CHAPTER 2: PAST TIME

Exercise 1: change the sentences to past time.

1. He was in class yesterday too.
2. I was in class yesterday too.
3. Mary was at the library yesterday too.
4. We were in class yesterday too.
5. You were busy yesterday too.
6. I was happy yesterday too.
7. The classroom was hot yesterday too.
8. Ann was in his office yesterday too.
9. Ann and Tom were in their offices yesterday too.

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences. Use yesterday or last.

1. Last
2. Yesterday
3. Last
4. Last
5. Yesterday
6. Last
7. Last
8. Yesterday
9. Last
10. Last
Exercise 3: complete the sentences using a past time
expression and wasn’t or weren’t .
1. He wasn’t here yesterday.
2. I wasn’t at home last night .
3. She wasn’t busy yesterday.
4. He wasn’t at library last night.
5. They weren’t at work yesterday afternoon.
6. You weren’t here yesterday.
7. She wasn’t in her office yesterday.
8. It wasn’t cold last week.

Exercise 4: make questions and give short answers.

1. Were you at home last night ? No, I wasn’t.
2. Was Mr. Hamid absent from class yesterday? Yes, he was.
3. Were Oscar and Anna at home last night? Yes, they were.
4. Were you nervous on the first day of class? No, I wasn’t.
5. Was Ahmed at the library last night? Yes, he was.
6. Was Mr. Shin in class yesterday? No, he wasn’t.
7. Were you and your family in Canada last year? No, we
weren’t.
8. Are you at the library right now? No, I am not.
9. Were you tired last night? Yes, I was.
10. Are you hungry right now? No, I am not.
11. Was the weather hot is Islamabad last summer? Yes,
It was,
 12. Are the students in this class intelligent this semester?
Yes, they are.
13. Is Mr. Khan absent today? Yes, he is.
14. Was Amy out of town last week? Yes , she was.

Exercise 5: complete the sentences using simple past (V2).

1. Walked
2. Worked
3. Shaved
4. Watched
5. Cooked
6. Smiled
7. Rained
8. Asked
9. Talked
10. Listened

Exercise 6: Complete the sentences using simple present or

simple past.
1. Rains , rained
2. Walk , walked
3. Asks, asked
4. Watched , watch
5. Cooked , cooks
6. Stay, stayed
7. Work , worked
8. Dream , dreamed / dreamt
9. Waits , waited
10. Erased , used
11. A: Did you hear? B: didn’t , didn’t hear , was
12. A: Do you hear? B: don’t , don’t hear
13. A: Did you build? B: didn’t , build.
14. A: Is a fish? B: It is A: Are they? B: they are. B: don’t
know
15. A: want , do you want B: have , bought , don’t need
16. Offer , is , offered, didn’t accept
17. Took , found , didn’t know , isn’t , didn’t want , went ,
made , heated , seemed , am not.
18. Like , worry , is , trust , graduated , went , didn’t travel
, rented , rode , was , worried , were , saw , knew.

Exercise 7: use simple present , the present progressive , or

the simple past to complete the sentences.
1. Got
2. Talked , is talking , talks
3. Ate , eat
4. Went
5. Studied
6. Wrote , writes , is sitting
7. Did
8. Saw
9. Had , dreamt , slept
 10. Happened
11. Comes , came
12. Is standing , stood
13. Put , puts
14. Sits , sat , is , was
15. Didn’t come , stayed
16. Went , didn’t enjoy , wasn’t
17. Is reading , isn’t watching , doesn’t like
18. Doesn’t eat , doesn’t have , didn’t have , got

Exercise 8: Make questions. Give short answers.

1. Did you walk downtown yesterday?
2. Do you live in an apartment?
3. Did it rain last week?
4. Did you eat lunch at cafeteria?
5. Do you have a roommate?
6. Did Mr. Kwan go out of town last week?
7. Did You have a cup of tea this morning?
8. Did you have a roommate last year?
9. Did you and Benito go to party last night?
10. Did Olga study English in high school?
11. Didn’t Yoko and Ali do their homework last night?
12. Did you see Gina at dinner last night?
13. Did you dream in English last night?
14. Do you live in an apartment?
15. Do you have a roommate?
16. Do you want a roommate?
17. Did you have a roommate last year ?
 18. Was he difficult to live with?
19. Does he pick up his dirty clothes?
20. Does he wash his dirty clothes?
21. Was he always late with his share of the rent?
22. Did you ask him to keep the apartment clean?
23. ..
24. Were you glad when he left ?
25. Do you like living alone?

