Past Simple Regular Verbs Worksheet with Exercises and Examples
A worksheet titled "Past Simple - regular verbs" featuring a cartoon girl in a blue dress, with two columns of example verb pairs (e.g., "I stayed - I didn't stay") and 25 fill-in-the-blank exercises using past simple verbs and time markers like "yesterday," "ago," and "last."
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: English Safari - **FREE** Past tense verbs worksheets... | Facebook
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: English Safari - **FREE** Past tense verbs worksheets... | Facebook
Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We need to use the past simple form of regular verbs (add -ed) and choose the correct time word: yesterday, ago, last, in.
Remember:
- Use “ago” after a number + time unit (e.g., two days ago).
- Use “last” before days/weeks/months/years (e.g., last Monday, last week).
- Use “yesterday” for “the day before today”.
- Use “in” for months or years (e.g., in June, in 2020 — but here we’re using it with “last month”, etc., so mostly “last” and “ago”).
Also, if there’s “not”, we use didn’t + base verb.
---
1. My friends didn’t arrive, they arrived two days ago.
→ “two days ago” → past simple positive; first part is negative → didn’t arrive.
2. Emma finished her project last Monday.
→ “Monday” → use “last”; verb = finished.
3. Your dad didn’t wash his car four days ago, he washed it last morning.
Wait — “last morning” isn’t common. Usually we say “this morning” or “yesterday morning”. But since the instruction says to use yesterday/ago/last/in, and “morning” isn’t paired with “last” normally… Hmm. Maybe it’s a typo? Let’s assume it’s “yesterday morning” → but “yesterday” alone is fine. Actually, looking at pattern: “four days ago” → then “he washed it ___ morning.” Probably meant “yesterday morning” → so just “yesterday”.
But let’s check original: “he _______ (wash) it _______ morning.” → likely “yesterday morning” → so fill “yesterday”.
So: Your dad didn’t wash his car four days ago, he washed it yesterday morning.
4. Lulu and Jordan visited Japan last year, they didn’t visit it six years ago.
→ “last year” → visited; “six years ago” → didn’t visit.
5. The monkeys climbed our car last summer, they didn’t climb last winter.
→ “summer” and “winter” → use “last”; climbed / didn’t climb.
6. You solved the problem last Friday, you didn’t solve it last Saturday.
→ “Friday” and “Saturday” → use “last”; solved / didn’t solve.
7. Lucas didn’t open his present last morning.
Again, “last morning” unusual → probably meant “yesterday morning” → so “yesterday”.
Lucas didn’t open his present yesterday morning.
8. The lady admired the red dress, she didn’t admire the green one.
No time given? Wait — look again: no blank for time? Actually, sentence ends after “green one.” So maybe no time needed? But instruction says to use those words. Wait — perhaps missing? Looking back:
Original: “8. The lady ____________ ( admire) the red dress, she ______________(admire,not) the green one.”
No time phrase indicated. Maybe it’s implied? Or perhaps we don’t add time? But instructions say “complete with correct form AND yesterday, ago, last, in”.
Hmm — maybe this one doesn’t require a time word? But that contradicts instructions. Perhaps it’s an error. Let’s skip time for now? No — better to assume context. Since others have times, maybe this one is general past — but we must pick one.
Actually, rechecking image text — in user upload, #8 has no time blank? Wait, in your transcription:
“8. The lady ____________ ( admire) the red dress, she ______________(admire,not) the green one.”
No time mentioned. But instruction says to use those words. Maybe it’s optional? Or perhaps I missed.
Looking at other sentences — some have time blanks, some don’t? Wait, #9: “They ____________ ( greet) Tom a minute ____________, they ______________(greet,not) Albert.”
Ah! So #8 might be missing time? Or perhaps it’s complete without? To follow rules, maybe we leave time out if not provided? But instruction says “complete with...”.
This is tricky. Let me check standard practice — usually in such worksheets, if no time is given in the sentence structure, you don’t force it. But here, the header says “Complete with the correct form of the verb and yesterday, ago, last, in.” — implying every sentence needs one? Not necessarily — only where blanks are.
