Grade 8 English grammar test focusing on past simple and past continuous tenses, designed by Ms. Phuong.

Let's solve this English grammar test step by step. The worksheet is divided into two parts:

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Part I: Complete the sentences with the past simple form of the verbs in the box.

Verbs in the box:
turn, travel, tell, enjoy, accept, know, ring, play, cry, teach, visit, study

We need to use the past simple tense of these verbs.

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#### 1. I really ________ the concert last night. It was great!
- enjoyed
→ "Enjoy" fits here because it describes a positive experience.
✔ *I really enjoyed the concert...*

#### 2. We ________ tennis yesterday because it was raining.
- played
→ "Played" is the past of "play", and we're talking about playing tennis.
✔ *We played tennis...*

#### 3. Last summer my friend and I ________ around the south of France.
- travelled (or traveled, depending on British/American spelling)
→ "Travelled" means to go somewhere, which fits.
✔ *...we travelled around the south of France.*

#### 4. ________ you ________ at the end of the film? I thought it was really sad.
- Did / cry
→ This is a question using past simple. "Cry" fits because of the emotion mentioned ("sad").
✔ *Did you cry at the end of the film?*

#### 5. He ________ hard for the exam, so he failed.
- studied
→ "Study" is the correct verb; even though he studied hard, he failed.
✔ *He studied hard for the exam...*

#### 6. Where ________ he ________ before he came here?
- did / live or did / work? Wait — the verb must be from the box.
→ "Live" is not in the box. But "study"? "Travel"? Let's check the box again:
- Verbs: turn, travel, tell, enjoy, accept, know, ring, play, cry, teach, visit, study
→ "Study" could fit if he was studying somewhere.
But “where did he study?” makes sense.
✔ *Where did he study before he came here?*
→ Yes, "study" is in the box.

#### 7. My PC was making a strange noise so I ________ it off.
- turned
→ "Turn off" is a phrasal verb meaning to switch off.
✔ *I turned it off.*

#### 8. Our teacher ________ us a very interesting legend two days ago.
- told
→ "Tell" → past = "told". "Told us a legend" is correct.
✔ *Our teacher told us...*

#### 9. They ________ each other very well when they were kids.
- knew
→ "Know" → past = "knew"
✔ *They knew each other very well...*

#### 10. She ________ the job because the salary was too low.
- didn’t accept or rejected? But "accept" is in the box.
→ "Accept" → past = "accepted"
✔ *She didn't accept the job...*
→ So: didn't accept
But wait — the sentence says "because the salary was too low" → she refused → didn’t accept
✔ *She didn’t accept the job...*

But the blank is only one word? No — look: "She ________ the job..." → we can use "didn’t accept" but that’s two words.

Wait — the instruction says: *"Complete the sentences with the past simple form of the verbs in the box."*
So we must use one verb from the box, in past simple.

But "didn’t accept" uses two words and includes auxiliary.

Hmm. But maybe it's acceptable?

Wait — let’s recheck: the sentence is:
“She ________ the job because the salary was too low.”

If we use “accept”, then:
“She accepted the job…” → but that contradicts “salary was too low” → no.

So “accept” would be wrong if we use affirmative.

But “didn’t accept” is negative — but we’re supposed to use the verb from the box.

Perhaps the intended answer is rejected, but “reject” is not in the box.

Wait — maybe we can use refused? Not in the box.

Only option: didn’t accept — but that’s not just the past simple of the verb.

Alternatively, maybe the intended answer is rejected — but it's not in the box.

Wait — perhaps there's a mistake.

Wait — “accept” is in the box. But if she didn’t accept, we need to write “didn’t accept”.

But the blank is one line — likely expecting one verb.

But “didn’t accept” is two words.

Alternative: maybe the verb is turn down? But “turn” is in the box.

“Turn down” means to reject.

So: “She turned down the job…”

Yes! That’s possible.

“Turn” is in the box → past simple: turned

And “turned down” is a phrasal verb meaning to refuse.

So: turned down → but again, two words.

But the blank may allow it.

But the instruction says: “the past simple form of the verbs in the box” — so maybe just the verb.

But “turned down” uses “turn” + “down”.

So perhaps: turned?

No — that doesn’t make sense.

Wait — maybe the intended verb is accept, and the sentence should be: “She didn’t accept the job…”

But that requires two words.

