SIMPLE PAST TENSE

Note the usage of the past tense in the following story.

Yesterday Mrs. Hubbard had a very rough day. In the morning, she went to the kitchen and

looked in the cupboard for some food for her dog, but the cupboard was empty. Her poor

dog stared up at her with its hungry eyes, and she knew she had to do something quickly.

She hurried to the grocery store to buy some dog food, but unfortunately the store was out

of her dog's favorite brand, so she had to catch a bus downtown. After buying the food, she

waited for a half hour in the rain to get a taxi. When she finally got home, her dog was

sound asleep on the living room sofa.

 EXERCISES

1. Change the verbs in the following sentence into past tense.

1. Yesterday, I go to the restaurant with a client.

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2. We drive around the parking lot for 20 minutes in order to find a parking space.
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3. When we arrive at the restaurant, the place is full.
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4. The waitress asks us if we have reservations.
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5. I say, "No, my secretary forgets to make them."
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6. The waitress tells us to come back in two hours.
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7. My client and I slowly walk back to the car.
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8. Then we see a small grocery store.
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9. We stop in the grocery store and buy some sandwiches.
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10. That is better than waiting for two hours.
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2. Use the verbs in the box above to fill the gaps

decide live remember

eat love visit
like X2 rain want

1. Pepe Hernandez……………..in Cuenca from 1992 to 1995

2. Mari Sarmiento ……………to learn how to fly.

3. It………….all day yesterday.

4. John……….to buy a new radio

5. Sofia didn't……………anything for breakfast.

6. Angela and Ramón…………….each other very much.

7. Simon didn't…………….Benidorm because there were too many students

8. Did you…………to turn everything off?

9. When Eleonora and Paola went to Granada, they………….the Alhambra Palace.

10. Fiona…………….everything about Wales except the weather.

3. Correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. Last night, Samantha have pizza for supper.

2. My pet lizard was died last month.

3. Yesterday I spend two hours cleaning my living room.

4. This morning before coming to class, Jack eats two bowls of cereal.

4. Put in the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Use the Simple Past. Watch the
punctuation and form sentences or questions.

1. I………..my Maths homework yesterday! (to do)

2. ………..Susan………to England by plane? (to go)

3. They …….....a farm two weeks ago. (to visit)

4. Jenny and Peggy……......their brother. (not/to help)

5. The children…….......at home last weekend. (not/to be)

6. When………you………….wonderful skirt? (to design)

7. My mother………..into the van (not/to crash)

8. The boys………..the mudguards of their bicycles. (to take off)

9. …………you………….your aunt last week? (to phone)

10. He………..milk at school (not/ to drink)