Exercise 9: Complete the sentences. Use the words in

parentheses.
1. B: ran
2. A: rode B: drove
3. B: thought
4. A: Did you go B: bought
5. A: Did you study ? B; read , went
6. B: drank , was
7. B: brought
8. Taught , taught
9. B: caught
10. B: broke
11. B: spoke
12. B: left
13. B: sent
14. B: met
15. B: heard
16. B: took
17. B: rang
18. B: sang
19. B: woke
20. A: flew
21. B: paid
22. B: began
23. A: told
24. B: lost
25. B: Hung
26. B: found
27. B: sold
28. A: said
29. B: stole
30. B: wore
31. A: tore
32. A: does a new car cost ? B: costs
33. B: cost
34. B: gave
35. A: hit
36. B: forgot A: forgot
37. B: made
38. Puts
39. Put
40. B: Spent
41. B: lent
42. B: cuts
43. B: cut
44. B: won
45. B: fell
46. B: kept
 47. B: drew
48. B: grew
49. A: blew
50. B: knew
51. B: swam
52. B: felt
53. B: threw
54. Shook
55. Hid
56. Built
57. Fed
58. Became
59. Held
60. Fought
61. A: Bit
62. Bent

Exercise 10: complete the sentences with was were or did.

1. Did , was
2. Was , did
3. A: Was A: did
4. A: were A: did B: was , were
5. A: were B: was A: did B: was , were , was , did

Exercise 11: complete each sentence with the simple past of

any verb that make sense. There maybe more than one possible
completion.
1. Walked , drove , rode , rode
2. Slept
3. Wore
4. Froze
5. Drank
6. Took
7. Hung / put
8. Rang , woke
9. Rose
10. Sent / wrote
11. Taught
12. Caught
13. Stole
14. Wore
15. Sang , put
16. Shook
17. Swept
18. Flew , held
19. Fed
20. Dug
21. Left , forgot
22. Cut
23. Spent
24. Kept
25. Read
26. Lost , went , found
27. Held
28. Met
29. Forgave
 30. Broke
31. Bought
32. Fought
33. Sold
34. Hid
35. Tore , threw
36. Drew
37. Felt
38. Heard , got
39. Won
40. Bit
41. Blew
42. Caught , swam
43. Told , knew

Exercise 12: correct the errors.

1. Someone stole my bicycle two days ago.
2. Did you go to the party last weekend?
3. I heard a really interesting story yesterday .
4. The teacher was not ready for class yesterday.
5. Did joe come to work last week?
6. Last night I stayed home and worked on my science
project.
7. Several students weren’t on time for the final exam
yesterday.
8. Your fax came ten minutes ago. Did you get it?
9. Did you invite all your friends to your party?
10. I slept too late this morning and was missed the bus.
 11. The market didn’t have any bananas yesterday. I got
there too late.
12. Were you nervous about your test the last week?
13. I didn’t see you at party. Were you there?
14. ..
15. I don’t know Sam’s brother.
16. B: I’m talking about the political situation in my
country.
17. My roommate usually watch television, listens to the
music , or go out in the evening.
18. When I turned on the ignition key, the car was started.
19. ..
20. ..
21. ….
22. ..
23. …

Exercise 13: use the past progressive to complete the following

sentences . Discuss the meaning of the phrase “ in progress”
1. Was eating , came
2. Called , was watching
3. Was playing

Exercise 14: past progressive. Directions: complete the

sentences by using the past progressive of the given verbs. Use
each verb only once.
 1. Were hiding
2. Were singing
3. Were watching
4. Were talking
5. Were reading , were sitting , were looking

