Past Simple Tense ESL Worksheets - Free Printable

Since you did not select any specific options (ExplainAnswer, TeachTopic, or GeneratePractice are all false), I will provide the solutions to the exercises visible in the image directly.

Here are the answers for the three sections shown: Past Simple Multiple Choice, Was/Were, and Past Simple Regular Verbs.

Section 1: Past Simple - Multiple Choice Questions

*(Left Column)*

1. c) went / dropped
2. a) saw / gave
3. b) were / was
4. d) didn't / went
5. a) were / danced
6. b) Did / play
7. c) How much / paid
8. b) Were / did
9. a) won / lost
10. b) bought / sent
11. d) think / bought
12. b) Did / go
13. a) did / went
14. b) book / went
15. a) wasn't / weren't
16. b) didn't / work
17. c) Did / drink
18. a) Was / were
19. b) didn't / rain
20. c) Were / was

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Section 2: WAS / WERE

*(Middle Column)*

A) Fill in the blanks with *was* or *were*.
1. Was your school trip last week fantastic?
2. Were your parents at the theatre...?
3. Was the weather like in London...? *(Note: The question usually starts with "What was...", but based on the blank structure "___ the weather", it implies "Was" if it's a Yes/No question, or the student needs to write "What was". Given the context of simple fill-in-the-blanks, Was is the auxiliary verb needed).*
4. Was it cold and snowy...?
5. Were Beverly and Amber...?
6. Were they at the library...?
7. Who was she at the school gate...? *(Or just Was if "Who" is part of the prompt text not fully visible, but typically "Who was she with?")*
8. Was there a lot of people...? *(Grammar note: Strictly it should be "Were there a lot of people", but in casual speech or lower-level tests, singular "Was" is sometimes accepted for "a lot". However, "people" is plural, so Were is grammatically correct. Let's stick to standard grammar: Were)*.
* *Correction for #8*: Were there a lot of people...
9. Who were you with...? *(Similar to #7, likely asking for the auxiliary. If the prompt is "___ you with me?", the answer is Were).*
10. Was Philip...?

B) Fill in the blanks with *was, wasn't, were,* or *weren't*.
1. My mother was a nurse ten years ago.
2. Linda and Karen weren't friends last year? *(Wait, looking at context: "Linda and Karen friends last year?" usually implies a question or negative statement. If it's a statement: "Linda and Karen were friends." If it's a question missing the start: "Were Linda and Karen...?" Let's assume standard positive statement unless indicated otherwise: were)*.
* *Re-evaluating based on typical worksheets*: Usually, these mix positives and negatives. Without a negative clue (like "but"), we assume positive. Answer: were.
3. Mr. Perez was at the hospital last weekend.
4. The kids weren't hot and thirsty after the match. *(Context clue usually implies contrast, e.g., "It was cold, so the kids weren't hot." If no context, were is also possible. Let's look at sentence 5: "My parents... holiday". Let's assume standard positive for now unless "not" is implied. Actually, looking at #4, "hot and thirsty" is often a negative result of a good match? No, let's stick to the most likely intended answer for simple drills: were).*
* *Let's check common patterns*: Often these worksheets have a mix. Let's provide the most logical grammatical fit.
* 3. was
* 4. were (or weren't depending on hidden context, but were is safer).
* 5. were
* 6. wasn't (Nikola Tesla wasn't a great inventor? No, he was. So was).
* 7. was (Mrs. Clark was in the garden).
* 8. were (The tennis courts were empty).
* 9. was (My brother and I were bored... wait, "My brother and I" = We. So were).
* 10. was (Who was at the party...?)
* 11. were (There were lots of cars...).
* 12. was (He was only twelve...).
* 13. wasn't (Any ... hungry? "Any" usually takes singular in this context? No, "Any of the cake was gone". "Any cookies were gone". Sentence: "___ any ___ hungry and thirsty after work." Subject is likely plural people. Were).

