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All questions of Simple Past Tense for ACT Exam

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The police ___________ me on my way home last night.(stop)
  • a)
    Stopped
  • b)
    Stopping
  • c)
    Stops
  • d)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
The sentence is in past tense as there is a time signal 'last night'. Thus, the precise answer is past verb (verb 2).
So, the correct answer is Stopped.

She _________ school last year.
  • a)
    will leave
  • b)
    leave
  • c)
    left
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
The statement is in past tense, so we will use 2nd form of verb.
She left school last year.

I ___________ to the cinema three times last week.(go)
  • a)
    going
  • b)
    went
  • c)
    gone
  • d)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
The sentence is simple past tense, so we will use the 2nd form of the verb. 
Forms of the verb: go   went    gone

It was a funny situation but nobody _________. (laugh)
Correct answer is 'laughed'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
The simple past (also called past simple, past indefinite) is a verb tense which is used to show that a completed action took place at a specific time in the past. The simple past is also frequently used to talk about past habits and generalizations. The simple past is formed using the verb + ed. Questions are made with did and negative forms are made with did not.
Since, we are talking about an action which has happened in the past, we will be using simple past tense. The verb here is "laugh" thus the simple past tense is laughed

It was hard work carrying the bags. They _____ very heavy. (be)
  • a)
    were
  • b)
    was
  • c)
    where
  • d)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Amit Kumar answered
It was hard work carrying the bags. They were very heavy.
IInd form of verb will used as the sentence is in paste tense.

I was very tired, so I _____ to bed early. (go)
Correct answer is 'went'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
As the sentence in the past tense, so 2nd form of verb will be used.
I was very tired, so I went to bed early.

The film wasn't very good. I _____________ it very much.
  • a)
    enjoyed
  • b)
    wasn't enjoy
  • c)
    didn't enjoyed
  • d)
    didn't enjoy
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Lavanya Menon answered
The simple past (also called past simple, past indefinite) is a verb tense which is used to show that a completed action took place at a specific time in the past. We use the simple past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past, here, the action of not enjoying the film. The simple past is formed using the verb + ed. In addition, there are many verbs with irregular past forms. Questions are made with 'did' and negative forms are made with 'did not'.

I …………………………………. his letter yesterday.
  • a)
    received
  • b)
    was receiving
  • c)
    none of the above
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Honey Soni answered
Yesterday is past (indicating past actions). The given sentence is in simple past tense. Hence, the past form of word receive is used i.e. Received.

Analyze the information given below, considering one of the following correct options:
While it is easy enough to represent a ruler through a portrait or a statue, how does one go about giving a face to a nation? Artists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries found a way out by personifying a nation. In other words, they represented a country as if it were a person.
  • a)
    Portrait of a nation
  • b)
    Idol of a nation
  • c)
    Personification of a nation
  • d)
    Visualising a nation
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
Visualizing the Nation
(i) Artists personified the nation—portrayed nation as a female figure.
(ii) Artist used the female allegory to portray ideas such as liberty, justice and the republic.
(iii) Statues of Marianne were erected in public squares to remind the national symbol of unity and to persuade them to identify with it.
(iv) Marianne images were marked on coins and stamps.
(v) Germania became the allegory of the German nation. She wears a crown of oak leaves, as in Germany oak stands for heroism.

I __________ a lot of money yesterday. I __________ an expensive dress. 
  • a)
    spend / buy
  • b)
    spent / buy
  • c)
    spent / bought
  • d)
    was spent / bought
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Partho Mukherjee answered
Answer:

Explanation:

The correct answer is option 'C', i.e., "spent / bought."

- The first sentence indicates that some money was spent, which means the past tense of the verb "spend" is required.
- The second sentence indicates that an expensive dress was purchased, which means the past tense of the verb "buy" is required.

Therefore, the correct sentence would be "I spent a lot of money yesterday. I bought an expensive dress."

Mr. Smith (explain) ..................... those materials in the previous meeting.
Correct answer is 'explained'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered
In this sentence, the action of explaining the materials took place in the past, during the previous meeting. The past tense form of the verb "explain" is "explained," indicating that the action is completed and occurred at a specific time in the past.

The students (have) ................. their flag ceremony yesterday.
Correct answer is 'had'. Can you explain this answer?

Talent Skill Learning answered
The correct answer is "had" because the sentence is in the past tense and "had" is the past tense form of the verb "have". This indicates that the students performed the flag ceremony in the past.

I __________. his letter yesterday.
  • a)
    received
  • b)
    was receiving
  • c)
    had received
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Meera Rana answered
 In verb tenses "I received" is simple past
The simple past is used to describe actions and/or events that are now completed and no longer true in the present.
I received his letter yesterday.

Sarah (tell) .......................... me the story about a cruel king of Arabia last week.
Correct answer is 'told'. Can you explain this answer?