Exercise 15: past progressive. Directions: complete the

sentences. Use the simple past for one clause and the past
progressive for the other.
1. Was playing , broke
2. Scored , was playing
3. Hurt , was playing
4. Was hiking , found
5. Saw , was hiking
6. Tripped , fell , was dancing
7. Was dancing , met
8. Was dancing , got

Exercise 17: Review of present verbs and preview of past

verbs. Discuss the italicized verbs. Do they express present time
or past time? Do the verbs describe an activity or situation
that…
1. Works (is usual or is a general statement of fact).
2. Need (is usual or is a general statement of fact) , call
(is usual or is a general statement of fact)
3. Sitting (is in progress right now)
4. Came (began and ended in the past)
5. Was (began and ended in the past) had (began and
ended in the past)
6. Was driving (was in progress at a time in the past)
(began and ended in the past)
7. Answered (began and ended in the past) was (began
and ended in the past)
8. Was (began and ended in the past) likes(is usual or
is a general statement of fact) enjoys(is usual or is a
general statement of fact)
9. Were talking (was in progress at a time in the past),
is (is usual or is a general statement of fact) ,noticed
(began and ended in the past)
10. Opened (began and ended in the past) swatted
(began and ended in the past) was talking (was in
progress at a time in the past)
11. Left(began and ended in the past) lost (began
and ended in the past) ran(began and ended in the
past) stopped(began and ended in the past)
12. Was (began and ended in the past)
13. Is (is usual or is a general statement of fact),
isn’t (is usual or is a general statement of fact)
needs (is usual or is a general statement of fact)
14. Got (began and ended in the past) talked (began
and ended in the past)
15. Was (began and ended in the past) works (is
usual or is a general statement of fact)
Exercise 18: find the main clauses and time clauses.
1. (Before I ate the banana) time clause ( , I peeled it ) main
clause
2. When I was in Japan , I stayed in a hotel in Tokyo.
3. Maria bought some shoes when she went shopping
yesterday.
4. (We arrived at the airport) main clause before (the plane
landed.) time clause
5. (I went to a movie) main clause after (I finished my
homework) time clause
6. (After the children got home from school ) Time clause,
(they watched TV.) main clause
7. Jim was a soccer player when he was in high school.
8. (Before I moved to this city),( I lived at home with my
parents. )
9. When the phone rang I answered it.
10. The antique vase broke when I dropped it.
11. Rita called while I was studying last night.

Exercise 19: Combine the sentences use while.

1. Someone knock on my apartment door while I was eating
breakfast yesterday morning.
2. While I was cooking dinner yesterday evening. I burned
my hand.
3. Yoko raised her hand While the teacher was talking.
4. A tree fell on my car while i was driving home yesterday.
 5. While I was studying last night, a mouse suddenly appeared
on my desk.

Exercise 20: past time using time clauses. Directions: combine

the two sentences in any order, using the time expressions in
parentheses. Underline the time clause.
1. I gave Alan his allowance after he finished his
chores.
2. The doorbell rang while I was climbing the stairs.
3. The firefighters checked the ashes one last time
before they went home.
4. When Novaks stopped by our table at the restaurant,
they showed us their new baby.
5. As soon as music began, they started to dance
6. We stayed in our seats until the game ended.
7. My father was listening to a baseball game on the
radio while he was watching a basketball game on
television.
Exercise 21: complete the sentences. Use the past progressive
in the while clause. Use the simple past in when clauses.
1. Was washing , got
2. Called , was washing
3. Came , was eating
4. Was eating , came
5. Came , was watching , invited
6. Was watching , came
7. Was wearing , saw
 8. Was watching , relaxing , took

Exercise 22: complete the sentences using the word in

parentheses. Use the simple past or the past progressive .
identify the time clauses.
1. Came , was talking
2. Bought , went
3. Went , got , was, was planting , was , was working, was
changing , were playing , was changing , were playing
4. Hit , was using , hurt
5. Heard , began
6. Walked , got , stopped , rested , was
7. Was lying , heard , heard , turned , held , listened ,, was
chewing
8. Was looking , started , took , was taking , was enjoying ,
came , asked , told , thanked , went , stayed , came ,
covered , went , returned , noticed , was making , was
humming , thought , shut , got , left , spent

