4.2 The Past Simple Tense

Exercise 43 (*) Put one of these verbs in each sentence into Past Simple: buy, catch, cost, drink, fall, hurt, sell, spend, teach, throw, win, write.

1. Mozart ___ more than 600 pieces of music. 2. “How did you learn to drive?” “My father ___ me.” 3. We couldn’t afford to keep our car, so we ___ it. 4. I was very thirsty. I ___ the water very quickly. 5. Paul and I played tennis yesterday. He’s much better than me, so he ___ easily. 6. Don ___ down the stairs this morning and ___ his leg. 7. Jim ___ the ball to Sue, who ___ it. 8. Ann ___ a lot of money yesterday. She ___ a dress which ___ $100.

Exercise 44 (*) Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets: Past Simple.

Seventy years ago, Amelia Earhart (be) America’s favourite woman. In 1932, she (fly) across the Atlantic Ocean alone: the first woman to do this. Her journey (start) in Newfoundland, Canada: fifteen hours later, her Lockheed Vega airplane (arrive) in Londonderry, Ireland. People all over the world (want) to meet this incredible woman. She (meet) King George V of England and (become) friends with the US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The American people (love) her. Five years later, Amelia (try) to fly around the world. An American University (give) her $50,000 for a new Lockheed Electra airplane. On the morning of July 2^nd 1937, Amelia and her co-pilot, Fred Noonan (leave) Lae, in New Guinea, and (begin) their journey to Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean. On July 3^rd 1937, the American ship Itasca (receive) a radio message from Amelia: a few minutes later her plane (disappear). American ships (spend) nearly two weeks looking for the plane, but they (find) nothing.

Exercise 45 (**) Rewrite the sentences in Past Simple.

1. We like our holidays in Scotland. 2. He walks all day without feeling tired. 3. They often climb the big mountain. 4. We bathe in the sea every day. 5. Lizzie always cooks the dinner well. 6. Lucy dances almost every evening. 7. Peter looks handsome; he always dresses well. 8. My sister lives in a quiet little place in Norway. 9. They don’t play football every day. 10. Does Susan work in France or England?

Exercise 46 (**) Write questions.

1. What __? – Peter wore his new suit. 2. What __? – He told a funny story. 3. How __? – She came to Moscow in a car. 4. Who __? – They saw Rosa in Paris. 5. Where __? – Bob went to Helen’s wedding. 6. Where __? – The waiter put some plates on the table. 7. When __? – He drank a cup of coffee yesterday at 6 o’clock. 8. What __? – Mary bought some clothes in Berne.

Exercise 47 (**) Rewrite the text in Past Simple.

On Tuesday I get up at half past six. I go to the bathroom and wash my hands and face and clean my teeth. Then I dress, go to the kitchen and cook breakfast for my family. At half past seven my son gets up and has breakfast. I have breakfast with my son. My son eats a sandwich and drinks a cup of tea. I don’t drink tea. I drink coffee. After breakfast my son leaves home for school. I don’t leave home with my son. On Tuesday I don’t work in the morning. I work in the afternoon. In the evening I am at home. My husband and my son are at home, too. We rest in the evening. My son watches TV, my husband reads newspapers and I do some work about the house. At about eleven o’clock we go to bed.