BACCALAUREATE EXAM EXERCISES: ENGLISH TENSES

BACCALAUREATE EXAM EXERCISES: ENGLISH TENSES


THE SIMPLE PAST

We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long. There can also be a few actions happening one after another.

Use

1. Events in the past that are now finished (completed actions in the past)

We saw a movie yesterday.

Last year, I travelled to Marrakech.

They saw us playing football.

I didn't play football yesterday.

Last year, I didn't travel to Agadir.

Did you have dinner last night?

Did the telephone ring?

2.Situations in the past

They lived a normal life until they won a lottery.

He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago.

3.A series of Completed actions in the past

I finished work, drove to town, and did some shopping.

He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.

He entered a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests.

4.Duration in Past

I lived in Rabat for twenty years.

Sanaa studied Spanish for four years.

They sat at the beach all day.

They did not stay at the party the whole time.

We talked on the phone for twenty minutes.

How long did he work there?

How long did you wait for them?

We waited for one hour.

5. Habits in the Past (habits which stopped in the past = used to)

I studied French when I was a child. (I used to study French when I was a child.)

He played the tambourine when he was young.

Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?

He worked as a waiter after school.

Time expressions / signal words

yesterday

last night / week / month etc.

the other day

the day before yesterday

the last time

the first time

a day ago / two weeks ago etc.

earlier today / this week etc.