Have you read our previous post on English past forms? If you haven’t yet, be sure to check it out by clicking the link here. This article serves as a follow-up, allowing you to put those concepts into practice. Read on and try the exercises we’ve prepared for you today!

Exercise 1. Click the link here and choose the correct form or phrase in each sentence.

Exercise 2. Decide if the verb form underlined is correct or not. If it’s not correct it. The answer key is given below.

🚆 The train came (1) to a stop at a small station miles from Denver, and it became (2) apparent that the engine had broken down (3). Everyone was getting (4) their bags down from the overhead compartments, and we were waiting (5) on the platform in the freezing wind for hours until the next train was showing up (6).

Answer key 🔑

1. correct
2. correct
3. correct
4. got
5. waited
6. showed up

☀️ Last summer, I visited (1) my grandparents’ house in the countryside. I always loved (2) their garden, where I played as a child. One day, while I had been exploring (3) the old shed, I found a dusty box. Inside, I discovered letters that my grandparents had written (4) to each other during the war. They had shared (5) their hopes and dreams, and I was feeling (6) a connection to their past. As I read (7), I realized how much they had endured and how their love grew (8) stronger. Later, I had told (9) them about my find, and they smiled (10), recalling those memories fondly.

Answer key 🔑

1. correct
2. had always loved
3. was exploring
4. correct
5. correct
6. felt
7. correct
8. had grown
9. told
10. correct

Exercise 3. Click the link here and put each verb in brackets into a suitable past form.

Exercise 4. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. The answer key is given below.

1. I intended to call you yesterday, but I forgot. I ___ (to) call you yesterday, but I forgot.
2. Jane asked if I wanted more cake, but I said I couldn’t eat any more. When Jane offered ___ (had) enough.
3. Owing to illness, Sally was unable to sing the solo, as arranged. Sally was ___ (have), but she fell ill.
4. Diana wasn’t always as rude at that. Diana ___ (be) that rude.
5. We’ve changed our minds about going to Rome, as originally intended. We ___ (intending), but we’ve changed our minds.
6. When I lived in Seattle, riding my bike to work was part of my daily routine. When I lived in Seattle, I ___ (used) day.
7. I might possibly go to the nightclub tonight. I ___ (wondering) going to the nightclub tonight.
8. I had to go past your house, so I decided to drop in. I ___ (passing), so I decided to drop in.
9. About 100 people were waiting for the late bus. By ___ (arrived) about 100 people waiting.
10. What were you doing at the moment of the explosion? When ___ (occurred), what were you doing?

Answer key 🔑

1. was going to
2. me more cake, I said I had had
3. to have sung the solo
4. didn’t use to be
5. were intending to go to Rome but
6. used to ride my bike to work every
7. was wondering about
8. was passing your house
9. the time the bus (finally) arrived, there were
10. the explosion occurred

Exercise 5. In each sentence, decide whether one or both of the alternative verb forms given are appropriate. The answer key is given below.

1. In those days, I always used to get up / got up early in the morning.
2. When I got to the office, Jack had been waiting / was waiting for me.
3. We would always have / were always having breakfast in bed on Sundays.
4. Mary was always falling / always fell ill before important tests.
5. My sister used to own / would own a motorcycle and a sidecar.
6. Pay no attention to Dave’s remarks. He wasn’t meaning / didn’t mean it.
7. I felt awful after dinner. I ate / had eaten too much.
8. After I had finished / finished my homework, I watched TV.
9. Pauline has changed a lot. She didn’t always use to look / wasn’t always looking like that.

Answer key 🔑

1. both
2. was waiting
3. would always have
4. both
5. used to own
6. didn’t mean
7. both (‘ate’ is colloquial in the context)
8. both
9. didn’t always use to look

Exercise 6. Click the link here and complete the text by typing in one word in each space.

Exercise 7. Click the link here and put each verb in brackets into a suitable past verb form.

Did you face any difficulties at any point while doing the exercises? Feel free to post your questions in the comments below, and we’ll be happy to respond.