Exercise 23: sentence practice. Complete the sentences. Use

the simple past or past progressive.
1. Were having , saw , introduced
2. Heard , walked , opened , opened , saw , greeted , asked
3. Were watching , came , watched
4. Was walking , saw , said , walked
5. Turned , was driving , was listening , heard , looked , saw ,
pulled , waited
6. A: was ,were eating , jumped, doesn’t seem B: did you say
B: Didn’t you ask A: didn’t want
7. Was eating
8. Was eating , came , came , was eating
9. Was sleeping , was sleeping , rang , rang was sleeping
10. Began , was walking , saw ,saw , was standing , was
holding, waved , saw
11. Was sitting
12. Didn’t want , was raining
13. Called , wasn’t , was studying
14. Didn’t hear , was sleeping
15. Was shinning , was blowing , were singing
16. Were arguing , walked
17. Opened , found
18. Was reading , fell, closed , tiptoed
19. B: Was waiting
20. A: did you hear , B: wasn’t listening , was thinking
21. A: did you break B: slipped , was crossing
22. B: was she wearing
23. Finally found , was already, was talking busily , were
speaking , were conversing , were just sitting , chose , sat ,
walked , stopped
24. Was snowing , was shinning , was lying , were
shoveling , was laying
25. ..
26. …
27. ..
 28. ..
29. ..
30. ..
31. ….
32. ..

Exercise 25: sentence practice . complete the sentences . use

the simple past or past progressive.
1. Was preparing
2. Rang
3. Put
4. Rushed
5. Opened
6. Found
7. Was holding
8. Needed
9. Was dealing
10. Rang
11. Excused
12. Reached
13. Was trying
14. Ran
15. Was trying
16. Were swimming
17. Said
18. Hung
19. Thanked
20. Shut
 21. Yelled
22. Shooed
23. Sat
24. Stayed
25. Began
26. Felt
27. Rang
28. Rang

Exercise 26: the simple past and the past progressive.

Directions: fill in the blanks with simple past or the past
progressive of the verbs in parentheses. include any other word
in parentheses.
1. Had
2. Were at home having
3. B: was in his garage working , exploded A: caused
B: lighted
4. A: didn’t see , was thinking , B:were you thinking
5. Didn’t want, was waiting
6. Didn’t hear , was in her room listening
7. Stopped, fell , spilled
8. Came , didn’t hear , was in her room drying
9. Served , went
10. looked , was sleeping , was dreaming , was
smiling
11. were crossing , turned , hit
12. was , was humming
 13. were in our living room watching ,went , went ,
got , turned ,listened , was
14. out witted, surrounded , was still inside suffering
15. rang , came , were still playing , was pulling , ran
, told
16. MICHACEL : was looking TEACHER: did
you find MICHAEL: took
17. BOB: Is always interrupting BOB: is always
asking BOB: was trying , interrupted , asked ,
refused

Exercise 27: complete the sentences with words in

parentheses.
PART 1:
1. Was , saw
2. FISH: are you
3. BEAR: am doing
4. BEAR: would you like , sit , need ,
5. FISH: don’t need
6. FISH: are you doing
7. BEAR: am getting
8. FISH: is , don’t trust , do you want
9. BEAR: want , had

PART 2:
BEAR: saw , love , stopped , reached , came , was
FISH: don’t believe , don’t believe , are , aren’t
FISH: is it , did the bee sting
FISH: are you doing , are you holding
BEAR: I’m holding
FISH: tricked , happened
PART 3:
BEAR: got , wanted , to catch , caught
FISH: looks
BEAR: don’t believe
FISH: is , is coming
BEAR: don’t see , dropped
FISH: fooled
BEAR: tricked , taught
BEAR: learned , am , have , would you like

Exercise 28: complete the sentences with the simple present ,

present progressive , simple past , or past progressive.
PART 1: PRESENT TIME
1) Is sitting , is studying , is sitting , isn’t studying , is starting
, wants , is looking
TOSHI: are you looking
 OSCAR: am watching , don’t know , admire , is steering ,
is drinking , is weaving , seems
TOSHI: isn’t , looks
OSCAR: never had , was , was , tried , laughed , tried , was

PART 2: PAST TIME

Was sitting
Was studying
Was sitting
Wasn’t studying
Was staring
Was watching
Walked
Pointed
Was steering
Was drinking
Was weaving
Seemed
Never learned
Was
Offered
Accepted

Exercise 29: correct the errors.