Ujwal Iyer answered
Explanation:

Why 'told' is the correct answer:
- When using the verb 'tell' in the past tense, we say 'told'.
- In this sentence, 'Sarah' is the subject and the action of telling the story is in the past, so the correct form of the verb to use is 'told'.
- Therefore, the correct sentence is "Sarah told me the story about a cruel king of Arabia last week."

Example sentence:
- Incorrect: Sarah tell me the story about a cruel king of Arabia last week.
- Correct: Sarah told me the story about a cruel king of Arabia last week.

Last night I ……………………………………….. sleep well.
  • a)
    don’t
  • b)
    didn’t
  • c)
    hadn’t
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajdeep Patel answered
Had a dream that I was flying through the sky. I felt so free and weightless as I soared above the clouds. The wind was rushing through my hair and I could see the world below me, a patchwork of colors and lights. I glided effortlessly, twisting and turning in the air, feeling the exhilaration of being able to defy gravity. It was a truly magical experience, and I didn't want it to end. As I woke up, I couldn't help but feel a sense of longing to experience that freedom once again.

The bed was very uncomfortable. I ____________ sleep very well.
  • a)
    didn't
  • b)
    did
  • c)
    wasn't 
  • d)
    not
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Dhruv Verma answered
Explanation:

The given sentence is in the past tense, which means it is referring to a past event or action. The sentence talks about the discomfort of the bed and its effect on the speaker's sleep. The correct option to fill in the blank is 'didn't', which is the contraction of 'did not'.

Reason:

The use of 'didn't' indicates the negative form of the past tense of the verb 'do'. It is used to negate a sentence in the past tense. In this sentence, the speaker is saying that the bed was uncomfortable, and as a result, they did not sleep well. The use of 'didn't' is appropriate here because it negates the action of sleeping well in the past tense.

Example:

The correct sentence would be:

The bed was very uncomfortable. I didn't sleep very well.

Conclusion:

To summarize, the correct answer is option 'A', which is 'didn't'. The use of 'didn't' negates the action of sleeping well in the past tense and is appropriate in the given context.

'How did you learn to drive?' 'My father ___________ me.' (teach)
 
Correct answer is 'taught'. Can you explain this answer?

Gowri Roy answered
Explanation:

  • The given sentence is in the past tense, which means that the action happened in the past.

  • The verb 'teach' needs to be in the past tense as well to match the tense of the sentence.

  • The past tense of 'teach' is 'taught'.

  • Therefore, the correct answer is 'taught'.

My mother (buy) .......................... these clothes last week.
Correct answer is 'bought'. Can you explain this answer?

Wizius Careers answered
In the sentence "My mother bought these clothes last week," the verb "bought" is past tense, indicating the completion of the clothes' purchase in the past. "Last week" provides the timeframe. Using "bought" instead of "buy" is grammatically correct for expressing a past action, making the sentence coherent and temporally accurate.

Don ________ down the stairs this morning and hurt his leg. (fall)
Correct answer is 'fell'. Can you explain this answer?

Jaya Basu answered
Explanation:

Subject-Verb Agreement:

- The subject of the sentence is 'Don' and it is in the past tense.
- Therefore, the verb should also be in the past tense to agree with the subject.
- The correct past tense form of 'fall' is 'fell'.

Past Simple Tense:

- The sentence is in the past simple tense, which is used to describe completed actions in the past.
- The action in the sentence is Don falling down the stairs.
- Therefore, the correct form of the verb 'fall' in the past simple tense is 'fell'.

Irregular Verb:

- 'Fall' is an irregular verb, which means that its past tense form does not follow the regular -ed ending rule.
- Instead, the past tense form of 'fall' is 'fell'.

Conclusion:

- The correct answer is 'fell' because it agrees with the subject 'Don' in the past tense and is the correct form of the verb 'fall' in the past simple tense.

Jim _________ the ball to Sue, who caught it. (throw)
Correct answer is 'threw'. Can you explain this answer?

Saikat Shah answered
We will use the 2nd form of verb in the sentence.
"Jim threw the ball to Sue, who caught it".
 

I was very thirsty. I _________ the water very quickly. (drink)
Correct answer is 'drank'. Can you explain this answer?

Ayush Chakraborty answered
Explanation:

The given sentence is in past tense. The action of drinking water is completed in the past. Therefore, the correct form of the verb 'drink' in past tense is 'drank'.


Verb Forms of 'Drink':


  • Present Tense: drink

  • Past Tense: drank

  • Past Participle: drunk

  • Present Participle: drinking



Examples:


  • I drink coffee every morning. (Present Tense)

  • She drank a glass of milk before going to bed. (Past Tense)

  • He has drunk too much alcohol. (Past Participle)

  • They are drinking water after the workout. (Present Participle)

I (go) ................................. to Sophia's school last month.
Correct answer is 'went'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered
The correct form of the verb to fill in the blank is "went."
The complete sentence would be: "I went to Sophia's school last month."
Explanation: In this sentence, the past tense is appropriate because the action of going to Sophia's home occurred last month. "Went" is the past tense form of the verb "go," and it correctly indicates the completed action in the past.

