Are you looking to test your knowledge of past tense verbs?

I’ve put together 200 questions that will check your understanding and help you improve your grammar skills.

In this quiz, you’ll find a mix of simple past, past continuous, and past perfect tenses.

Each question will test different aspects of using verbs in the past tense – from regular verb changes to those tricky irregular verbs.

The questions range from basic to more complex, making this quiz useful for both English learners and native speakers who want to brush up on their grammar.

Let’s see how well you know your past tense verbs.

I’ll walk you through each question and provide clear explanations along the way.

Simple Past Tense Questions

1. My brother _____ his car last week.
a) sold
b) sell
c) selling
d) sells

2. We _____ pizza for dinner yesterday.
a) ordered
b) order
c) ordering
d) orders

3. The movie _____ at 9 PM last night.
a) ended
b) end
c) ending
d) ends

4. She _____ her phone at the mall.
a) lost
b) lose
c) losing
d) loses

5. The children _____ early this morning.
a) woke
b) wake
c) waking
d) wakes

6. Tom _____ his homework before dinner.
a) finished
b) finish
c) finishing
d) finishes

7. The teacher _____ the test papers.
a) marked
b) mark
c) marking
d) marks

8. Our team _____ the match yesterday.
a) won
b) win
c) winning
d) wins

9. Mary _____ French at university.
a) studied
b) study
c) studying
d) studies

10. The bus _____ late this morning.
a) arrived
b) arrive
c) arriving
d) arrives

11. They _____ their house last year.
a) painted
b) paint
c) painting
d) paints

12. The bird _____ away quickly.
a) flew
b) fly
c) flying
d) flies

13. He _____ the letter yesterday.
a) wrote
b) write
c) writing
d) writes

14. Susan _____ her bike to work.
a) rode
b) ride
c) riding
d) rides

15. The dog _____ at the stranger.
a) barked
b) bark
c) barking
d) barks

16. She _____ her dress for the party.
a) chose
b) choose
c) choosing
d) chooses

17. The wind _____ the trees last night.
a) shook
b) shake
c) shaking
d) shakes

18. They _____ their tickets online.
a) booked
b) book
c) booking
d) books

19. Jack _____ coffee this morning.
a) made
b) make
c) making
d) makes

20. The baby _____ for hours.
a) slept
b) sleep
c) sleeping
d) sleeps

21. She _____ her keys in the drawer.
a) kept
b) keep
c) keeping
d) keeps

22. We _____ the museum last Sunday.
a) visited
b) visit
c) visiting
d) visits

23. The cat _____ the mouse.
a) caught
b) catch
c) catching
d) catches

24. They _____ English in school.
a) taught
b) teach
c) teaching
d) teaches

25. The plant _____ in the sun.
a) dried
b) dry
c) drying
d) dries

26. He _____ the window yesterday.
a) broke
b) break
c) breaking
d) breaks

27. Lisa _____ her grandmother last week.
a) met
b) meet
c) meeting
d) meets

28. The bell _____ five minutes ago.
a) rang
b) ring
c) ringing
d) rings

29. We _____ our lunch outside.
a) ate
b) eat
c) eating
d) eats

30. The police _____ the thief.
a) caught
b) catch
c) catching
d) catches

31. They _____ to the radio last night.
a) listened
b) listen
c) listening
d) listens

32. She _____ blue shoes for the wedding.
a) wore
b) wear
c) wearing
d) wears

33. The boys _____ soccer in the park.
a) played
b) play
c) playing
d) plays

34. John _____ his wallet at home.
a) left
b) leave
c) leaving
d) leaves

35. The snow _____ all weekend.
a) fell
b) fall
c) falling
d) falls

36. My sister _____ a cake yesterday.
a) baked
b) bake
c) baking
d) bakes

37. The artist _____ a beautiful picture.
a) drew
b) draw
c) drawing
d) draws

38. We _____ the old furniture away.
a) threw
b) throw
c) throwing
d) throws

39. The sun _____ brightly that day.
a) shone
b) shine
c) shining
d) shines

40. They _____ their house last month.
a) sold
b) sell
c) selling
d) sells

41. The clock _____ at midnight.
a) struck
b) strike
c) striking
d) strikes

42. Sarah _____ her new dress.
a) tore
b) tear
c) tearing
d) tears

43. We _____ to the beach last summer.
a) went
b) go
c) going
d) goes

44. The company _____ fifty new workers.
a) hired
b) hire
c) hiring
d) hires

45. She _____ the competition easily.
a) won
b) win
c) winning
d) wins

46. The children _____ their toys.
a) shared
b) share
c) sharing
d) shares