But the blank is single.

Hmm.

Wait — maybe it’s rejected? Not in box.

Or perhaps declined? Not in box.

But “turn” is in the box.

Another idea: “She didn’t accept” — but since we have to use a verb from the box, and “accept” is in the box, perhaps the expected answer is accepted — but that would be incorrect.

Wait — maybe it’s a typo in the exercise.

But let’s think: is there another possibility?

Wait — what if it’s refused? Not in box.

No.

Wait — “turn” can mean “to reject” as in “turn down an offer”.

So: “She turned down the job.”

But again, two words.

But perhaps the blank allows it.

Alternatively, maybe the verb is accept, and the sentence is: “She didn’t accept the job.” → but we can’t write “didn’t accept” unless instructed.

But the instruction says: “complete with the past simple form of the verbs in the box.”

So we must use one verb from the box, in past simple.

So options: accept → accepted → but that would mean she accepted → contradiction.

So impossible?

Unless the sentence is: “She rejected the job” — but reject not in box.

Wait — “know” — no.

“teach”? No.

“visit”? No.

“cry”? No.

“ring”? No.

“play”? No.

“travel”? No.

“tell”? No.

“enjoy”? No.

“study”? No.

So only possibilities: accept, turn, teach, etc.

But “turn” → “turned” — could be used in “turned down”.

But “turned” alone doesn’t work.

Unless the sentence is: “She turned the job down.” — but the sentence says: “She ________ the job”

So “turned” doesn’t fit.

So perhaps the intended verb is accept, and the answer is didn’t accept, but that’s not just the past simple.

Alternatively, maybe the sentence is: “She rejected the job” — but reject not in box.

Wait — perhaps the verb is accept, and the answer is accepted, but that contradicts the reason.

No.

Wait — maybe it’s a trick: “She didn’t accept” — but we are to write “didn’t accept” — but that’s not the past simple form of a verb — it’s negative.

But the instruction says: “past simple form of the verbs in the box.”

So we must choose a verb from the box and use its past simple.

So possible answers:
- accept → accepted
- turn → turned
- etc.

But none of them fit logically unless we use “turned down” — but that’s not just “turned”.

Wait — perhaps the sentence is: “She turned down the job” — and we are to write “turned down” — but “down” is not in the box.

But the verb is “turn” — so maybe we can use “turned” and assume “down” is implied?

But the blank is for one verb.

This is problematic.

Wait — perhaps the intended answer is accepted, but the logic is flawed.

No.

Wait — another idea: maybe “accept” is used in negative: “She didn’t accept” — but again, not just the verb.

But perhaps in some exercises, they allow negatives.

But the instruction says: “past simple form of the verbs” — so likely just the verb.

So maybe the best fit is turned — but “she turned the job” doesn’t make sense.

Unless it’s “she turned the job down” — but the blank is only for one word.

So perhaps it's accepted — but that contradicts the reason.

I think there might be a mistake.

Wait — let's look at the list again: verbs are: turn, travel, tell, enjoy, accept, know, ring, play, cry, teach, visit, study

Is “reject” in the box? No.

But “turn” can mean “to refuse” — e.g., “turn down an offer”

So perhaps the intended answer is turned — but only if the sentence is “She turned the job down” — but it's written as “She ________ the job”

So unless “turned” is accepted with implied “down”, it's not good.

Alternatively, maybe the verb is accept, and the answer is didn’t accept, and we write “didn’t accept” in the blank.

But that’s not the past simple form — it’s negative.

But many teachers accept it.

Perhaps the intended answer is rejected — but not in box.

Wait — maybe “refuse” is not in box, but “accept” is.

So perhaps the only logical way is to use didn’t accept — but since it's not just the verb, maybe the exercise expects accepted — but that's wrong.

Wait — another possibility: maybe the verb is know — “She didn’t know the job” — doesn’t make sense.

No.

Wait — “teach”? No.

“visit”? No.

“study”? No.

“ring”? No.

“play”? No.

“cry”? No.

“tell”? No.

“enjoy”? No.

“travel”? No.

“turn”? Maybe.

Wait — “She turned the job down” — but again, “down” not in blank.

But if the blank is for the verb, then “turned” — but incomplete.

I think the most likely intended answer is didn’t accept — and we write it despite the instruction.

But let's move on and come back.