*Let's refine Section B based on standard grammar rules:*
1. was
2. were
3. was
4. were
5. were
6. was
7. was
8. were
9. were
10. was
11. were
12. was
13. Were

C) Read the answers and write questions.
1. Was the football match at 7 o'clock?
2. When was my parents' picnic? *(Prompt says "with my parents at the picnic last week". Question: Where were you with your parents...? or Who were you with...?)*. Let's look at the answer: "I was with my parents..." -> Question: Who were you with at the picnic last week?
3. When was Isaac Newton born?
4. Who was Thomas Edison?
5. Who was Elvis Presley?
6. Where was Harold yesterday afternoon?
7. Wasn't I with Janice at the park yesterday? *(Or Was I...?)*
8. Were Mr. and Mrs. Lee in London last week?
9. Where were the kids in their beds at 7 o'clock? *(This doesn't make sense. Answer: "The kids were in their beds...". Question: Where were the kids at 7 o'clock?)*
10. When was the ceremony?

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Section 3: Past Simple - Regular Verbs

*(Right Column)*

A) Write the past forms.
1. played
2. studied
3. watched
4. died
5. painted
6. cried
7. tried
8. started
9. phoned
10. stayed
11. loved
12. helped
13. carried
14. walked
15. wiped
16. answered
17. enjoyed
18. smiled
19. laughed
20. waited
21. visited
22. stayed (Duplicate of 10? Or maybe "stayed" vs "stay". Let's assume 22 is stayed)
23. tidied
24. dried

B) Rewrite sentences making them positive.
1. Robert waited for his friends this morning.
2. They listened to music at 9 p.m. last night.
3. My mother cleaned the kitchen yesterday.
4. The students didn't learn Japanese last year. *(Wait, instruction says "making them positive". So remove "didn't" and conjugate verb).* -> The students learned Japanese last year.
5. Mr. Smith didn't arrive home before dinner. -> Mr. Smith arrived home before dinner.
6. Her aunt didn't cook the dinner on Tuesday. -> Her aunt cooked the dinner on Tuesday.

C) Rewrite sentences making them negative.
1. Patricia didn't watch a film at 10 p.m. last night.
2. I didn't borrow a book from the library last week.
3. My classmates didn't answer all the questions.
4. She didn't listen to her English teacher five days ago.
5. Mrs. Jackson didn't repaired... -> didn't repair the chair last weekend.
6. Eric didn't brush his teeth before breakfast today.
7. Debra and Rachel didn't cycle to school yesterday.

D) Answer the questions about yourself.
*(These require personal answers, but here are example grammatical structures)*
1. Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
2. Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
3. Yes, she did. / No, she didn't.
4. Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
5. I talked with [Name].

E) Read the answers and write questions.
1. When did Marilyn print her photograph?
2. What did Roy work as? *(Answer: "Roy worked as a marble factory last year" - this answer is grammatically weird in the prompt, likely "Roy worked in a marble factory". Question: Where did Roy work?)*
3. Who did my cousin milkall...? *(Typo in prompt "milkall"? Likely "milk". Answer: "My cousin milked all the cows...". Question: What did your cousin milk?)*
4. When did you finish her project? *(Answer: "She finished her project...". Question: When did she finish her project?)*
5. Where did the children visit? *(Answer: "The children visited the library...". Question: Where did the children visit?)*
6. What time did I telephone Mrs. Garcia? *(Answer: "I telephoned Mrs. Garcia at 6 p.m.". Question: When did you telephone Mrs. Garcia?)*
7. Why didn't Danielle need any help this month? *(Answer: "Danielle didn't need any help...". Question: Did Danielle need any help this month? OR Why didn't...?)*
8. What did Roy and Joe jump on? *(Answer: "Roy and Joe jumped on the sofa...". Question: Where did Roy and Joe jump?)*
9. What did Mr. Wright play? *(Answer: "Mr. Wright played hide and seek...". Question: What game did Mr. Wright play?)*