47. We _____ vegetables in the garden.
a) grew
b) grow
c) growing
d) grows

48. He _____ his bicycle to school.
a) took
b) take
c) taking
d) takes

49. The storm _____ the power lines.
a) damaged
b) damage
c) damaging
d) damages

50. They _____ their homework on time.
a) submitted
b) submit
c) submitting
d) submits

Past Continuous Questions

51. I _____ TV when the phone rang.
a) was watching
b) watched
c) watching
d) watch

52. They _____ dinner when we arrived.
a) were having
b) had
c) having
d) have

53. The baby _____ when I checked.
a) was sleeping
b) slept
c) sleeping
d) sleep

54. She _____ in the garden all morning.
a) was working
b) worked
c) working
d) work

55. We _____ chess when the lights went out.
a) were playing
b) played
c) playing
d) play

56. The students _____ their projects when the bell rang.
a) were finishing
b) finished
c) finishing
d) finish

57. It _____ when we left the house.
a) was raining
b) rained
c) raining
d) rain

58. Tom _____ his car when the accident happened.
a) was driving
b) drove
c) driving
d) drive

59. The children _____ while their mother cooked.
a) were studying
b) studied
c) studying
d) study

60. She _____ a book when her friend called.
a) was reading
b) read
c) reading
d) read

61. The dog _____ in the yard all afternoon.
a) was playing
b) played
c) playing
d) play

62. They _____ the walls when I visited.
a) were painting
b) painted
c) painting
d) paint

63. The choir _____ when the director stopped them.
a) was singing
b) sang
c) singing
d) sing

64. John _____ breakfast when the mail arrived.
a) was eating
b) ate
c) eating
d) eat

65. The train _____ when I reached the station.
a) was leaving
b) left
c) leaving
d) leave

66. Sarah _____ her bike when it started raining.
a) was riding
b) rode
c) riding
d) ride

67. We _____ the game when the power went out.
a) were watching
b) watched
c) watching
d) watch

68. He _____ the piano all evening.
a) was practicing
b) practiced
c) practicing
d) practice

69. The cat _____ by the window all day.
a) was sitting
b) sat
c) sitting
d) sit

70. Mary _____ her clothes when her phone rang.
a) was washing
b) washed
c) washing
d) wash

71. They _____ for the bus when it started snowing.
a) were waiting
b) waited
c) waiting
d) wait

72. The chef _____ dinner when the guests arrived.
a) was preparing
b) prepared
c) preparing
d) prepare

73. She _____ her presentation when the computer crashed.
a) was giving
b) gave
c) giving
d) give

74. The birds _____ in the trees all morning.
a) were singing
b) sang
c) singing
d) sing

75. We _____ our house when you called.
a) were cleaning
b) cleaned
c) cleaning
d) clean

76. The students _____ notes during the lecture.
a) were taking
b) took
c) taking
d) take

77. He _____ at his desk when his boss walked in.
a) was working
b) worked
c) working
d) work

78. The wind _____ all night long.
a) was blowing
b) blew
c) blowing
d) blow

79. She _____ coffee while reading the newspaper.
a) was drinking
b) drank
c) drinking
d) drink

80. The children _____ when their father came home.
a) were sleeping
b) slept
c) sleeping
d) sleep

81. The artist _____ when inspiration struck.
a) was painting
b) painted
c) painting
d) paint

82. They _____ the movie when the power failed.
a) were watching
b) watched
c) watching
d) watch

83. Jane _____ dinner while listening to music.
a) was cooking
b) cooked
c) cooking
d) cook

84. The dog _____ when someone knocked.
a) was barking
b) barked
c) barking
d) bark

85. We _____ cards when time flew by.
a) were playing
b) played
c) playing
d) play

86. The audience _____ while the band performed.
a) was clapping
b) clapped
c) clapping
d) clap

87. She _____ emails during the meeting.
a) was writing
b) wrote
c) writing
d) write

88. The sun _____ when we went for a walk.
a) was setting
b) set
c) setting
d) set

89. They _____ a story when bedtime came.
a) were reading
b) read
c) reading
d) read

90. The phone _____ throughout our conversation.
a) was ringing
b) rang
c) ringing
d) ring

91. Peter _____ his shoes when the lace broke.
a) was tying
b) tied
c) tying
d) tie

92. The gardener _____ the plants all afternoon.
a) was watering
b) watered
c) watering
d) water

93. We _____ the game when it started to rain.
