to go off. DHe misses the train when the alarm failed to go off.

    Answer: C. He missed the train when the alarm failed to go off.

    This describes two completed events in the past. Both 'missed' and 'failed' should be in the Simple Past to show they are part of the same past situation.

40. Q40Choose the correct sentence:

    AShe forgets my name yesterday. BShe had forgot my name yesterday. CShe has forgot my name yesterday. DShe forgot my name yesterday.

    Answer: D. She forgot my name yesterday.

    'Yesterday' is a finished time expression, making 'forgot' (Simple Past) the correct choice. 'Has forgot' is incorrect because the past participle of 'forget' is 'forgotten'.

41. Q41Identify the correct version of the sentence: 'She has arrived yesterday.'

    AShe arrives yesterday. BShe has been arriving yesterday. CShe arrived yesterday. DShe has arrived yesterday.

    Answer: C. She arrived yesterday.

    You cannot use the Present Perfect ('has arrived') with specific past time markers like 'yesterday'. You must use the Simple Past 'arrived'.

42. Q42Identify the correct version of the sentence: 'I have not see him last week.'

    AI had not see him last week. BI did not see him last week. CI have not see him last week. DI have not seen him last week.

    Answer: B. I did not see him last week.

    'Last week' is a finished time period, requiring the Simple Past. For negative sentences in the Simple Past, we use 'did not' + the base form of the verb ('see').

43. Q43Identify the correct version of the sentence for a completed action in 2019:

    AThey have sold their house in 2019. BThey sold their house in 2019. CThey had sell their house in 2019. DThey were selling their house in 2019.

    Answer: B. They sold their house in 2019.

    The Simple Past 'sold' is used for actions completed at a specific past time ('in 2019'). Present Perfect ('have sold') is used when the specific date is not mentioned.

44. Q44Identify the correct version of the sentence for a completed action last month:

    AHe ran a marathon last month. BHe was running a marathon last month. CHe had ran a marathon last month. DHe has run a marathon last month.

    Answer: A. He ran a marathon last month.

    'Last month' is a finished time marker, so we use the Simple Past 'ran'. Note that 'ran' is the past tense form, while 'run' is the past participle used with has/have/had.

45. Q45Identify the correct version of the sentence for a completed action at the meeting:

    AShe shakes my hand at the meeting. BShe has shaken my hand at the meeting. CShe shook my hand at the meeting. DShe had shook my hand at the meeting.

    Answer: C. She shook my hand at the meeting.

    'At the meeting' indicates a specific past event. The Simple Past of 'shake' is the irregular form 'shook'. 'Shaken' is the past participle used in perfect tenses.