CJS IMAGE DICTIONARY

128 SIMPLE PAST TENSE FORMS

All the sentences in this exercise refer to completed events
in the past, and so the tense used is the SIMPLE PAST.

Read each sentence OUT LOUD with the correct form of
the verb on the right, then TOGGLE to check. Ideally, you
should start at the beginning again if you get any wrong!

GOOD LUCK!


1)	Isaac Newton ?????????? one of the greatest scientists who ever lived.	be
2)	I ?????????? chicken pox when I was a child.	have
3)	I ?????????? my bed and then went downstairs to have breakfast.	make
4)	I always ?????????? my best at school.	do
5)	Jane ?????????? the ball to me .....	throw
6)	.... and I ?????????? it.	catch


1)	Isaac Newton was one of the greatest scientists who ever lived.	be
2)	I had chicken pox when I was a child.	have
3)	I made my bed and then went downstairs to have breakfast.	make
4)	I always did my best at school.	do
5)	Jane threw the ball to me .....	throw
6)	.... and I caught it.	catch


1)	I ?????????? "The Diary of Anne Frank" when I was a teenager.	read
2)	Leo Tolstoy ?????????? his great novel "Anna Karenina" in the 1870s.	write
3)	Last Sunday we ?????????? to the beach to do some sun-bathing.	drive
4)	Yesterday I ?????????? my new pony for the first time.	ride
5)	John ?????????? £5 in the park on Sunday, but ....	lose
6)	.... an hour later he ?????????? £10 at the bowling-alley.	find


1)	I read "The Diary of Anne Frank" when I was a teenager.	read
2)	Leo Tolstoy wrote his great novel "Anna Karenina" in the 1870s.	write
3)	Last Sunday we drove to the beach to do some sun-bathing.	drive
4)	Yesterday I rode my new pony for the first time.	ride
5)	John lost £5 in the park on Sunday, but ....	lose
6)	.... an hour later he found £10 at the bowling-alley.	find


1)	It was raining, but we ?????????? for a walk anyway.	go
2)	More people ?????????? to the party than had been invited, and we ran out of food!	come
3)	I was so tired that I ?????????? asleep almost at once ....	fall
4)	.... and ?????????? for more than six hours.	sleep
5)	We ?????????? the money from the bank robbery inside a hollow tree.	hide
6)	I ?????????? the doorbell, but nobody answered.	ring


1)	It was raining, but we went for a walk anyway.	go
2)	More people came to the party than had been invited, and we ran out of food!	come
3)	I was so tired that I fell asleep almost at once ....	fall
4)	.... and slept for more than six hours.	sleep
5)	We hid the money from the bank robbery inside a hollow tree.	hide
6)	I rang the bell, but nobody answered.	ring


1)	I ?????????? a cartoon of a ghost in art class today.	draw
2)	We were late, so we ?????????? as fast as we could, but still missed the bus.	run
3)	Yesterday I ?????????? a whole length of the pool underwater for the first time.	swim
4)	James fell and ?????????? his arm while rockclimbing last summer.	break
5)	I ?????????? my hand badly this morning while peeling potatoes.	cut
6)	We ?????????? hands as we walked across the field of poppies.	hold


1)	I drew a cartoon of a ghost in art class today.	draw
2)	We were late, so we ran as fast as we could, but still missed the bus.	run
3)	Yesterday I swam a whole length of the pool underwater for the first time.	swim
4)	James fell and broke his arm while rockclimbing last summer.	break
5)	I cut my hand badly this morning while peeling potatoes.	cut
6)	We held hands as we walked across the field of poppies.	hold


1)	The teacher ?????? for an hour without pause, but what he said was very interesting.	speak
2)	We sat round the campfire and ?????????? folk songs till daybreak.	sing
3)	I ?????????? the leftover meat so that it would not go bad in the summer heat.	freeze
4)	Alan ?????????? his son a gold watch for his eighteenth birthday.	give
5)	I ?????????? her photo for many years, but eventually threw it away.	keep
6)	We ?????????? silently in front of the Anne Frank memorial - with tears in our eyes.	stand


