Past tense verbs quiz: Fill in the blanks
Quick, free tense fill in the blanks quiz. Instant results.
This past tense verbs quiz helps you choose the correct simple past form in short sentences and spot mistakes fast. If you want more practice, take our simple past tense quiz or try focused irregular verbs practice. You can also review contrasts with present perfect vs past simple.
Study Outcomes
- Apply correct past tense forms -
Use our fill-in-the-blank verb quiz to practice converting regular and irregular verbs to the past tense accurately.
- Identify irregular verb patterns -
Recognize and recall past tense forms of verbs in parentheses, distinguishing irregular variations from standard rules.
- Analyze verb usage in context -
Evaluate sentence structures to choose the most appropriate past tense, reinforcing your understanding of English grammar quiz dynamics.
- Evaluate common tense errors -
Spot and correct typical mistakes in past tense usage, enhancing your ability to self-edit and improve accuracy.
- Boost confidence in your grammar skills -
Build fluency and track your progress with interactive verb tense tests that make practicing engaging and effective.
Cheat Sheet
- Regular vs. Irregular Verbs -
Regular verbs form the past tense by adding -ed (e.g., walk → walked), while irregular verbs follow unique patterns (e.g., go → went, sing → sang). Mastering irregular sets often involves memorization and practice drills. Grouping common irregulars by pattern or frequency (e.g., ring, ring → rang) can speed recall.
- Spelling Rules for -ed Endings -
When a verb ends with a silent -e, drop the -e and add -ed (e.g., like → liked); if it ends consonant-vowel-consonant and is one syllable, double the final consonant (e.g., stop → stopped). Verbs ending in -c take -ked (e.g., mimic → mimicked). These orthographic patterns are covered in detail at the BBC Skillswise guide.
- Verbs Ending in -y -
For verbs ending in a consonant + y, change y to i before adding -ed (e.g., study → studied), but if a vowel precedes y, simply add -ed (e.g., play → played). This rule helps avoid spelling errors and is outlined by the University of Oxford. Consistent practice with word lists helps cement the pattern.
- Using 'Did' in Questions vs. Statements -
In questions and negatives, English uses the auxiliary "did" instead of changing the main verb (e.g., "Did you go?" vs. "You went."). Remember to use the base form after "did" (e.g., "did eat," not "did ate"). This distinction is key for clear verb tense usage, as detailed by Purdue OWL.
- Context Clues & Time Expressions -
Time markers like yesterday, last week, or two days ago signal past tense and guide verb choice (e.g., "Yesterday I ate sushi"). Identifying these clues boosts accuracy under time pressure. The British Council recommends highlighting such phrases before deciding on the verb form.
