Past Tense – English Grammar Test for B1
Grammar » Grammar Test for B1 » Past Tense – English Grammar Test for B1
→ I __________________ before I went to bed.
2 She was in the middle of cooking dinner when the phone rang.
→ She __________________ dinner when the phone rang.
3 We arrived at the cinema. The film had already started.
→ The film __________________ before we arrived at the cinema.
4 I saw him yesterday. He was walking to work.
→ When I saw him yesterday, he __________________ to work.
5 First she read the book. Then she wrote the review.
→ She __________________ the book before she wrote the review.
6 They were playing football. Then it started to rain.
→ They __________________ football when it started to rain.
7 He passed the exam. He studied very hard.
→ He __________________ hard before he passed the exam.
8 I watched TV last night. My brother played computer games. (simultaneous actions)
→ While I __________________ TV, my brother __________________ computer games.
9 She arrived at the station. The train left five minutes earlier.
→ The train __________________ before she arrived at the station.
10 He fell asleep. He was listening to music.
→ He __________________ to music when he fell asleep.
11 They had dinner. Then they went for a walk.
→ They __________________ dinner before they went for a walk.
12 The teacher entered the classroom. The students were talking.
→ The students __________________ when the teacher entered.
13 I got home. My parents had already left.
→ My parents __________________ before I got home.
14 He was driving to work when the accident happened.
→ He __________________ to work when the accident happened.
15 We met at the airport. We saw each other last year.
→ We __________________ each other since last year when we met at the airport.
16 I called her. She had already gone out.
→ She __________________ before I called her.
17 They played tennis yesterday afternoon. I watched TV. (simultaneous actions)
→ While they __________________ tennis, I __________________ TV.
18 She broke her leg. She fell down the stairs.
→ She __________________ after she __________________ down the stairs.
19 He started work at 8. At 10 he was still working.
→ At 10 he __________________ since 8.
20 We went to bed. We locked the door first.
→ We __________________ the door before we went to bed.
21 The teacher asked a question. I didn’t finish writing my notes.
→ I __________________ my notes when the teacher asked a question.
22 She was singing. He was playing the guitar. (simultaneous actions)
→ She __________________ while he __________________ the guitar.
23 I forgot my wallet. I couldn’t buy the ticket.
→ I couldn’t buy the ticket because I __________________ my wallet.
24 They were sitting in the park. Then it started to snow.
→ They __________________ in the park when it started to snow.
25 He didn’t study. He failed the exam.
→ He __________________ because he __________________.
26 I met her yesterday. She looked tired because she worked all night.
→ She looked tired because she __________________ all night.
27 They closed the shop. We arrived a few minutes later.
→ They __________________ the shop before we arrived.
28 We were eating lunch when our teacher called.
→ Our teacher called while we __________________ lunch.
29 I lost my keys. That’s why I couldn’t open the door.
→ I couldn’t open the door because I __________________ my keys.
30 She fell asleep. She was reading a book.
→ She __________________ a book when she fell asleep.
Answer
1 had finished – Past Perfect shows one action before another.
2 was cooking – Ongoing action interrupted by phone call.
3 had already started – Film began earlier.
4 was walking – Ongoing action when I saw him.
5 had read – Reading happened before writing.
6 were playing – Action in progress interrupted.
7 had studied – Studying completed before passing.
8 was watching / was playing – Two actions happening at the same time.
9 had left – Train left before she arrived.
10 was listening – Ongoing action when he fell asleep.
11 had had – Dinner completed before the walk.
12 were talking – Continuous action when teacher entered.
13 had already left – Parents left before I got home.
14 was driving – Ongoing action when accident happened.
15 hadn’t seen – Past Perfect negative for time before meeting.
16 had gone out – Action completed before I called.
17 were playing / was watching – Simultaneous actions.
18 broke / had fallen – Fall caused broken leg.
19 had been working – Continuous past action since earlier time.
20 had locked – Locking finished before going to bed.
21 hadn’t finished – Incomplete action when question asked.
22 was singing / was playing – Two parallel actions.
23 had forgotten – Earlier action caused later problem.
24 were sitting – Action in progress when snow started.
25 failed / hadn’t studied – Failure because of earlier lack of studying.
26 had worked – Past Perfect shows cause of tiredness.
27 had closed – Shop closed before our arrival.
28 were eating – Ongoing action when teacher called.
29 had lost – Earlier action caused later problem.
30 was reading – Ongoing action when she fell asleep.