1)	The teacher spoke for an hour without pause, but what he said was very interesting.	speak
2)	We sat round the campfire and sang folk songs till daybreak.	sing
3)	I froze the leftover meat so that it would not go bad in the summer heat.	freeze
4)	Alan gave his son a gold watch for his eighteenth birthday.	give
5)	I kept her photo for many years, but eventually threw it away.	keep
6)	We stood silently in front of the Anne Frank memorial - with tears in our eyes.	stand


1)	The soldiers ????????? bravely, but were hugely outnumbered and had to surrender.	fight
2)	I ?????????? my car secondhand, and it's given me nothing but trouble	buy
3)	I ?????????? the cats, checked gas and left the house to go shopping.	feed
4)	I ?????????? the beans but forgot the yogurt!	get
5)	I ?????????? the asking price for the house, but it was worth it.	pay
6)	I ?????????? I was sorry; what more can I do?	say


1)	The soldiers fought bravely, but were hugely outnumbered and had to surrender.	fight
2)	I bought my car secondhand, and it's given me nothing but trouble	buy
3)	I fed the cats, checked gas and left the house to go shopping.	feed
4)	I got the beans but forgot the yogurt!	get
5)	I paid the asking price for the house, but it was worth it.	pay
6)	I said I was sorry; what more could I do?	say


1)	We ?????????? the work at dawn and had finished by dusk!	begin
2)	I ?????????? too much as usual and felt sick all the next day.	drink
3)	I had no time to cook, so I ?????????? some leftovers from the previous day.	eat
4)	The gang that ?????????? the money was never caught.	steal
5)	My father ?????????? me how to cut and prepare wood to make furniture.	teach
6)	She v £250,000 on the lottery and spent it all on a new Ferrari.	win


1)	We began the work at dawn and had finished by dusk!	begin
2)	I drank too much as usual and felt sick all the next day.	drink
3)	I had no time to cook, so I ate some leftovers from the previous day.	eat
4)	The gang that stole the money was never caught.	steal
5)	My father taught me how to cut and prepare wood to make furniture.	teach
6)	She won £250,000 on the lottery and spent it all on a new Ferrari.	win


1)	We ?????????? our boat last year; our sailing days are over!	sell
2)	The children ?????????? their grandparents thankyou letters after Christmas.	send
3)	The pirates buried the treasure in a hole they ?????????? in the sand.	dig
4)	The police ?????????? the terrorist holding the people in the restaurant hostage.	shoot
5)	Everyone ?????????? something for the pic-nic, so we had plenty to eat.	bring
6)	The party was so boring that most people ?????????? well before the end.	leave


1)	We sold our boat last year; our sailing days are over!	sell
2)	The children sent their grandparents thankyou letters after Christmas.	send
3)	The pirates buried the treasure in a hole they dug in the sand.	dig
4)	The police shot the terrorist holding the people in the restaurant hostage.	shoot
5)	Everyone brought something for the pic-nic, so we had plenty to eat.	bring
6)	The party was so boring that most people left well before the end.	leave


1)	We ?????????? hands and said our last goodbyes.	shake
2)	I ?????????? she lived in Naples, but it turns out she actually lives in Padua.	think
3)	I'm so happy with the wedding-dress I finally ??????????.	choose
4)	My boyfriend ?????????? me his coat because the evening air was quite cold.	lend
5)	The bird ?????????? round the kitchen a few times and then out of the window.	fly
6)	I ?????????? the rubbish out last night, but the dustmen haven't taken it!	put


1)	We shook hands and said our last goodbyes.	shake
2)	I thought she lived in Naples, but it turns out she actually lives in Padua.	think
3)	I'm so happy with the wedding-dress I finally chose.	choose
4)	My boyfriend lent me his coat because the evening air was quite cold.	lend
5)	The bird flew round the kitchen a few times and then out of the window.	fly
6)	I put the rubbish out last night, but the dustmen haven't taken it!	put


