Languages › English as a Second Language Past Forms in English Quiz Do you understand the use of past verb forms in English? Share Flipboard Email English as a Second Language Grammar Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary Writing Skills Reading Comprehension Business English Resources for Teachers By Kenneth Beare Kenneth Beare English as a Second Language (ESL) Expert TESOL Diploma, Trinity College London M.A., Music Performance, Cologne University of Music B.A., Vocal Performance, Eastman School of Music Kenneth Beare is an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and course developer with over three decades of teaching experience. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on March 06, 2017 1. They _____ while I was cooking dinner. were cleaning up had cleaned up Correct Wrong Use the past continuous to express events happening at the same moment of time in the past. 2. There was no food left when I returned. They _____ everything! had eaten ate were eating Correct Wrong Use the past perfect for something that happened before something else in the past. 3. If she had visited us last summer, she _____ the hikes in the mountains. would have enjoyed would enjoy had enjoyed Correct Wrong Use 'would have + past participle' in the result clause of the unreal past conditional. 4. I _____ the bags before we left on holiday. checked was checking had been checking Correct Wrong It's possible to use the past simple when speaking about a sequence of events in the past. 5. She told me she was flying to Chicago last week. She _____ in her hotel room last night. must have been must be had to be Correct Wrong 'Must have been' is an example of a past modal verb of deduction used to state what you are sure was true. 6. If he _____ the window he would repair it. broke were broken were breaking Correct Wrong Use the past simple in the 'if' clause of the unreal conditional. 7. By the time the presentation began, they _____ their discussion. completed had completed were completing Correct Wrong Use the past perfect with 'by the time' to state what had or had not happened before a moment in the past. 8. If I _____ you, I would finish my homework! had been were would be Correct Wrong Always use 'were' in the second, or unreal conditional. 9. She is very intelligent. She _____ that! couldn't have thought have thought mustn't have thought Correct Wrong Use 'couldn't have + past participle' as a modal verb of deduction in the past to state what you believe was not true. 10. When I arrived, they _____. stretching their legs were stretching their legs had been stretching Correct Wrong Use the past continuous to express an interrupted action in the past. 11. I lit the fire at four and it ______ brightly when Lisa arrived. burned had burned was burning Correct Wrong Use the past continuous for something happening at a specific time in the past. 12. I was reading the letter when the wind ______ it out of my hands. was blowing blew had blown Correct Wrong Use the past continuous to express an interrupted action in the past. 13. Jack ______ the report by the time it was due. hadn't finished was finishing had been finishing Correct Wrong Use the past perfect with 'by the time' to state what had or had not happened before a moment in the past. 14. They _____ an argument when I arrived to celebrate Pete's birthday. had been were having have had Correct Wrong Use the past continuous to express an interrupted action in the past. 15. I'm not sure where Jack was yesterday. He ______ visiting Tom. might was might have been answer couldn't have been Correct Wrong Use 'might have been' to express a possibility in a past situation. 16. If Hank _____ you were going to come, he would have made sure to be there. knew had known was knowing Correct Wrong Use the past perfect in the past unreal conditional if clause. 17. I found this gold coin while I _____ in the garden! dug was digging had dug Correct Wrong Use the past continuous to express something that happened while another action was in progress. 18. _____ the dog before they left on vacation? Had they fed Were they feeding Had they been feeding Correct Wrong Use the past perfect for actions that occur before other events in the past. 19. He said he _____ yesterday. would come had been coming were coming Correct Wrong The future form 'will' becomes 'would' in reported speech. 20. He ______ get up so early when he lived in Los Angeles. didn't used to didn't use to had used to Correct Wrong The negative form of 'used to' is 'didn't use to' because 'did' is in the past. Past Forms in English Quiz You got: % Correct. You Know Your Past Tenses! You know your English!. Andrew Rich / Vetta / Getty Images Congratulations! You know your past tenses inside and out. Keep learning English and you'll be fluent very soon. Here are some resources to keep you learning. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email Past Forms in English Quiz You got: % Correct. Keep Working on Your Past Tenses You've done well on your lessons. Anton Violin / Moment / Getty Images You've learned a lot, but there are still some more past tenses that you need to understand. Use the resources and keep on learning. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email Past Forms in English Quiz You got: % Correct. Review Your Past Tenses Keep working on your studies.. Frank and Helena / Cultura / Getty Images Tenses are difficult in English. Don't worry! Keep studying the past, present and future as well as other forms such as the conditional and reported speech. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email