a) were enjoying
b) enjoyed
c) enjoying
d) enjoy

94. The baby _____ while her mother cleaned.
a) was crawling
b) crawled
c) crawling
d) crawl

95. She _____ her dress when the needle broke.
a) was sewing
b) sewed
c) sewing
d) sew

96. The teacher _____ the test when the bell rang.
a) was explaining
b) explained
c) explaining
d) explain

97. They _____ photos during the ceremony.
a) were taking
b) took
c) taking
d) take

98. The cat _____ milk when the dog entered.
a) was drinking
b) drank
c) drinking
d) drink

99. He _____ the guitar all evening.
a) was playing
b) played
c) playing
d) play

100. The snow _____ as we drove home.
a) was falling
b) fell
c) falling
d) fall

Past Perfect Questions

101. By the time I arrived, she _____ already.
a) had left
b) left
c) leaving
d) leaves

102. They _____ their work before lunch.
a) had finished
b) finished
c) finishing
d) finish

103. The movie _____ when we reached.
a) had started
b) started
c) starting
d) starts

104. She _____ the book before class.
a) had read
b) read
c) reading
d) reads

105. We _____ dinner when guests arrived.
a) had prepared
b) prepared
c) preparing
d) prepare

106. The train _____ before we got to the station.
a) had departed
b) departed
c) departing
d) departs

107. He _____ his keys before leaving home.
a) had lost
b) lost
c) losing
d) loses

108. The storm _____ before sunrise.
a) had passed
b) passed
c) passing
d) passes

109. They _____ the message before the meeting.
a) had received
b) received
c) receiving
d) receives

110. Sarah _____ her degree before moving abroad.
a) had completed
b) completed
c) completing
d) completes

111. The children _____ their homework before watching TV.
a) had done
b) did
c) doing
d) does

112. I _____ my wallet before going shopping.
a) had forgotten
b) forgot
c) forgetting
d) forgets

113. The sun _____ before we woke up.
a) had risen
b) rose
c) rising
d) rises

114. They _____ the house before selling it.
a) had painted
b) painted
c) painting
d) paints

115. She _____ the news before coming to work.
a) had heard
b) heard
c) hearing
d) hears

116. The doctor _____ three patients before lunch.
a) had seen
b) saw
c) seeing
d) sees

117. We _____ our tickets before the concert.
a) had booked
b) booked
c) booking
d) books

118. The chef _____ the meal before the guests arrived.
a) had prepared
b) prepared
c) preparing
d) prepares

119. He _____ the email before the deadline.
a) had sent
b) sent
c) sending
d) sends

120. The plants _____ before the frost came.
a) had died
b) died
c) dying
d) dies

121. They _____ the project before the weekend.
a) had completed
b) completed
c) completing
d) completes

122. The bird _____ before we could photograph it.
a) had flown
b) flew
c) flying
d) flies

123. She _____ her coffee before the meeting started.
a) had finished
b) finished
c) finishing
d) finishes

124. The team _____ practice before the game.
a) had finished
b) finished
c) finishing
d) finishes

125. We _____ our lunch before the movie.
a) had eaten
b) ate
c) eating
d) eats

126. The police _____ before we called them.
a) had arrived
b) arrived
c) arriving
d) arrives

127. She _____ the piano before taking lessons.
a) had practiced
b) practiced
c) practicing
d) practices

128. They _____ the instructions before starting.
a) had read
b) read
c) reading
d) reads

129. The cat _____ before we found it.
a) had escaped
b) escaped
c) escaping
d) escapes

130. He _____ his medicine before bedtime.
a) had taken
b) took
c) taking
d) takes

131. The rain _____ before we left home.
a) had stopped
b) stopped
c) stopping
d) stops

132. They _____ the room before the party.
a) had decorated
b) decorated
c) decorating
d) decorates

133. The student _____ the test before lunch break.
a) had completed
b) completed
c) completing
d) completes

134. We _____ our bags before traveling.
a) had packed
b) packed
c) packing
d) packs

135. The snow _____ before morning came.
a) had melted
b) melted
c) melting
d) melts

136. She _____ her keys before leaving work.
a) had found
b) found
c) finding
d) finds

137. The movie _____ before we arrived.
a) had ended
b) ended
c) ending
d) ends

138. They _____ dinner before watching TV.
a) had cooked
b) cooked
c) cooking
d) cooks