1)	The doctor ?????????? me that my cancer was terminal.	tell
2)	I ?????????? my trousers on a nail in the fence when I climbed over it.	tear
3)	We ?????????? a beautiful house by the lake.	build
4)	Nobody except Jim ?????????? that Ulaanbaatar was the capital of Mongolia.	know
5)	Manchester United ????????? Bayern Munich to win the Champions League Final in 2010.	beat
6)	I ?????????? £50 out of the bank and bought myself a new coat with the cash.	take


1)	The doctor told me that my cancer was terminal.	tell
2)	I tore my trousers on a nail in the fence when I climbed over it.	tear
3)	We built a beautiful house by the lake.	build
4)	Nobody except Jim knew that Ulaanbaatar was the capital of Mongolia.	know
5)	Manchester United beat Bayern Munich to win the Champions League Final last year.	beat
6)	I took £50 out of the bank and bought myself a new coat with the cash.	take


1)	After the accident my arm was extremely painful when I ?????????? it.	bend
2)	Be careful with that vase! It ?????????? £1,000!	cost
3)	I ?????????? my fingers in the door and had to go to hospital.	shut
4)	My brother often ?????????? the bed when he was small, but eventually grew out of it.	wet
5)	I ?????????? Jack at the party, but I didn't see Jill.	see
6)	I ?????????? sorry for Peter after his accident ended his hopes of a football career.	feel


1)	After the accident my arm was extremely painful when I bent it.	bend
2)	Be careful with that vase! It cost £1,000!	cost
3)	I shut my fingers in the door and had to go to hospital.	shut
4)	My brother often wet the bed when he was small, but eventually grew out of it.	wet
5)	I saw Jack at the party, but I didn't see Jill.	see
6)	I felt sorry for Peter after his accident ended his hopes of an international football career.	feel


1)	We ?????????? up the balloons and lit the candles.	blow
2)	At the children's playground yesterday I ?????????? down the slide!	slide
3)	I ??????? the broken vase together with superglue and hoped Mum would not notice!	stick
4)	At 06:00 the sun ?????????? slowly in the East.	rise
5)	Peter had overslept so I ?????????? him up and we prepared breakfast quickly.	wake
6)	I had to go to the doctor after a stray dog ?????????? me in the park.	bite


1)	We blew up the balloons and lit the candles.	blow
2)	At the children's playground yesterday I slid down the slide!	slide
3)	I stuck the broken vase together with superglue and hoped Mum would not notice!	stick
4)	At 06:00 the sun rose slowly in the East.	rise
5)	Peter had overslept so I woke him up and we prepared breakfast quickly.	wake
6)	I had to go to the doctor after a stray dog bit me in the park.	bite


1)	After his terrible hangover he ?????????? that he would never get drunk again!	swear
2)	I ?????????? £100 on "Goldfinger" to win the Kentucky Derby, but he came last!	bet
3)	The kidnappers ?????????? all the evidence of their crime.	burn
4)	I ?????????? against the fence, but it collapsed under my weight and I hurt my arm-	lean
5)	I ?????????? jeans to the meeting, but everyone else was wearing a suit!	wear
6)	Mary had two cats, but their whole lives long she never ????? them out of the house.	let


1)	After his terrible hangover he swore that he would never get drunk again!	swear
2)	I bet £100 on "Goldfinger" to win the Kentucky Derby, but he came last!	bet
3)	The kidnappers burnt all the evidence of their crime.	burn
4)	I leant against the fence, but it collapsed under my weight and I hurt my arm-	lean
5)	I wore jeans to the meeting, but everyone else was wearing a suit!	wear
6)	Mary had two cats, but their whole lives long she never let them out of the house.	let


