Past simple: negatives and questions – A2 English Grammar Test

1  Make the sentences negative.

1   He worked as an actor when he was young.

      ……He didn’t work as an actor when he was young. ……

2   We enjoyed doing work experience last weekend. 

      …………………………………………………

3   My parents travelled to the office by car on Monday.

      …………………………………………………

4   Juan earned a lot of money working last summer.

      …………………………………………………

5   The café opened at 9 am yesterday.

      …………………………………………………

6   We watched the film last night on TV.

      …………………………………………………

7   Aida served food to the customers in the hotel.

      …………………………………………………

2  Make questions from the sentences.

1   You worked as a shop assistant when you were young.

      ……Did you work as a shop assistant when you were young?......

2   I liked working as a sports coach.

      …………………………………………………

3   You phoned the police after the accident.

      …………………………………………………

4   The customers didn’t ask to see the boss.

      …………………………………………………

5   I didn’t answer the phone.

      …………………………………………………

6   The mechanic didn’t find any problems with my car.

      …………………………………………………

7   You learned to cook at school.

      …………………………………………………

3  Put the words in order to make sentences.

1   earn / a / of / year / money / Did / you / lot / last

      ……Did you earn a lot of money last year?......

2   did / time / you / work / finish / What / Monday / on

      …………………………………………………?

3   our / We / boss / was / speak / to / busy / because / didn’t / she

      ………………………………………………… .

4   father / My / worked / he / factory / in / a / when / young / was

      ………………………………………………… .

5   finished / at / pilot / 6 pm / The / yesterday / work

      ………………………………………………… .

6   go / the / OK / because / our / didn’t / dentist / to / teeth / We / were

      ………………………………………………… .

7   morning / you / Did / at / phone / work / answer / the / this

      …………………………………………………?

4  Complete the conversation with the words from the box.

Joe:   Hi, how are you? 1……Did…… you have a good weekend?

Petra:   Yes, I did. I 2……………. to London.

Joe:   What 3……………. you do there?

Petra:   I visited museums and walked in the parks.

Joe:   Did you 4……………. in a hotel?

Petra:   No, I 5……………. . We stayed at my aunt’s house.

Joe:   I was in London last year but I worked every day.

Petra:   Where did you 6…………….? In an office?

Joe:   No, I was a shop assistant.

Petra:   Did you have a good boss?

Joe:   Yes, 7 I ……………. . She was very nice.

5  Find and correct the mistakes in the sentences and questions. Write short responses to the questions.

1   Do you enjoy your last holiday? ……Did…… ……Yes, I did. …… (+)

2   Do we work in the factory last weekend? ……………… …………………………. (-)

3   My friend did study for yesterday’s exam so she failed. ………………

4   We didn’t finished cleaning the office. ………………

5   I really don’t want to work at the shop last weekend. I was very tired. ………………

6   Did you remembered to tell your boss about the phone call? ……………… …………………………. (+)

7   Do they talk to the farmer when they visited? ……………… …………………………. (-)

6  Complete Sarah’s postcard with one word in each space.

Hi Jean,

What a wonderful summer! Usually I 1……stay…… at home and help my parents in the factory but this year I worked in the city, in a clothes shop. It 2 w……………… wonderful. I 3 h……………… customers choose clothes to wear. I didn’t 4 h……………… an office but I 5 m……………… lots of interesting people. And the best thing? I 6 e……………… a lot of money and my boss was wonderful! What about you? 7 D……………… you work this summer or were you at home? 8 W……………… you busy? Write to me soon and tell me about your summer.

Love, Sarah