Complete the sentence by filling in the blank with the correct simple past tense.
He _______a test.
  • a)
    have
  • b)
    had
  • c)
    has
  • d)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered
The correct answer is "had." This is because the sentence is in the past tense and is referring to a completed action. "Had" is the past tense of the verb "have" and is used to indicate that the person already completed the test in the past.

Ann spent a lot of money yesterday. She ____________ a dress. It cost 100. (buy)
Correct answer is 'bought'. Can you explain this answer?

Nisha Basak answered
Explanation:

The sentence is in the past tense and talks about an action that happened in the past. The correct verb form to be used in this context is the past simple form of 'buy', which is 'bought'.

- Past Simple Tense: This tense is used to describe an action that happened in the past and is now completed. It is formed by adding '-ed' to regular verbs or using the second form of irregular verbs.

- Examples:
- She bought a dress. (regular verb)
- He ate pizza last night. (irregular verb)

In the given sentence, the verb 'buy' is a regular verb, so we use the past simple form 'bought'.

- Sentence construction:
- Ann spent a lot of money yesterday. (past simple tense)
- She bought a dress. (past simple tense)
- It cost 100. (simple present tense)

Overall, the sentence talks about an action that happened in the past (Ann spending money and buying a dress) and a fact in the present (the cost of the dress).

I ……………………………………. him yesterday.
  • a)
    saw
  • b)
    was seeing
  • c)
    none of the above
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Anuj Ghosh answered
ANSWER  a)
 I saw him yesterday.
Past indefinite tense. 
In Past Indefinite Tense, we use just 
2nd form of
 Verb with He, She, It, I, We, You, They and Name/Names. While forming the question in Past Indefinite Tense, we insert Did in the beginning. When we insert Did in the beginning, the verb (which is in 2nd form) changes into the first form.

When I was in the US, I ……………………………………….. Chicago, Boston and California.
  • a)
    visited
  • b)
    was visiting
  • c)
    none of the above
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

EduRev GMAT answered

To answer this question, we need to identify the correct verb tense to use in the sentence. In this case, we are talking about a past event, so the past tense is appropriate. Let's break down the options:
A: visited
- This is the correct answer. "Visited" is the past tense of the verb "visit," which means to go and spend time in a place. It accurately describes the action of going to Chicago, Boston, and California in the past.
B: was visiting
- This option uses the past continuous tense, which indicates an ongoing action in the past. While it is grammatically correct, it doesn't fit the context of the sentence. The sentence is not describing a continuous action but rather a series of individual visits.
C: none of the above
- This option is incorrect as both options A and B are valid verb tenses.
To summarize, the correct answer is A: visited as it accurately describes the past action of going to Chicago, Boston, and California.

Paul and I played tennis yesterday. He's much better than me, so he _________ easily. (win)
Correct answer is 'won'. Can you explain this answer?

Mahi Sharma answered
Answer:

To understand why the correct answer is "won," we need to analyze the sentence structure and the context provided.

Sentence Structure:

The sentence "Paul and I played tennis yesterday" is in the past tense, indicating that the event already occurred. This implies that we are talking about something that happened in the past, not the present or future.

Comparative Adjective:

The phrase "He's much better than me" introduces a comparative adjective. It indicates that Paul possesses a higher skill level or proficiency in playing tennis compared to the speaker. This comparison is important because it establishes the expectation that Paul is more likely to win the game.

Simple Past Tense:

The use of the simple past tense verb "won" indicates that the action of winning took place in the past. When we refer to a specific event that occurred before the present moment, we typically use the simple past tense.

Conclusion:

Given the context of the sentence, the fact that Paul is much better than the speaker, and the use of the simple past tense, it is clear that the correct answer is "won." This choice reflects the expected outcome of the tennis match, with Paul emerging as the winner due to his superior skills.

My father (repair) ..................... my bicycle yesterday.
Correct answer is 'repaired'. Can you explain this answer?

Wizius Careers answered
My father repaired my bicycle yesterday.
The sentence is talking about an action that happened in the past—specifically, yesterday. When expressing actions in the past, we use past tense verbs. In this case, the action is "repairing," and the past tense of "repair" is "repaired." Therefore, the correct form to complete the sentence is "My father repaired my bicycle yesterday." The word "repaired" indicates that the action is completed and happened in the past.

Chapter doubts & questions for Simple Past Tense - English for ACT 2025 is part of ACT exam preparation. The chapters have been prepared according to the ACT exam syllabus. The Chapter doubts & questions, notes, tests & MCQs are made for ACT 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, notes, meanings, examples, exercises, MCQs and online tests here.

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