In #8, there are only two blanks: for verb forms. No third blank for time. So probably no time word needed.
Similarly, #10: “The teacher ____________(correct) our papers two days ____________, he ____________(correct,not) them ____________.” → three blanks.
So for #8: only two blanks → just verbs.
So: The lady admired the red dress, she didn’t admire the green one.
9. They greeted Tom a minute ago, they didn’t greet Albert.
→ “a minute ago” → greeted; didn’t greet.
10. The teacher corrected our papers two days ago, he didn’t correct them yesterday.
→ “two days ago” → corrected; then “them ___” → likely “yesterday” as contrast.
11. The women worked in the garden five days ago, they didn’t work last weekend? Wait — no, sentence ends: “they ________ (work,not) ____________.” → need time. Probably “last week” or something. But not specified. Looking at pattern — maybe “yesterday”? But “five days ago” already used. Perhaps “last month”? Too vague.
Actually, in many such exercises, they expect “last” + time unit. Since no specific, maybe “last week”? But let’s see — perhaps it’s “they didn’t work yesterday” — but that’s arbitrary.
Wait — looking at #12: “Sophia ____________ ( move) to Greece ____________ month, she ____________(move, not) ____________ week.” → so “last month”, “last week”.
Similarly, #11: “five days ago” → then “they didn’t work ___” → likely “last week” or “yesterday”. But to match style, perhaps “last week”.
But let’s stick to what fits. Maybe “yesterday” is safe.
Actually, re-examining — in #11: “The women ____________ ( work) in the garden five days ____________, they ____________(work,not) ____________.”
First blank: worked; second: ago; third: didn’t work; fourth: ? Could be “yesterday” or “last week”. Since “five days ago” is specific, “yesterday” makes sense as recent past.
So: The women worked in the garden five days ago, they didn’t work yesterday.
12. Sophia moved to Greece last month, she didn’t move last week.
→ “month” → last month; “week” → last week.
13. Those people tried to send a parcel yesterday.
Only one blank? Sentence: “Those people ____________(try) to send a parcel ____________.” → tried; yesterday (or last week, but “yesterday” is simplest).
14. My best friend washed her hair last Friday.
→ “Friday” → last Friday.
15. The plane landed six minutes ago, it didn’t land ten minutes ago.
→ both “ago” with numbers.
16. My aunt used these forks sixteen years ago, she didn’t use them last year.
→ “sixteen years ago”; then “them ___” → likely “last year” as contrast.
17. Grandma watered the flowers yesterday, she didn’t water them two days ago.
→ “yesterday” and “two days ago”.
18. Our parents identified the thief last week.
→ “week” → last week.
19. They stopped reading a minute ago.
→ “a minute ago”.
20. My brothers wanted the red cars, they didn’t want the black cars.
No time? Similar to #8 — only verb blanks. So: wanted; didn’t want.
21. Those engineers traveled a lot last week.
→ “week” → last week.
22. Harriet studied Geography last year, she didn’t study History.
No time for second part? Sentence: “she ____________(study,not) History.” → probably no time needed, or implied same time. So: studied; didn’t study.
23. Phil’s aunt baked it last month.
→ “month” → last month.
24. We counted the ducks last month.
→ “month” → last month.
25. It rained last autumn.
→ “autumn” → last autumn.
Now, let’s compile all answers carefully.
Final Answer:
1. didn't arrive, arrived, ago
2. finished, last
3. didn't wash, ago, washed, yesterday
4. visited, last, didn't visit, ago
5. climbed, last, didn't climb, last
6. solved, last, didn't solve, last
7. didn't open, yesterday
8. admired, didn't admire
9. greeted, ago, didn't greet
10. corrected, ago, didn't correct, yesterday
11. worked, ago, didn't work, yesterday
12. moved, last, didn't move, last
13. tried, yesterday
14. washed, last
15. landed, ago, didn't land, ago
16. used, ago, didn't use, last
17. watered, yesterday, didn't water, ago
18. identified, last
19. stopped, ago
20. wanted, didn't want
21. traveled, last
22. studied, last, didn't study
23. baked, last
24. counted, last
25. rained, last
Remember:
- Use “ago” after a number + time unit (e.g., two days ago).
