Past simple tense exercises 2

Question 1: Several months after the bombing most of the houses……………..in ruins.

lied

lay

were laying

laid

Question 2: Without turning my head in the direction of the gate I ………..a small object just under the fence.

spotted

had spotted

have spotted

was spotted

Question 3: I……………the envelope to the gate, hoping the girl would be clever enough to find it.

fast

have fastened

fastened

have fast

Question 4: By criticising the firm at the meeting, Leo……………..his own grave. Did you see how furious the boss was?

is digging

dug

has been digging

had dug

Question 5: The driver………….violently and managed to stop the car just inches from the body lying on the road.

was braking

has braked

braked

had braked

Question 6: Tony is lying. He ............. money from Alf on the ferry back from Bergen. I'm absolutely positive about it.

has borrowed

has boon borrowed

did borrow

may have borrowed

Question 7: I couldn't come to the party because I……………..go to work.

will have to

have got

have

had to

Question 8: Being on the whole very sceptical about the project, Mr Adams………….to cooperate. But he made it clear that his support was only conditional and could be withdrawn at any moment.

didn’t promise

did promise

has promised

wouldn’t promise

Question 9: I ________ born and _________ in the countryside.

was – grow up

was – grew up

was – grown

was – did grew up

Question 10: At the first sound of the plane engine the soldiers……………………to their feet.

sprang

sprung

had sprung

have sprung

Question 11: Being totally opposed to the project, Lady Sarah………….that it would increase job opportunities of the local people. But she considered the environmental objections of far greater importance.

has had to agree

did agree

must have agreed

couldn't agree

Question 12: I can remember she……………the dining-room table with a white cloth to celebrate my return.

laid

lay

has lain

baa laid

Question 13: Since we……….received by the governor, we were all dressed formally and it was a great disappointment when the audience was cancelled.

had been

have been

were to be

would have been

Question 14: At first the idea……………me as silly; but I may have been wrong.

struck

has stricken

was striking

has struck

Question 15: Everybody………….here except for Jill two hours ago.

has been

can be

was

Past simple tense exercises 2

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