• Oxford English Grammar Course Intermediate TEST • past tenses Name ● Write the simple past forms of these regular verbs ▲ act acted clap happen unPLUG admit delay repair annoy dip stop apply drop SUfer boil escape try feel lose take feed put throw ● Write the simple past forms of these irregular verbs begin ly run win buy give spend come grow stand ● Past simple or progressive? Correct the sentences or write ‘Correct’ ▲ ▲ The cat bit me while I played with it was playing As I was walking home it started to rain Correct While I waited for the train, someone stole my wallet and ran away When she came in, they turned on the lights and everybody was starting singing The children hid my shoes while I wasn’t looking Did you meet my uncle when you worked in Korea? I had dinner at 7.00, then I watched TV from 9.00 to 10.30 When I left the house early this morning, you were asleep While I was locking the door, my keys were falling on the loor He was starting school last September and now he’s in Year ● Which of these is/are possible? Circle A, B or both A The children had breakfast when I left the house B The children were having breakfast when I left the house A When the phone rang, I knew it was you B When the phone rang, I was knowing it was you A When I was at school, I played tennis every Saturday B When I was at school, I was playing tennis every Saturday A I chopped some onions when I started crying B I was chopping some onions when I started crying A When the police oicer saw the bank robbers, they ran towards their car B When the police oicer saw the bank robbers, they were running towards their car A While she was talking to me, my phone rang B When she was talking to me, my phone was ringing A When I picked up the suitcase, I realised it didn’t belong to me B When I picked up the suitcase, I realised it wasn’t belonging to me A I called the children three times before they came in for tea B I was calling the children three times before they came in for tea A He asked me a question, but I didn’t understand what he was saying B He asked me a question, but I wasn’t understanding what he was saying 10 A When she got home, I cooked dinner B When she got home, I was cooking dinner ➔ Oxford English Grammar Course • Intermediate TEST • past tenses © Michael Swan and Catherine Walter PHOTOCOPIABLE ● Put in the correct tense (simple past or past progressive) Use contracted forms (e.g I don’t know NOT I not know) ▲ ▲ 10 When they saw me, they ran away (run) I was watching TV when you phoned (watch) When I gave them the sandwiches, they (eat) them all When I saw the rat, it (run) across the kitchen loor When I walked in, I (not recognise) you straight away When I fell over the children’s ball, I (not look) where I was going When I was a boy, most children (walk) to school I opened the door that (lead) to the library She decided to walk faster because she (get) cold When I was at school, the teachers (not give) us homework every night I spoke to him three times before he (reply) When she was living in Tokyo, she (send) me an email every week ● Past tenses in requests etc Change the verbs in italics to make these sentences less direct (Sometimes more than one answer is possible.) I hope hoped / was hoping you don’t didn’t have any plans this afternoon ▲ Are Can I think Will I think Do you need you expecting visitors this afternoon? we help you with your bags? this is you give me your email address, please? you will anything else before I go? ● Past tenses in requests etc Which is/are correct alternatives? a good place to stay tonight like to eat with us this evening Circle A, B or both ▲ We hope you can stay for dinner A We hope you stayed for dinner B We hoped you could stay for dinner I wonder if you can give me some more information A I wondered if you could give me some more information B I was wondering if you could give me some more information Can you wait for me? A Could you wait for me? B Do you wait for me? Are you waiting to speak to the manager? A Were you waiting to speak to the manager? B Did you wait to speak to the manager? Can you help me with these bags, please? A Could you help me with these bags, please? B Will you help me with these bags, please? I think this is a good time for us to talk A I thought this will be a good time for us to talk B I thought this would be a good time for us to talk / 70 Oxford English Grammar Course • Intermediate TEST • past tenses © Michael Swan and Catherine Walter PHOTOCOPIABLE