Past Simple

Start with the forms

Start with the worksheets on the forms that cause the most trouble. Past Simple Regular Verbs deals with spelling (studied, stopped) and the three ways to pronounce -ed endings. It is free to download. Irregular Verbs drills twenty of the most common irregular verbs and then puts them into a short story, because a list alone does not stay in memory.

Both include did and didn't, where most mistakes happen: Did you saw it? I didn't went. These are past simple exercises with answers, so students can check their own work. Our post on how to teach irregular verbs has more ideas for the verbs that never follow the rule.

Regular verbs look easy until students write studyed, stoped and I didn't worked. Short, focused past simple worksheets catch these before they become habits, and each one comes with an answer key in the Teacher's Version.

Past simple next to other past tenses

At B1 the problem changes. Students know the simple past but use it for everything, or switch to the present perfect when they should not. The comparison worksheets put the tenses side by side. Past Simple vs Past Continuous uses the 2025 blackout in Spain and Portugal to show background and events, with timelines. Past Simple vs Present Perfect, free, contrasts finished and unfinished time.

When students are ready for the past perfect, move on to the narrative tenses page. For experiences and recent news, see the present perfect page.

The contrast worksheets work best after students can form the simple past without thinking. If they still hesitate over went and gone, spend another lesson on the forms first.

Lesson plans built on real stories

The past simple exists to tell stories, so these lessons give students something worth telling. Use time expressions such as yesterday, last week and ago in every one.

Ghost Stories and The Taylor Swift Effect are free lessons, so you can try the format before you subscribe. Each one ends with students telling a story of their own, using the language from the lesson.

Speaking activities and games for adults

Storytelling works best when the listener has a reason to ask questions. Try two truths and a lie about last weekend, or ask pairs to interview each other about their first job. Past simple games for adults don't need cards or boards, only a question that each person answers differently. Our post with role-play ideas for the past simple has five scenarios ready to use.

For more classroom-ready ideas, our list of past simple speaking activities works at every level. The best ones ask students about something true, such as the last time they were really surprised.

Past simple FAQ

Are the past simple worksheets free?

Past Simple Regular Verbs and Past Simple vs Present Perfect are free to download. The rest of the past simple worksheets and lesson plans come with a teacher subscription.

Do the past simple worksheets have answers?

Yes. Every worksheet has a Student Version and a Teacher's Version with all the answers, and every exercise can be done alone, so they work for homework.

What level should I start with?

With beginners, start with regular verbs, then irregular verbs. At B1, go straight to the comparison worksheets and the story lessons.

How many irregular verbs should beginners learn at once?

About twenty. The Irregular Verbs worksheet uses the twenty most common ones and practices them in a story, so students meet each verb in context.

Can I teach these lessons online?

Yes. Share the worksheet on screen and use breakout rooms for the storytelling tasks.

All past simple worksheets and lesson plans come with a teacher subscription.