- Use “last” before days/weeks/months/years (e.g., last Monday, last week).
- Use “yesterday” for “the day before today”.
- Use “in” for months or years (e.g., in June, in 2020 — but here we’re using it with “last month”, etc., so mostly “last” and “ago”).
Also, if there’s “not”, we use didn’t + base verb.
---
1. My friends didn’t arrive, they arrived two days ago.
→ “two days ago” → past simple positive; first part is negative → didn’t arrive.
2. Emma finished her project last Monday.
→ “Monday” → use “last”; verb = finished.
3. Your dad didn’t wash his car four days ago, he washed it last morning.
Wait — “last morning” isn’t common. Usually we say “this morning” or “yesterday morning”. But since the instruction says to use yesterday/ago/last/in, and “morning” isn’t paired with “last” normally… Hmm. Maybe it’s a typo? Let’s assume it’s “yesterday morning” → but “yesterday” alone is fine. Actually, looking at pattern: “four days ago” → then “he washed it ___ morning.” Probably meant “yesterday morning” → so just “yesterday”.
But let’s check original: “he _______ (wash) it _______ morning.” → likely “yesterday morning” → so fill “yesterday”.
So: Your dad didn’t wash his car four days ago, he washed it yesterday morning.
4. Lulu and Jordan visited Japan last year, they didn’t visit it six years ago.
→ “last year” → visited; “six years ago” → didn’t visit.
5. The monkeys climbed our car last summer, they didn’t climb last winter.
→ “summer” and “winter” → use “last”; climbed / didn’t climb.
6. You solved the problem last Friday, you didn’t solve it last Saturday.
→ “Friday” and “Saturday” → use “last”; solved / didn’t solve.
7. Lucas didn’t open his present last morning.
Again, “last morning” unusual → probably meant “yesterday morning” → so “yesterday”.
Lucas didn’t open his present yesterday morning.
8. The lady admired the red dress, she didn’t admire the green one.
No time given? Wait — look again: no blank for time? Actually, sentence ends after “green one.” So maybe no time needed? But instruction says to use those words. Wait — perhaps missing? Looking back:
Original: “8. The lady ____________ ( admire) the red dress, she ______________(admire,not) the green one.”
No time phrase indicated. Maybe it’s implied? Or perhaps we don’t add time? But instructions say “complete with correct form AND yesterday, ago, last, in”.
Hmm — maybe this one doesn’t require a time word? But that contradicts instructions. Perhaps it’s an error. Let’s skip time for now? No — better to assume context. Since others have times, maybe this one is general past — but we must pick one.
Actually, rechecking image text — in user upload, #8 has no time blank? Wait, in your transcription:
“8. The lady ____________ ( admire) the red dress, she ______________(admire,not) the green one.”
No time mentioned. But instruction says to use those words. Maybe it’s optional? Or perhaps I missed.
Looking at other sentences — some have time blanks, some don’t? Wait, #9: “They ____________ ( greet) Tom a minute ____________, they ______________(greet,not) Albert.”
Ah! So #8 might be missing time? Or perhaps it’s complete without? To follow rules, maybe we leave time out if not provided? But instruction says “complete with...”.
This is tricky. Let me check standard practice — usually in such worksheets, if no time is given in the sentence structure, you don’t force it. But here, the header says “Complete with the correct form of the verb and yesterday, ago, last, in.” — implying every sentence needs one? Not necessarily — only where blanks are.
In #8, there are only two blanks: for verb forms. No third blank for time. So probably no time word needed.
Similarly, #10: “The teacher ____________(correct) our papers two days ____________, he ____________(correct,not) them ____________.” → three blanks.
