Past Simple Worksheet (A2)
A printable past simple worksheet for A2 learners, with five graded tasks - from forming the verbs to writing about their own day - and a full answer key with notes for the teacher.
About this worksheet
It goes with the Past Simple lesson plan but works on its own, in class or as homework.
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Past Simple · Level A2 · About 35 minutes
Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________
Task 1. Regular or irregular?
These verbs are from the story about Lina. Write R (regular) or I (irregular) next to each one. The first one is done for you.
Example: visited → R
- got ____
- caught ____
- took ____
- listened ____
- read ____
- arrived ____
- cooked ____
- walked ____
- left ____
- found ____
- enjoyed ____
Task 2. Write the past simple form
Write the past simple of each verb. Be careful with spelling.
Example: play → played
- watch → ________
- study → ________
- stop → ________
- arrive → ________
- go → ________
- have → ________
- see → ________
- buy → ________
- make → ________
- write → ________
Task 3. Complete the sentences
Use the past simple of the verb in brackets. Some sentences are negative or questions.
Example: I watched (watch) a film last night.
- We ________ (not go) to school on Monday.
- ________ you ________ (see) the match on Sunday?
- My sister ________ (buy) new shoes yesterday.
- They ________ (not like) the food at the new café.
- Where ________ you ________ (go) on holiday?
- Kenji ________ (study) for his test all evening.
- The bus ________ (stop) outside the museum.
- I ________ (not have) breakfast this morning.
Task 4. Three sounds
Say the verbs aloud. Write each one under the sound of its -ed ending.
- /t/: worked, ________, ________
- /d/: played, ________, ________
- /ɪd/: wanted, ________, ________
- Verbs to sort: watched, called, needed, cooked, listened, visited
Task 5. Your turn
Write five sentences about what you did yesterday. Use at least one negative. Then write two questions to ask a partner about their day.
- ________________________________________
- ________________________________________
- ________________________________________
- ________________________________________
- ________________________________________
- Question 1: ________________________________
- Question 2: ________________________________
For the teacher: answer key
| Task | Answers |
|---|---|
| Task 1 | Regular: listened, arrived, cooked, walked, enjoyed. Irregular: got, caught, took, read, left, found. |
| Task 2 | watched, studied, stopped, arrived, went, had, saw, bought, made, wrote. |
| Task 3 | 1 didn't go 2 Did ... see 3 bought 4 didn't like 5 did ... go 6 studied 7 stopped 8 didn't have |
| Task 4 | /t/: worked, watched, cooked. /d/: played, called, listened. /ɪd/: wanted, needed, visited. |
| Task 5 | Answers will vary. Check: past forms correct, didn't + base verb in negatives, did + subject + base verb in questions. |
Teacher's notes
- Timing: Tasks 1 to 4 take about 25 minutes; Task 5 about 10, or set it as homework.
- Common mistakes: didn't went, did you saw, goed, and saying walked as two syllables. Task 3 items 1, 4 and 8 and Task 4 target exactly these.
- Using it: learners check Tasks 1 to 3 in pairs before you give the answers, so every learner explains at least one answer aloud.
- Extension: learners swap their Task 5 questions with a partner and answer them in full sentences, then report one answer to the class.
The lesson plan, and more like this
Past Simple ESL Lesson Plan (A2, 60 Minutes)
The full lesson this worksheet belongs to.
Grammar: Comparatives and Superlatives Worksheet (A2)
5 tasks with an answer key. Grammar, A2.
Grammar: Prepositions of Time and Place Worksheet (A2)
5 tasks with an answer key. Grammar, A2.
All ESL worksheets
Grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing, by CEFR level.
About this worksheet
Written by RCF English to the RCF English international standard: levelled by the CEFR, original throughout, and suitable for classrooms in any country. Last reviewed 22 September 2026.