The Past Simple Tense- Exercises

Put the verbs in brackets in the past simple:

             

Text

Part 1

When the train.........(stop), I .........(open) my eyes and ...............(look) out of the window. I.....(see) her on the platform. A tall, blonde woman with dark blue eyes. The train.......(leve) the station. As usuall the 6.20.......(be) full.

'Excuse me. Can I sit here?' I.......(open) my eyes again. It............(be) the tall, blond woman.

'Sure,' I said. She.......(sit) down next to me. There.........(be) a nice smell. Chanel Number 5, I..........(think).

I..............(open) my book and ................(start) to read.

'I.........(love) that book.'

'Sorry?' I .........(say).

'I..........(say) I ..........(love) that book.'

We.........(chat) about books until the train..........(arrive) at Victoria station.

'Coffee?' she said.

I.........(look) at my watch. 'OK,' I .....(say)

Part 2

We.......(sit) at the station coffee bar, and we......(drink) coffee and........(talk). Her name......(be) olivia. She..........(tell) me that she.........(work) in London.

'What do you do?' I .........(ask).

'I work in property-flats and houses. What do you do?'

'I work for Citibank.'

'That's interesting!'......(say) Olivia. ' Do you live in London?'

'Yes. I have a flat near the river.' I ............(tell) her the street.

'Wow! That's an expensive part of London!'

I ........(look) at my watch. 'lt's late. Time to go.'

'l can take you,' she .......(say). 'l live near you.'She.......

(smile). Her eyes ...........(be) very blue.

Part3

Her car..........(be) in the station car park. I.....(be) an Audi TT.

'Nice car' I......(say).

She.......(drive) very fast. Very fast.

She.......(stop) outside my flat.

We........(say) goodbye, and I ........(give) her my phone number.

Next morning there....(be) a text message from Olivia.

I really want to see you again! Friday?

On Friday morning she......(call) me.

'I have two tickets for Chicago tonight at the Cambridge Theatre! Can you get them from the box office at 7.15? We can meet in the theatre bar at 7.30. The show starts at 8.00.'

Part4

I.......(arrive) at the theatre at 7.00. I.......(get) the tickets and.........(wait) in the bar. I.......(read) the evening paper. Olivia.......(not/ come). I..........(look) at my watch. It.........(be) 7.45. I.......(look) at my phone. There.....(be) a text message.

Sorry! In a meeting. See you in the theatre. Leave my ticket at the box office.

I........(leave) her ticket at the box office and.........(find) my seat. The show.....(start) but Olivia.....(not/arrive). In the interval I ...........(call) her but her phone.....(be) off.

I ........(send) her another text:

Where are you?

I.........(be) angry I.............(leave) the theatre and.......(go) home. I......(open) the door of my flat and........(turn) on the light. Oh no! My flat........(look) very different. There......(be) no TV, no hi-fi. There............(not/be) any pictures on the walls. I........(go) into my bedroom. My laptop...........(not/be) there! But there.......(be) a nice smell. Chanel Number 5.