Past Tense Practice Worksheet

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Part 1: Learn and Identify

Simple past tells us that an action finished in the past. Regular verbs often end in -ed: walked. Irregular verbs change in a different way: went.

Past continuous shows an action that was happening at a particular time in the past. Use was or were + verb-ing: She was reading.

Dyslexia-friendly tip: Read one sentence at a time. Underline the time word and circle the verb.

Success criteria: I can identify past-tense verbs. I can choose between simple past and past continuous. I can spell regular and irregular past-tense verbs correctly.

1. Choose the sentence that uses the past continuous correctly.

We played football yesterday.

We were playing football at 3 pm.

We play football every week.

2. Underline the past-tense verb in each sentence.

a. Mia visited her grandmother.

b. The dog was barking loudly.

c. We found a shell at the beach.

3. Write the correct past-tense form of each verb.

a. walk: ____________ b. carry: ____________ c. go: ____________

d. see: ____________ e. stop: ____________

4. Correct the error in each sentence.

a. Yesterday, I goed to the shops.

b. They was playing in the park.

Part 2: Use Past Tense Accurately

Check your capital letters, full stops, spelling and verb forms. These written conventions support clear writing and connect with NCEA English AS91926.

5. Change each sentence into the past tense.

a. I watch a film. → ______________________________________________

b. She is cooking dinner. → ________________________________________

6. Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

a. While I ____________ (walk) home, it ____________ (start) to rain.

b. The students ____________ (write) when the bell ____________ (ring).

7. Rewrite this paragraph correctly. Add capital letters, full stops and accurate past-tense verbs.

last saturday we go to the beach the wind blow strongly but we have fun

8. Narrative task: Write 80–100 words about a surprising event. Use at least three simple past verbs and two past continuous verbs. Include a clear beginning, middle and ending.

Helpful starters: Last weekend… / While I was… / Suddenly… / In the end…

Challenge, Support and Teacher Answer Key

Challenge extension: Add a sentence to your narrative using when or while. Use one irregular verb and one past continuous verb.

Support options: Work with a partner to read each sentence aloud. Use a verb list for irregular verbs. Highlight was or were in one colour and the -ing verb in another. Students may plan the narrative with five key words before writing. A teacher or peer may read the instructions aloud.

Teacher answer key

1. We were playing football at 3 pm.

2. a. visited b. was barking c. found

3. a. walked b. carried c. went d. saw e. stopped

4. a. Yesterday, I went to the shops. b. They were playing in the park.

5. a. I watched a film. b. She was cooking dinner.

6. a. was walking, started b. were writing, rang

7. Last Saturday, we went to the beach. The wind blew strongly, but we had fun.

8. Check for 80–100 words, a clear beginning, middle and ending, at least three simple past verbs, two past continuous verbs, and accurate capitals, full stops and spelling.