So for #8: only two blanks → just verbs.
So: The lady admired the red dress, she didn’t admire the green one.
9. They greeted Tom a minute ago, they didn’t greet Albert.
→ “a minute ago” → greeted; didn’t greet.
10. The teacher corrected our papers two days ago, he didn’t correct them yesterday.
→ “two days ago” → corrected; then “them ___” → likely “yesterday” as contrast.
11. The women worked in the garden five days ago, they didn’t work last weekend? Wait — no, sentence ends: “they ________ (work,not) ____________.” → need time. Probably “last week” or something. But not specified. Looking at pattern — maybe “yesterday”? But “five days ago” already used. Perhaps “last month”? Too vague.
Actually, in many such exercises, they expect “last” + time unit. Since no specific, maybe “last week”? But let’s see — perhaps it’s “they didn’t work yesterday” — but that’s arbitrary.
Wait — looking at #12: “Sophia ____________ ( move) to Greece ____________ month, she ____________(move, not) ____________ week.” → so “last month”, “last week”.
Similarly, #11: “five days ago” → then “they didn’t work ___” → likely “last week” or “yesterday”. But to match style, perhaps “last week”.
But let’s stick to what fits. Maybe “yesterday” is safe.
Actually, re-examining — in #11: “The women ____________ ( work) in the garden five days ____________, they ____________(work,not) ____________.”
First blank: worked; second: ago; third: didn’t work; fourth: ? Could be “yesterday” or “last week”. Since “five days ago” is specific, “yesterday” makes sense as recent past.
So: The women worked in the garden five days ago, they didn’t work yesterday.
12. Sophia moved to Greece last month, she didn’t move last week.
→ “month” → last month; “week” → last week.
13. Those people tried to send a parcel yesterday.
Only one blank? Sentence: “Those people ____________(try) to send a parcel ____________.” → tried; yesterday (or last week, but “yesterday” is simplest).
14. My best friend washed her hair last Friday.
→ “Friday” → last Friday.
15. The plane landed six minutes ago, it didn’t land ten minutes ago.
→ both “ago” with numbers.
16. My aunt used these forks sixteen years ago, she didn’t use them last year.
→ “sixteen years ago”; then “them ___” → likely “last year” as contrast.
17. Grandma watered the flowers yesterday, she didn’t water them two days ago.
→ “yesterday” and “two days ago”.
18. Our parents identified the thief last week.
→ “week” → last week.
19. They stopped reading a minute ago.
→ “a minute ago”.
20. My brothers wanted the red cars, they didn’t want the black cars.
No time? Similar to #8 — only verb blanks. So: wanted; didn’t want.
21. Those engineers traveled a lot last week.
→ “week” → last week.
22. Harriet studied Geography last year, she didn’t study History.
No time for second part? Sentence: “she ____________(study,not) History.” → probably no time needed, or implied same time. So: studied; didn’t study.
23. Phil’s aunt baked it last month.
→ “month” → last month.
24. We counted the ducks last month.
→ “month” → last month.
25. It rained last autumn.
→ “autumn” → last autumn.
Now, let’s compile all answers carefully.
Final Answer:
1. didn't arrive, arrived, ago
2. finished, last
3. didn't wash, ago, washed, yesterday
4. visited, last, didn't visit, ago
5. climbed, last, didn't climb, last
6. solved, last, didn't solve, last
7. didn't open, yesterday
8. admired, didn't admire
9. greeted, ago, didn't greet
10. corrected, ago, didn't correct, yesterday
11. worked, ago, didn't work, yesterday
12. moved, last, didn't move, last
13. tried, yesterday
14. washed, last
15. landed, ago, didn't land, ago
16. used, ago, didn't use, last
17. watered, yesterday, didn't water, ago
18. identified, last
19. stopped, ago
20. wanted, didn't want
21. traveled, last
22. studied, last, didn't study
23. baked, last
24. counted, last
25. rained, last
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of regular past tense verbs worksheet.
