Test your knowledge of past tenses with these interactive quizzes!
Here are the main ways we use past tenses in English:
| Past Simple | Past Continuous | Present Perfect |
|---|---|---|
| For completed actions in the past | For actions in progress at a specific time in the past | For past actions with present results or experiences |
| I walked to school yesterday. | I was walking when I saw her. | I have visited Paris three times. |
| She ate breakfast at 8 AM. | They were studying all evening. | He has finished his homework. |
Common patterns: Past simple often with time references (yesterday, last week), Present Perfect often with indefinite time (ever, never, already, yet).
1. Yesterday, I _____ to the park after school.
2. She _____ breakfast at 7 AM this morning.
3. They _____ a movie last weekend.
4. He _____ his homework before dinner.
5. We _____ to the beach last summer.
6. I _____ my keys yesterday and couldn't find them.
7. She _____ a beautiful song at the concert.
8. They _____ their grandparents last month.
9. He _____ to school by bus yesterday.
10. I _____ that book you recommended last week.
We use Past Continuous for longer actions interrupted by shorter actions in Past Simple:
| Past Continuous (longer action) | Past Simple (interrupting action) |
|---|---|
| I was watching TV | when the phone rang. |
| She was cooking dinner | when her friend arrived. |
11. While I _____ dinner, the phone rang.
12. They _____ TV when I arrived.
13. She _____ a shower when the doorbell rang.
14. I _____ my homework when my friend called.
15. While we _____ to work, we saw an accident.
16. He _____ his leg while he was skiing.
17. What _____ at 8 PM yesterday?
18. I _____ breakfast when I heard the news.
19. The sun _____ when we left the house.
20. While she _____ to work, she saw her old teacher.
We use Present Perfect for past actions with present results or experiences, and Past Simple for completed actions at a specific time in the past:
| Present Perfect (no specific time) | Past Simple (specific time) |
|---|---|
| I have visited Paris. | I visited Paris last year. |
| She has finished her work. | She finished her work an hour ago. |
21. I _____ that movie three times already.
22. She _____ in London for five years, but now she lives in Paris.
23. _____ to Japan?
24. He _____ his keys, so he can't get into his house.
25. I _____ breakfast yet. I'm still hungry.
26. They _____ married for ten years, and they're very happy.
27. I _____ my phone yesterday, but today I found it.
28. She _____ three books this month.
29. I can't find my wallet. I think I _____ it.
30. We _____ each other since we were children.