Name__________________________

Test 1

Past Simple vs Past Perfect. Complete the following sentences with the verbs either in Past
Simple or Past Perfect Tense.

1. After we   it on the phone, I   him an email about it. discuss, write
2. Before we   Bob to the theatre, he   a stage play before. take, never see
3. By the time we  , the football match  . arrive, finish
4. He   to do the job in an hour, but he still   by 7 o’clock. promise, not
finish
5. I   the carpet when the dog   in and shook himself. just clean, come
6. By the time I  , the concert  . arrive, finish
7. I   the shop as soon as I   the contents of the box. ring, check
8. They   the door before I   there. lock, get
9. We   a good rest when our gests  . have, all leave
10. When she   the office this morning, Tom   out. ring, already go

Write the correct verb forms. Use Past Simple or Past Continuous.

1. They   (have) tea when the doorbell   (ring).

2. Father   (smoke) his pipe while mother   (read) a

magazine.

3. While he   (mow) the lawn, it   (start) to rain.

4. He   (have) breakfast when the toaster   (blow) up.

5. When I   (come) into the office, my boss   (wait) for me.

6. When we   (see) Brian, he   (drive) a taxi.

7. Father   (wait) in the car while mother   (do) the shopping.

8. When he   (arrive), we   (have) dinner.

9. While they   (play) chess, we   (go) shopping.

10. They   (have) a party while he   (sleep).

Name_________________________
 Test 2

Fill in past simple or past perfect simple.

1. After they   (see) the Tower, they   (go) to Westminster Abbey.
2. He   (ask) me which animals I   (see) in Africa.
3. After Columbus   (discover) America, he   (return) to Spain.
4. Before they   (move) to Liverpool, they   (sell) everything.
5. After he   (work) very hard, he   (fall) ill.
6. She   (open) the box after she   (find) the key.
7. They   (go) to a restaurant after they   (sail).
8. Before they   (start) the party, they   (invite) some friends.
9. After she   (wash) the curtains, she   (clean) the windows.
10. They   (go) for a sightseeing tour after the bus   (arrive).

Write the Past Simple or Past Continuous form of the verb

1. They   (play) cards when the postman   (come).

2. I   (sweep) the floor when I   (hear) a noise.
3. She   (watch) TV when the doorbell   (ring).
4. We   (hear) a cry and   (run) into the kitchen.
5. First Sam   (buy) the newspaper, and then he   (take) the plane to Chicago.
6. Susan and Sally   (play) tennis when it   (begin) to rain.
7. I think she   (wear) her new hat when I   (see) her at the zoo.
8. A lot of children   (wait) at the station when the star   (arrive).
9. They   (have) their supper when they   (hear) about the accident.
10. When the phone   (ring), mum   (work) in the garden.

Name______________________
 Test 3
Fill in past tense or past perfect tense.

1. After they   (open) the window, it   (become) colder.

2. After we   (see) the movie, we   (go) to bed.
3. After he   (leave), she   (start) to cry.
4. As soon as it   (start) to rain, she   (take) her umbrella.
5. He   (play) cards after he   (do) his homework.
6. Before she   (thank) me, she   (take) my present.
7. We   (see) the robbers after they   (leave) the bank.
8. He   (comb) his hair after he   (brush) his teeth.
9. Before we   (go) out, we   (put) on our new shoes.
10. They   (go) swimming after it   (stop) raining.

Put the verbs in the Past Simple or Past Continuous form:

1. My brother   (DRINK) while he   (DO) his homework.

2. He   (WALK) into the classroom, then he   (SAT) down.

3. Harry   (SING) a song when Jane   (COME) in.

4. Nothing   (HAPPEN) when I turned on the radio.

5. It   (START) to rain while I   (WALK) through the park.

6. Jackie   (LISTEN) to the radio when the doorbell    (RING).

7. He   (FIND) some money when he   (CLEAN) the cupboards.

8. He   (SEE) the accident when he   (DRIVE) home from work.

9. While Jimmy   (TELL) a joke his teacher   (WALK) in.

10. The Smiths   (FLY) to Italy yesterday.

Name_________________________
 Test 4

Fill in past tense or past perfect tense.

1. Before he   (mow) the lawn, he   (pick) some roses.
2. After he   (finish) school, he   (work) for a magazine.
3. They   (drink) a cup of tea after they   (finish) lunch.
4. He   (ask) me for her telephone number before he   (phone) her.
5. My sister   (eat) all the chocolate before my parents   (come) home.

6. When we   (arrive) there, the ceremony   (already start).

7. Father   (start) to wash the car after mother   (go) out.
8. After she   (got) her new dress, she   (show) it her parents.
9. He   (fall) from the balcony after he   (take) away the railing.
10. He   (eat) the cake after he   (ask).

Put the verbs in the Past Simple or Past Continuous form:

1. I (watch)   TV when she (call)   me.

2. He  (jump)   into the river and (rescue)   the drowning man.
3. I (see)   my first baseball match while I  (live)   in New York.
4. We (ring)   the police because the neighbours (play)   the music very
loud.
5. He (write)   the whole homework during the lunch break.
6. We (play)   in the garden when it (start)   to rain.
7. He  (meet)   his girlfriend when he (live)   in London.
8. While I (work)   in the hospital I (decide)   to give up smoking.
9. It (rain)   the whole day so we (decide)   to stay at home.
10. The sun (shine)   so we (decide)   to go for a walk.