1)	I smelt (or smelled) gas the moment I walked into the house.	smell
2)	She ?????????? her illness with great curage until the very end.	bear
3)	I ?????????? our new picture on the wall in the study.	hang
4)	Jack ?????????? the cards, and we started to play.	deal
5)	Mother ????? the table and called us for dinner. / Our chickens ????? 100 eggs this week!	lay
6)	I ?????????? the garden path this morning	sweep


1)	I smelt (or smelled) gas the moment I walked into the house.	smell
2)	She bore her illness with great curage until the very end.	bear
3)	I hung our new picture on the wall in the study.	hang
4)	Jack dealt the cards, and we started to play.	deal
5)	Mother laid the table and called us for dinner. / Our chickens laid 100 eggs this week!	lay
6)	I swept the garden path this morning	sweep


1)	Dad ?????????? the firework, but it didn't go off.	light
2)	I ?????????? some red wine over my new white shirt: that was SO annoying!	spill
3)	At the auction I ?????? £200 for the painting, but someone out?????? me. What a shame.	bid
4)	The fifth penalty-taker only ?????? the left post, and so we lost the match on penalties.	hit
5)	I ?????????? my job when my wife became ill and I had to stay at home to look after her.	quit
6)	I slipped on a banana skin in the street and ?????????? my elbow when I fell.	hurt


1)	Dad lit the firework, but it didn't go off.	light
2)	I spilt some red wine over my new white shirt: that was SO annoying!	spill
3)	At the auction I bid £200 for the painting, but someone outbid me. What a shame.	bid
4)	The fifth penalty-taker only hit the left post, and so we lost the match on penalties.	hit
5)	I quit my job when my wife became ill and I had to stay at home to look after her.	quit
6)	I slipped on a banana skin in the street and hurt my elbow when I fell.	hurt


1)	I first ?????????? my wife at a conference in Berlin.	meet
2)	The terrible news ?????????? a giant shadow over the school reunion.	cast
3)	Anna ?????????? into tears when she heard the terrible news.	burst
4)	Thanks to Amazon Jeff Bezos has ?????????? one of theworld's richest men.	became
5)	I have to admit that I openly ?????? when I visited the Anne Frank Museum.	weep
6)	The whole house ?????????? of rotting fish left by the previous owners.	stink


1)	I first met my wife at a conference in Berlin.	meet
2)	The terrible news cast a giant shadow over the school reunion.	cast
3)	Anna burst into tears when she heard the terrible news.	burst
4)	Thanks to Amazon Jeff Bezos has become one of theworld's richest men.	became
5)	I have to admit that I openly wept when I visited the Anne Frank Museum.	weep
6)	The whole house stank of rotting fish left by the previous owners.	stink


1)	They ????? desperately to the side of the capsized boat as they waited to be rescued.	cling
2)	After the bad-tempered conference the party ?????????? into two opposing factions.	split
3)	He ripped his shirt into strips and ?????????? the bleeding wound in his arm.	bind
4)	We had a lovely pic-nic yesterday; the sun ?????? all day and the sea air was so refreshing.	shine
5)	I ?????????? that I was marooned on a desert island like Robinson Crusoe!	dream
6)	I thought I ?????????? someone downstairs, but it was just the cat.	hear


1)	They clung desperately to the side of the capsized boat as they waited to be rescued.	cling
2)	After the bad-tempered conference the party split into two opposing factions.	split
3)	He ripped his shirt into strips and bound the bleeding wound in his arm.	bind
4)	We had a lovely pic-nic yesterday; the sun shone all day and the sea air was so refreshing.	shine
5)	I dreamt* that I was marooned on a desert island like Robinson Crusoe!	dream
6)	I thought I heard someone downstairs, but it was just the cat.	hear