#### 11. ________ your parents ________ the Acropolis when they were in Greece?
- Did / visit
→ "Visit" is in the box.
✔ *Did your parents visit the Acropolis...?*

#### 12. I was playing a computer game when the doorbell ________.
- rang
→ "Ring" → past = "rang"
✔ *...when the doorbell rang.*

Now back to #10:
“She ________ the job because the salary was too low.”

Given that “accept” is in the box, and the context suggests refusal, the best choice is didn’t accept — but if only one verb is allowed, perhaps it’s rejected — but not in box.

Wait — what if it’s turned down? But “turn” is in the box.

But “turned down” is two words.

But perhaps the exercise allows phrasal verbs.

In many grammar exercises, “turn down” is accepted.

So: turned down — but again, two words.

But the blank is one line.

Maybe the answer is turned — but that’s not sufficient.

Alternatively, perhaps the intended verb is accept, and the answer is accepted — but that contradicts the reason.

No.

Wait — another idea: maybe “accept” is used in negative: “She didn’t accept” — and we write “didn’t accept” in the blank.

Even though it’s not just the past simple, it’s common in such exercises.

So I’ll go with: didn’t accept

But let’s see if there’s another verb.

Wait — “know”? “She didn’t know the job” — no.

“teach”? No.

“visit”? No.

“study”? No.

So only possibility is accept — and since she didn’t take it, didn’t accept.

So I’ll put: didn’t accept

But the instruction says “past simple form” — so perhaps they expect accepted, but that’s wrong.

No — it must be didn’t accept.

But let’s proceed.

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Summary for Part I:

1. enjoyed
2. played
3. travelled
4. Did / cry
5. studied
6. did / study
7. turned
8. told
9. knew
10. didn’t accept
11. Did / visit
12. rang

Wait — for #6: "Where ________ he ________ before he came here?"

Verb from box: study — so "Where did he study?"

Yes.

#10: "She ________ the job..." — only logical verb is accept, and since she refused, didn’t accept.

But if the blank is for one word, perhaps it’s rejected — but not in box.

But “turn” can be used: “She turned down the job” — so “turned” — but incomplete.

But perhaps in the context, “turned” is acceptable if “down” is implied.

But better to use didn’t accept.

I think it’s safe to use didn’t accept.

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Part II: Complete the sentences with the past continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

Past continuous: was/were + verb-ing

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#### 1. Sam ________ (play) his guitar at half past seven last night
- was playing
✔ *Sam was playing his guitar...*

#### 2. ________ you ________ (drive) to work when the accident happened?
- Were / driving
✔ *Were you driving to work...?*

#### 3. It ________ (rain) on Monday so we didn’t play football.
- was raining
✔ *It was raining...*

#### 4. At 6 o'clock on Saturday morning we ________ (travel) to the airport.
- were travelling (or were traveling)
✔ *...we were travelling to the airport.*

#### 5. I ________ (not listen) to my teacher when he asked a question.
- wasn’t listening
✔ *I wasn’t listening...*

#### 6. In 1986 my father ________ (live) in Paris. That’s where he met my mother.
- was living
✔ *...my father was living in Paris.*

#### 7. What ________ they ________ (do) when you arrived?
- were / doing
✔ *What were they doing when you arrived?*

#### 8. Greg ________ (not study) for the test when we went to his place.
- wasn’t studying
✔ *Greg wasn’t studying...*

#### 9. ________ Caroline ________ (ski) when she broke her leg?
- Was / skiing
✔ *Was Caroline skiing when she broke her leg?*

#### 10. My parents ________ (not sleep) when I came home last night.
- weren’t sleeping
✔ *My parents weren’t sleeping...*

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✔ Final Answers:

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Part I: Past Simple

1. enjoyed
2. played
3. travelled
4. Did / cry
5. studied
6. did / study
7. turned
8. told
9. knew
10. didn’t accept
11. Did / visit
12. rang

> Note: For #10, “didn’t accept” is the most logical answer, even though it's not strictly a past simple verb form. If only one verb is allowed, “turned” might be expected with “down” implied, but “accept” is more direct. However, given the context, “didn’t accept” is correct.

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Part II: Past Continuous

1. was playing
2. Were / driving
3. was raining
4. were travelling
5. wasn’t listening
6. was living
7. were / doing
8. wasn’t studying
9. Was / skiing
10. weren’t sleeping

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