Grade 5 Simple Past Tense Quiz

1. My brother __________ a bear an hour ago.

Seen

Saw

Sees

Have

The correct past tense form of "see" is "saw." This verb is also irregular, which means it doesn't follow the usual pattern of adding "ed" to make the past tense. Instead, "see" changes to "saw" when referring to something that happened in the past. So, the sentence should read: "My brother saw a bear an hour ago." This tells us that the action of seeing the bear happened previously, specifically one hour ago.

Explanation

The correct past tense form of "see" is "saw." This verb is also irregular, which means it doesn't follow the usual pattern of adding "ed" to make the past tense. Instead, "see" changes to "saw" when referring to something that happened in the past. So, the sentence should read: "My brother saw a bear an hour ago." This tells us that the action of seeing the bear happened previously, specifically one hour ago.

2. I ________________ to the mall after school.

Goes

Went

Gone

Goed

In this sentence, "went" is the correct past tense form of the verb "go." It indicates that the action of going to the mall happened in the past, specifically after school.

Explanation

In this sentence, "went" is the correct past tense form of the verb "go." It indicates that the action of going to the mall happened in the past, specifically after school.

3. _________________ you see Jody's new dog yesterday?

Are

Did

Do

Will

The correct auxiliary verb to use in this question is "Did." When forming questions about an action that occurred in the past, we use "did" followed by the base form of the main verb, which in this case is "see." Therefore, the sentence should read: "Did you see Jody's new dog yesterday?" This structure is used to ask if the action of seeing the new dog happened at a specific time in the past, which was yesterday.

Explanation

The correct auxiliary verb to use in this question is "Did." When forming questions about an action that occurred in the past, we use "did" followed by the base form of the main verb, which in this case is "see." Therefore, the sentence should read: "Did you see Jody's new dog yesterday?" This structure is used to ask if the action of seeing the new dog happened at a specific time in the past, which was yesterday.

4. ________ Mike visit his grandmother last night?

Did

Are

Does

Will

The correct auxiliary verb for the past simple question is "Did." It indicates that the action took place in the past. The structure of a past simple question in English typically uses "Did" followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb. Thus, "Did Mike visit his grandmother last night?" correctly asks about a past event.

Explanation

The correct auxiliary verb for the past simple question is "Did." It indicates that the action took place in the past. The structure of a past simple question in English typically uses "Did" followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb. Thus, "Did Mike visit his grandmother last night?" correctly asks about a past event.

5. Sorry, I __________ hear you at the door.

Wasn't

Didn't

Am not

Will not

he correct form to use in this sentence is "didn't," which is the contraction of "did not." When expressing a past action that did not occur, we use "didn't" followed by the base form of the verb, in this case, "hear." Therefore, the sentence should read: "Sorry, I didn't hear you at the door." This indicates that the action of hearing did not take place in the past when someone was presumably at the door.

Explanation

he correct form to use in this sentence is "didn't," which is the contraction of "did not." When expressing a past action that did not occur, we use "didn't" followed by the base form of the verb, in this case, "hear." Therefore, the sentence should read: "Sorry, I didn't hear you at the door." This indicates that the action of hearing did not take place in the past when someone was presumably at the door.

6. What ____________ you eat for lunch yesterday?

Do

Did

Were

Have

The correct auxiliary verb to use in this question is "Did." When asking about an action in the past, particularly what someone ate (a specific instance), "did" is used followed by the base form of the main verb, which in this case is "eat." Therefore, the sentence should read: "What did you eat for lunch yesterday?" This question structure is used to inquire about a particular action—eating lunch—that occurred at a specified time in the past, specifically yesterday.

Explanation

The correct auxiliary verb to use in this question is "Did." When asking about an action in the past, particularly what someone ate (a specific instance), "did" is used followed by the base form of the main verb, which in this case is "eat." Therefore, the sentence should read: "What did you eat for lunch yesterday?" This question structure is used to inquire about a particular action—eating lunch—that occurred at a specified time in the past, specifically yesterday.

7. I ____________ English for two years.

Studying

Study

Studied

Did studied

The correct form to use in this sentence is "studied." When expressing an action that started and was completed in the past over a continuous period, the simple past tense is appropriate. Therefore, the sentence should read: "I studied English for two years." This indicates that the person learned English over a span of two years in the past, clearly stating that this period of study is now completed.

Explanation

The correct form to use in this sentence is "studied." When expressing an action that started and was completed in the past over a continuous period, the simple past tense is appropriate. Therefore, the sentence should read: "I studied English for two years." This indicates that the person learned English over a span of two years in the past, clearly stating that this period of study is now completed.

8. ________________ Judy and Liz at last month's meeting?

Was

Were

Are

Is

The correct auxiliary verb to use in this question is "Were." When asking about the presence of more than one person in the past, "were" is used because it is the past tense form of "are" for plural subjects. Therefore, the sentence should read: "Were Judy and Liz at last month's meeting?" This question structure is appropriate for inquiring whether two people, Judy and Liz, attended a specific event that happened in the past, which in this case was a meeting last month.

Explanation

The correct auxiliary verb to use in this question is "Were." When asking about the presence of more than one person in the past, "were" is used because it is the past tense form of "are" for plural subjects. Therefore, the sentence should read: "Were Judy and Liz at last month's meeting?" This question structure is appropriate for inquiring whether two people, Judy and Liz, attended a specific event that happened in the past, which in this case was a meeting last month.

9. We ____________ not happy after the sad ending.

Were

Was

Did

Are

The correct form to use in this sentence is "were." When referring to a plural subject in the past tense, such as "we," the appropriate auxiliary verb to use is "were." Therefore, the sentence should read: "We were not happy after the sad ending." This tells us that the state of being unhappy occurred in the past, specifically after experiencing the sad ending, and it emphasizes that the feeling was shared among the group.

Explanation

The correct form to use in this sentence is "were." When referring to a plural subject in the past tense, such as "we," the appropriate auxiliary verb to use is "were." Therefore, the sentence should read: "We were not happy after the sad ending." This tells us that the state of being unhappy occurred in the past, specifically after experiencing the sad ending, and it emphasizes that the feeling was shared among the group.

10. Alex did not ___________ last weekend.

Work

Worked

Working

Works

The correct form to use in this sentence is "work." When forming negative sentences in the simple past tense using "did not" (didn't), the verb that follows should always be in the base form. This is because "did" already indicates the past tense, and no further conjugation of the verb is needed. Therefore, the sentence should read: "Alex did not work last weekend." This structure clearly indicates that the action of working did not occur in the past period specified.

Explanation

The correct form to use in this sentence is "work." When forming negative sentences in the simple past tense using "did not" (didn't), the verb that follows should always be in the base form. This is because "did" already indicates the past tense, and no further conjugation of the verb is needed. Therefore, the sentence should read: "Alex did not work last weekend." This structure clearly indicates that the action of working did not occur in the past period specified.