* dreamed in USA


1)	The new virus was so virulent that it ?????????? like wildfire.	spread
2)	I ?????????? the beans and prepared the coffee.	grind
3)	I crouched as low as possible and ?????? along behind the wall, trying to remain unnoticed.	creep
4)	I ?????????? the alarm-clock to 06:00, but it didn't go off and we missed the plane!	set
5)	After his divorce, he ?????????? all his bad habits and determined to start a new life.	shed
6)	He ??????? the envelope open with a paper knife; much better than just tearing it open!	slit


1)	The new virus was so virulent that it spread like wildfire.	spread
2)	I ground the beans and prepared the coffee.	grind
3)	I crouched as low as possible and crept along behind the wall, trying to remain unnoticed.	creep
4)	I set the alarm-clock to 06:00, but it didn't go off and we missed the plane!	set
5)	After his divorce, he shed* all his bad habits and determined to start a new life.	shed
6)	He slit the envelope open with a paper knife; much better than just tearing it open!	slit

*Snakes shed their skins as they mature.


1)	A bee ?????????? me during the pic-nic and I had to go to hospital as I am allergic.	sting
2)	Last year the economy ?????????? by 3%, but is not expected to do as well this year.	grow
3)	Some of my clothes ?????????? in the wash because the water was too hot.	shrink
4)	With no time for niceties he ?????????? the needle with the snake antivenom into a vein.	thrust
5)	I ?????????? the set shirt by hand as best I could and hung it out to dry.	wring
6)	I ?????????? in vain some small sign that he was truly sorry for what he had done.	seek


1)	A bee stung me during the pic-nic and I had to go to hospital as I am allergic.	sting
2)	Last year the economy grew by 3%, but is not expected to do as well this year.	grow
3)	Some of my clothes shrank in the wash because the water was too hot.	shrink
4)	With no time for niceties he thrust the needle with the snake antivenom into a vein.	thrust
5)	I wrung the wet shirt by hand as best I could and hung it out to dry.	wring
6)	I sought in vain some small sign that he was truly sorry for what he had done.	seek


1)	The medicine was so horrible that I ?????????? it out at once.	spit
2)	The ship was hit by a cruise missile and ?????????? within minutes.	sink
3)	George Best ?????????? most of his money on women and booze; the rest he just wasted.	spend
4)	He ?????????? prize-winning cows on his Leicestershire farm.	breed
5)	There was no medical help quickly on hand, so he ?????????? out and died.	bleed
6)	I ??????? down the car window so that I could speak to the officer who pulled me over.	wind
7)	He ?????????? on the bed, exhausted after his exertions.	lie


1)	The medicine was so horrible that I spat it out at once.	spit
2)	The ship was hit by a cruise missile and sank within minutes.	sink
3)	George Best spent most of his money on women and booze; the rest he just wasted.	spend
4)	He bred prize-winning cows on his Leicestershire farm.	breed
5)	There was no medical help quickly on hand, so he bled out and died.	bleed
6)	I wound down the car window so that I could speak to the officer who pulled me over.	wind
7)	He lay on the bed, exhausted after his exertions.	lie


1)	He ?????????? his coat over his shoulder and made off into the night.	sling
2)	He ?????????? prize-winning cows on his Leicestershire farm.	mean
3)	M father ?????????? me to speak to the boy I met at the party.	forbid
4)	I ?????????? myself of all useless baggage and set out on my world tour.	rid
5)	He ?????????? down in front of her and asked her to marry him.	kneel
6)	The missile ?????????? the ship at the stern and blew off the rudder.	strike
7)	The stolen car ?????????? at 90 m.p.h. through the police road block.	speed


1)	He slung his coat over his shoulder and made off into the night.	sling
2)	He bred prize-winning cows on his Leicestershire farm.	mean
3)	M father forbade me to speak to the boy I met at the party.	forbid
4)	I rid myself of all useless baggage and set out on my world tour.	rid
5)	He knelt down in front of her and asked her to marry him.	kneel
6)	The missile struck the ship at the stern and blew off the rudder.	strike
7)	The stolen car sped at 90 m.p.h. through the police road block.	speed