1. Did you go downtown yesterday ?
2. Yesterday I spoke to ken before he left his office and went
home.
3. I heard a good joke last night.
4. Pablo finished his work.
5. I visited my relatives in New York City last month.
6. Where did you go yesterday afternoon?
7. Ms. Wah flew from Singapore to Tokyo last month
8. When I saw my friend yesterday, he didn’t spoke to me
9. Why did Mustafa come to class last week?
10. Where did you buy those shoes? I like them
11. Mr. Adams taught our class last week.
12. I wrote a letter last night.
13. Who did you write a letter to?
14. Who did opened the door ? Jack opened it.
15. Breakfast is an important meal. I always eat breakfast.
16. While I was working in my office yesterday, my
cousin stopped by to visit me.
17. Portugal lies to the west of Spain.
18. Yuki stayed home because she caught a bad cold.
19. My brother looks like my father , but I resemble my
mother.
20. As a verb , “sink” means “move downward” .what
does it mean as a noun?
21. Sang-Joon are you listening to me ? I’m talking to you
!
22. I rewound the rented video before I returned it to the
store yesterday.
23. Abdallah wants a snack. He is hungry.
24. Anna raised her eyebrows in surprise.
25. Yesterday I was working at my computer when
Shelley came to the door of my office. I didn’t know she
 was there . I was concentrating hard on my work. When she
suddenly spoke, I jumped . she startled me.
26. While I was surfing the net yesterday , I found a really
interesting web.

Exercise 30: complete the sentences with the verb in

parentheses. Use the simple past, simple present , or past
progressive.
1. Lived , was thinking , had , formed
2. Came, announced , meet
3. Chose , took , held, walked , dropped , picked ,
spotted , bent , was
4. Hopped , picked , brought , am , claim
5. Told , refused , heard, laughed , laughed, said
6. Felt , am , sobbed, loved , believed , didn’t understand
, hid , kept , grew , had , rang
7. Left , ran , went , ate , drank, cut , washed, swept ,
made , took , was
8. Went , was , swam , became , was swimming , lost ,
quit , was drowning , appeared , pushed , saved
9. Did you save , are , have
10. Do not , am
11. Said , began , sat, listened , understood , told ,
shared, spent , talked , laughed , played , worked.
12. Were sitting , bent, kissed , turned , took , saved ,
looked , saw , found , am , saw , found
13. Returned , got , were, ignored, didn’t talk , made ,
gave , lived.
Exercise 31: Past verbs directions: Complete the sentences
with correct form of verbs in parentheses.
1. Was , slept , came , packed , took , spent
2. Got , found , fed , threw , swam , caught , hit stole , were
feeding , met , comes , sat , spoke
3. Ate took , was sleeping , wake , heard , looked , saw , flew
4. Did , took , got , read , is , drew , played , won , won ,
taught , were playing , fell , found , joined , were , were ,
hurt , was, left, was

Exercise 32: past habit with used to ; correct the errors

1. Live
2. Work
3. Margo used to teach English
4. Where did you used to live?
5. I didn’t used to getup early , but now I do.
6. Did you used to live in Singapore ?
7. May family used to go the beach every weekend , but now I
don’t.

Exercise 34: make the sentences with similar meanings by

using used to . some of the sentences are negatives and some
of them are questions.
1. I used to be shy but now I am not shy.
2. I use to think that people over forty were old.
3. Where did you used to work / live ?
4. Did you used to work for the telephone company?
5. I never used to wake up in the middle night , but now I do.
6. I used to watch cartoons on TV , I don’t anymore.