139. The dog _____ before we could catch it.
a) had run
b) ran
c) running
d) runs

140. He _____ the book before the exam.
a) had studied
b) studied
c) studying
d) studies

141. The store _____ before we got there.
a) had closed
b) closed
c) closing
d) closes

142. They _____ the car before the trip.
a) had fixed
b) fixed
c) fixing
d) fixes

143. The bell _____ before class started.
a) had rung
b) rang
c) ringing
d) rings

144. She _____ her speech before the ceremony.
a) had practiced
b) practiced
c) practicing
d) practices

145. We _____ our tickets before boarding.
a) had checked
b) checked
c) checking
d) checks

146. The artist _____ the painting before the exhibition.
a) had finished
b) finished
c) finishing
d) finishes

147. They _____ the message before the phone died.
a) had sent
b) sent
c) sending
d) sends

148. The teacher _____ the papers before class.
a) had graded
b) graded
c) grading
d) grades

149. He _____ his coffee before the meeting.
a) had drunk
b) drank
c) drinking
d) drinks

150. The sun _____ before we started hiking.
a) had set
b) set
c) setting
d) sets

Mixed Past Tense Questions

151. While Sarah _____ dinner, the phone _____.
a) was cooking / rang
b) cooked / was ringing
c) had cooked / rang
d) had been cooking / had rung

152. By the time they arrived, the movie _____.
a) started
b) had started
c) was starting
d) would start

153. Jack _____ his arm when he _____ from the ladder.
a) broke / fell
b) had broken / had fallen
c) was breaking / was falling
d) had broken / fell

154. The children _____ when their mother _____ home.
a) slept / had come
b) were sleeping / came
c) had slept / was coming
d) had been sleeping / had come

155. I _____ TV when someone _____ at the door.
a) watched / knocked
b) was watching / knocked
c) had watched / was knocking
d) had been watching / had knocked

156. When Tom _____ home, his wife _____ the garden.
a) got / was watering
b) had got / watered
c) was getting / had watered
d) had gotten / was watering

157. She _____ that book before she _____ the movie.
a) read / watched
b) had read / watched
c) was reading / had watched
d) had been reading / was watching

158. The bus _____ before we _____ at the stop.
a) left / arrived
b) had left / arrived
c) was leaving / had arrived
d) had been leaving / were arriving

159. They _____ tennis when it _____ to rain.
a) played / started
b) were playing / started
c) had played / was starting
d) had been playing / had started

160. Mark _____ asleep while he _____ the book.
a) fell / read
b) fell / was reading
c) had fallen / read
d) was falling / had read

161. The dog _____ before the thief _____ in.
a) barked / broke
b) was barking / broke
c) had barked / broke
d) had been barking / had broken

162. When I _____ the office, everyone _____ lunch.
a) reached / had
b) had reached / was having
c) reached / was having
d) was reaching / had

163. After she _____ her degree, she _____ a job.
a) finished / found
b) had finished / found
c) was finishing / had found
d) had been finishing / found

164. The baby _____ before the doctor _____.
a) cried / arrived
b) was crying / arrived
c) had cried / was arriving
d) had been crying / had arrived

165. Susan _____ dinner when her friends _____.
a) cooked / came
b) had cooked / were coming
c) was cooking / came
d) had been cooking / had come

166. He _____ his keys after he _____ the door.
a) lost / locked
b) had lost / locked
c) was losing / had locked
d) had been losing / was locking

167. The storm _____ before we _____ home.
a) stopped / got
b) had stopped / got
c) was stopping / had got
d) had been stopping / were getting

168. When I _____ him, he _____ to the store.
a) saw / walked
b) had seen / was walking
c) saw / was walking
d) was seeing / walked

169. Mary _____ the news when her mother _____ in.
a) watched / walked
b) was watching / walked
c) had watched / was walking
d) had been watching / had walked

170. The cat _____ after it _____ the mouse.
a) slept / caught
b) was sleeping / had caught
c) had slept / caught
d) slept / had caught

171. Before the rain _____, we _____ the picnic.
a) started / finished
b) had started / finished
c) was starting / had finished
d) had been starting / were finishing

