The following exercise is very helpful in pinpointing gaps in knowledge, especially before an exam.
Change the following sentences to the past simple
1. They seek help.
2. She sets her alarm clock for six thirty.
3. He sticks a label on the file.
4. She rings the bell twice.
5. I feed the cat.
6. They fight for justice.
7. He shines the torch into the basement.
8. I tread on a piece of chewing gum
9. The tyre bursts.
10. They creep downstairs.
11. She lets him stay.
12. They dig a hole for the new tree.
13. The kitchen stinks of cabbage.
14. I tear up the letter.
15. She lights the candle.
16. The path leads nowhere.
17. They flee the hurricane.
18. I spill red wine on the sofa.
19. Her words sting.
20. He strikes a match.
21. A car draws up.
22. He beats the world record.
23. She swears she didn’t do it.
24. We deal with the problem.
25. I hang my coat on the hook.
Answers
1. They sought help.
2. She set her alarm clock for six thirty.
3. He stuck a label on the file.
4. She rang the bell twice.
5. I fed the cat.
6. They fought for justice.
7. He shone the torch into the basement.
8. I trod on a piece of chewing gum
9. The tyre burst.
10. They crept downstairs.
11. She let him stay.
12. They dug a hole for the new tree.
13. The kitchen stank of cabbage.
14. I tore up the letter.
15. She lit the candle.
16. The path led nowhere.
17. They fled the hurricane.
18. I spilt / spilled red wine on the sofa.
19. Her words stung.
20. He struck a match.
21. A car drew up.
22. He beat the world record.
23. She swore she didn’t do it.
24. We dealt with the problem.
25. I hung my coat on the hook.
More Verb Drills
Verb Training 1: Present Perfect Simple (Positive) B1 / B2
Verb Training 2: Different Tenses (Elementary/Pre-Intermediate)
Verb Training 3: Past Simple (Elementary/Pre-Intermediate)
Verb Training 4: Present Continuous
Verb Training 5: Past Simple Questions
Verb Training 6: Mixed Tenses
Other Grammar Exercises
Prepositions of Place Exercise 1 Exercise 2
Prepositions of time Exercise 1 Exercise 2
Present simple or present continuous? Exercise 1
Present perfect continuous Exercise 1
Present perfect simple vs present perfect continuous Exercise 1
Question Tags, Basic Exercise 1
Question Tags, Advanced Exercise 1 Exercise 2
Reflexive pronouns – On my/your own vs. by myself / yourself, etc Exercise 1
Full List of Exercises