Past Simple vs Past Participle Flashcards: Sentence Practice
Choose English verb forms in 48 sentence cards: past simple, did + base, perfect and passive participles, with brief explanations.
About this deck
Choose English verb forms from the sentence around them. These 48 original cards practice affirmative past simple, the base form after did or didn't, past participles with have/has/had, and participles in simple present, past, and future passives.
There are 24 sentence blanks with a supplied base verb, 10 repairs that change only one marked word, 10 questions about a verb form's role, and four close-choice sentence prompts. Each back gives the answer first, then a short explanation of the grammatical clue. Where a sentence blank asks for past simple, that tense is stated; the other blanks keep the helping verb visible. In did-prompts, retaining the supplied base form is the point.
The sequence introduces the structures through sentence completion, then asks you to repair mistakes, recognize roles even when past and participle spellings match, and apply the patterns in new choices. Repeated verbs stay apart. Say the answer before turning the card, then explain which part of the sentence requires that form.
This is focused sentence practice for learners who can already read simple English. It doesn't teach a complete tense system or drill every irregular verb. Isolated form-to-form and reverse verb-table prompts are excluded because they practice a different recall task. Unrestricted tense choice, advanced passive combinations, conditionals, participial adjectives, pronunciation, and regional variant drills are outside the scope.
For the underlying explanation, read the past simple vs past participle lesson. For isolated form recall, use the separate English irregular verbs deck.
All sentences, prompts, explanations, arrangement, metadata, and the AI-generated cover were independently created for this deck. Grammar facts were checked against British Council and Cambridge references; no source or competitor exercises were copied. Original material is dedicated under CC0 1.0 to the extent applicable rights exist; grammatical facts themselves aren't claimed as owned.
Cards in this deck
Card 1
Question
Yesterday, I ___ a photo of the empty square. (take; past simple)
Answer
took
Yesterday, I took a photo of the empty square.
An affirmative past-simple statement uses the past form of take.
Card 2
Question
Did you ___ the red kite above the lake? (see)
Answer
see
Did you see the red kite above the lake?
After the helping verb did, use the base form. Did carries the past tense.
Card 3
Question
Nia has ___ three postcards so far. (write)
Answer
written
Nia has written three postcards so far.
Has + past participle forms the present perfect.
Card 4
Question
The weekly film is ___ by the club members. (choose)
Answer
chosen
The weekly film is chosen by the club members.
The film receives the action: is + past participle forms this passive.
Card 5
Question
Last night, the wind ___ a branch off the tree. (break; past simple)
Answer
broke
Last night, the wind broke a branch off the tree.
This affirmative past-simple statement needs broke, the past form of break.
Card 6
Question
We didn't ___ during the recording. (speak)
Answer
speak
We didn't speak during the recording.
Didn't + base form makes this past-simple negative.
Card 7
Question
Have the rabbits ___ all the lettuce? (eat)
Answer
eaten
Have the rabbits eaten all the lettuce?
In this present-perfect question, have comes before the subject; the main verb still takes its past participle.
Card 8
Question
The visitors were ___ numbered badges by the guide. (give)
Answer
given
The visitors were given numbered badges by the guide.
Were + past participle forms the past passive. The visitors receive the badges.
Card 9
Question
On Tuesday, Omar ___ the van to the repair shop. (drive; past simple)
Answer
drove
On Tuesday, Omar drove the van to the repair shop.
The affirmative past-simple form of drive is drove.
Card 10
Question
Where did Leila ___ that striped umbrella? (buy)
Answer
buy
Where did Leila buy that striped umbrella?
The question word and subject don't change the pattern: did + base form.
Card 11
Question
Before the bus arrived, I realized I had ___ my ticket. (lose)
Answer
lost
Before the bus arrived, I realized I had lost my ticket.
Had + past participle forms the past perfect; losing the ticket came before the realization.
Card 12
Question
The access codes will be ___ by email tomorrow. (send)
Answer
sent
The access codes will be sent by email tomorrow.
Will be + past participle forms the future passive. A past participle can appear in a sentence about the future.
Card 13
Question
Last Sunday, Ada ___ a folding chair to the picnic. (bring; past simple)
Answer
brought
Last Sunday, Ada brought a folding chair to the picnic.
Brought is the past-simple form here; it also serves as the past participle in other structures.
Card 14
Question
We haven't ___ the missing puzzle piece yet. (find)
Answer
found
We haven't found the missing puzzle piece yet.
Haven't + past participle makes this present-perfect negative.
