SIMPLE_PAST_EXERCISES

Simple Past / Past Perfect. Fill in the correct verb tense

I can't believe I (get) that apartment. I (submit) my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) before me. Most of them (fill, already) out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.

I (try) to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want) me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have) some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I (end) up listing my father as a reference.

It was total luck that he (decide) to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord and my father (go) to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment before he (look) at my credit report. I really lucked out!

1. had gotten; 2. submitted; 3. showed; 4. had arrived; 5. had already filled; 6.; 7. tried; 8. wanted; 9. 10. had have; 11. ended; 12. had decided; 13. went; 14. had looked.

Exercise 4. Write the verbs in Past Perfect Simple.

1. The pupils talked about the film they (watch) .
2. I was late for work because I (miss) the bus.
3. We lived in the house that my father (build) .
4. We admired the picture that Lucy (paint) .
5. They watered the trees that they (plant) .
6. The teacher corrected the tests that the pupils (write) .
7. I received a good mark in my test because I (practise) on ego4u.
8. The mail order house did not send me the shirt that I (order) .
9. My friend was in the hospital because she (slip) on a banana skin.

Exercise two. Complete the following sentences using the correct verb tense.

Modals

1)Detroit ___ Motown in the past.
a. was called
b. is called
c. called
d. is calling

2)Detroit ___ as the first capital city of Michigan, but now Lansing is the capital city of Michigan.
a. chosen
b. was chosen
c. have been chosen

3)The university of Michigan is one of the best universities in the United States and it ___ in Ann Arbor.
a. located

b. location
c. is located

4)In the year 2003, Western Michigan University located in Kalamazoo, Michigan ___ with the opportunity of being one hundred years old.

a. will be celebrating
b. will have a celebration
c. will have been celebrated

5)The five great lakes of the world ___ in Michigan.
a. can find
b. can be found
c. can found

6) The University of Michigan and Michigan State University are famous for their football teams. ___ of them are ranked highly in the United States.
a. Both
b. Among
c. Neither
d. All

7)Michigan has three big lakes. They are Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie. ___ of them have wonderful scenery in the Fall.
a. Both
b. Neither
c. All

8)You ___ more careful when you go to Detroit at night because there a lots of drive-by shootings.
a. might be
b. must be
c. may be
d. should be

9)You ___ winter clothes to visit the state of Michigan in December because the weather is so cold.
a. should bring
b. would bring
c. could bring
d. bring

10)You ___ cars on Mackinac Island in Michigan.
a. may not see
b. may not seen
c. might not seen
d. may not have seen

11)You ___ faster than 70 miles per hour on the highway in Michigan. It's the law.
a. may not drive
b. must not drive
c. will not drive

12)You ___ west if you want to go to Kalamazoo from Detroit.
a. must go
b. could go

Exercise 3. Answer the following questions ; complete positive form answers)

1. Have you been to the zoo?.
2. Have you lived here all your life?.
3. Has miss X read to me today?.
4. Have you had your dinner?.
5. Have you learnt the Perfect tenses before?.
6. Has anyone cleaned the blackboard?.
7. Have you done my homework this week?.
8. Have you seen a good film recently?.
9. Have you been up in a helicopter?.
10. What good books have you read during the last few months?.

Ex: I have read For One More Day and The Five People you Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

Robin: I think the waiter (forget) us. We (wait) here for over half an hour and nobody (take) our order yet.

Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) by us at least twenty times. He probably thinks we (order, already) .

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) here for five or ten minutes and they already have their food.

Michele: He must realize we (order, not) yet! We (sit) here for over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) us. He (run) from table to table taking orders and serving food.

Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) in our direction once.