172. While he _____ the car, he _____ his phone.
a) fixed / found
b) was fixing / found
c) had fixed / was finding
d) had been fixing / had found

173. The teacher _____ after all students _____.
a) left / left
b) had left / left
c) was leaving / had left
d) left / had left

174. She _____ her homework when her friend _____.
a) did / called
b) was doing / called
c) had done / was calling
d) had been doing / had called

175. The movie _____ by the time we _____ the theater.
a) started / reached
b) was starting / had reached
c) had started / reached
d) had been starting / were reaching

176. John _____ the window before the storm _____.
a) closed / came
b) had closed / came
c) was closing / had come
d) had been closing / was coming

177. When I _____ the room, everyone _____.
a) entered / laughed
b) had entered / was laughing
c) entered / was laughing
d) was entering / had laughed

178. The birds _____ before the sun _____.
a) sang / rose
b) were singing / rose
c) had sung / had risen
d) had been singing / rose

179. After he _____ work, he _____ to the gym.
a) finished / went
b) had finished / went
c) was finishing / had gone
d) had been finishing / was going

180. She _____ tired because she _____ all day.
a) felt / worked
b) was feeling / had worked
c) had felt / was working
d) felt/had been working

181. The police _____ after the thief _____.
a) arrived / left
b) had arrived / left
c) arrived / had left
d) was arriving / was leaving

182. While they _____ cards, someone _____ the lights.
a) played / turned off
b) were playing / turned off
c) had played / was turning off
d) had been playing / had turned off

183. By noon, the workers _____ three walls.
a) built
b) had built
c) were building
d) had been building

184. I _____ my wallet after I _____ the store.
a) missed/left
b) was missing / had left
c) had missed/left
d) missed/had left

185. The audience _____ before the show _____.
a) left/ended
b) had left/ended
c) was leaving/had ended
d) had been leaving/was ending

186. When the bell _____, the students _____ the test.
a) rang/finished
b) had rung/finished
c) rang/had finished
d) was ringing/were finishing

187. She _____ the letter before she _____ it.
a) read / sent
b) had read / sent
c) was reading / had sent
d) had been reading / was sending

188. The sun _____ when we _____ our walk.
a) set / started
b) had set / started
c) was setting / started
d) had been setting / had started

189. After he _____ the news, he _____ his friend.
a) heard / called
b) had heard / called
c) was hearing / had called
d) had been hearing / was calling

190. They _____ dinner when the lights _____ out.
a) ate / went
b) were eating / went
c) had eaten / had gone
d) had been eating / were going

191. The train _____ before we _____ the station.
a) left / reached
b) had left / reached
c) was leaving / had reached
d) had been leaving / were reaching

192. When I _____ home, my dog _____ in the garden.
a) got / played
b) had got / was playing
c) got / was playing
d) was getting / played

193. She _____ the dishes while her sister _____ TV.
a) washed / watched
b) was washing / watched
c) had washed / was watching
d) was washing / was watching

194. He _____ his leg when he _____ soccer.
a) broke / played
b) had broken / was playing
c) broke / was playing
d) was breaking / played

195. The phone _____ while I _____ a shower.
a) rang / took
b) was ringing / took
c) rang / was taking
d) had rung / had taken

196. After the concert _____, everyone _____ home.
a) ended / went
b) had ended / went
c) was ending / had gone
d) had been ending / was going

197. They _____ worried because their son _____ yet.
a) were / didn’t call
b) had been / hadn’t called
c) were / hadn’t called
d) had been / wasn’t calling

198. I _____ the window because it _____.
a) closed / rained
b) had closed / was raining
c) closed / was raining
d) was closing / had rained

199. When we _____ the beach, the sun _____.
a) reached / set
b) had reached/was setting
c) reached/was setting
d) were reaching/had set

200. She _____ coffee after she _____ up.
a) drank/woke
b) was drinking/had woken
c) had drunk / woke
d) drank/had woken

Conclusion

I hope these past-tense quiz questions helped you test and strengthen your grammar skills.

Whether you got all the answers right or found some questions challenging, remember that mastering past tense takes practice.

If you found some forms more difficult than others, focus on practicing those specific areas.

Want to improve your grammar skills further? Try using these tenses in your daily conversations and writing.

You can also leave a comment below with your score or any questions about past tense usage.

Keep practicing, and you’ll see improvement in no time!