Card 15
Question
These bowls are ___ by hand in a small workshop. (make)
Answer
made
These bowls are made by hand in a small workshop.
Are + past participle forms this present passive. The bowls receive the action.
Card 16
Question
Did your team ___ the final round? (win)
Answer
win
Did your team win the final round?
Use the base form after did, even though the round is over.
Card 17
Question
By the time I reached the office, the courier had ___. (leave)
Answer
left
By the time I reached the office, the courier had left.
Had + past participle places the courier's departure before my arrival.
Card 18
Question
At yesterday's meeting, Jo ___ a map on the board. (draw; past simple)
Answer
drew
At yesterday's meeting, Jo drew a map on the board.
Drew is the past form used in this affirmative past-simple statement.
Card 19
Question
The evening class is ___ by two local artists. (teach)
Answer
taught
The evening class is taught by two local artists.
Is + past participle forms this passive; the artists teach the class.
Card 20
Question
The dog didn't ___ after the cyclist. (run)
Answer
run
The dog didn't run after the cyclist.
After didn't, run is the base form. Its spelling alone doesn't tell you its role.
Card 21
Question
The hikers have ___ all their water. (drink)
Answer
drunk
The hikers have drunk all their water.
Have + past participle forms the present perfect. Drank is the past-simple form.
Card 22
Question
In 2018, our neighbors ___ a wooden shed. (build; past simple)
Answer
built
In 2018, our neighbors built a wooden shed.
Built is the past-simple form here. The same spelling can also be a past participle.
Card 23
Question
Before that concert, I hadn't ___ earplugs at a show. (wear)
Answer
worn
Before that concert, I hadn't worn earplugs at a show.
Hadn't + past participle makes this past-perfect negative.
Card 24
Question
The remaining tickets will be ___ at the door tonight. (sell)
Answer
sold
The remaining tickets will be sold at the door tonight.
Will be + past participle forms the future passive; sold is the participle here.
Card 25
Question
Correct only the bold word: Yesterday, a delivery van come down our lane.
Answer
came
Yesterday, a delivery van came down our lane.
The affirmative past-simple form of come is came.
Card 26
Question
Correct only the bold word: The children have took their shoes off.
Answer
taken
The children have taken their shoes off.
The helping verb have needs the past participle taken, not the past-simple form took.
Card 27
Question
Correct only the bold word: Did Farah saw the comet?
Answer
see
Did Farah see the comet?
Did takes the base form see; don't mark the main verb as past as well.
Card 28
Question
Correct only the bold word: The announcement was wrote by the organizer.
Answer
written
The announcement was written by the organizer.
This passive uses was + past participle. Wrote is the past-simple form.
Card 29
Question
Correct only the bold word: I didn't chose the window seat.
Answer
choose
I didn't choose the window seat.
Didn't takes the base form choose.
Card 30
Question
Correct only the bold word: By noon, the machine had broke three needles.
Answer
broken
By noon, the machine had broken three needles.
Had + past participle forms the past perfect; use broken.
Card 31
Question
Correct only the bold word: At yesterday's event, the mayor spoken for ten minutes.
Answer
spoke
At yesterday's event, the mayor spoke for ten minutes.
An affirmative past-simple statement needs spoke. Spoken is the participle.
Card 32
Question
Correct only the bold word: My cousins have never ate seaweed.
Answer
eaten
My cousins have never eaten seaweed.
Have + past participle forms the present perfect. Never doesn't change the required form.
Card 33
Question
Correct only the bold word: The winners were gave silver medals.
Answer
given
The winners were given silver medals.
The winners receive the medals, so this passive uses were + past participle.
Card 34
Question
Correct only the bold word: Why did you drove past the entrance?
Answer
drive
Why did you drive past the entrance?
Did takes the base form drive, including in a why-question.
Card 35
Question
Is bought a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
Ravi bought a lamp yesterday.
Answer
Past-simple form.
Bought is the main verb in an affirmative past-simple statement. The same spelling also serves as a past participle.
Card 36
Question
Is sent a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
The editor has sent the corrected file.
Answer
Past participle.
Has sent is present perfect: has + past participle. Sent can also be a past-simple form in a different structure.
Card 37
Question
Is bring a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
Did Mina bring a spare cable?
Answer
Base form.
Did carries the past tense, so bring stays in its base form.
Card 38
Question
Is made a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
The costumes were made by our drama club.
Answer
Past participle.
Were made is a past passive: were + past participle. Past time doesn't make made a past-simple form in this structure.
Card 39
Question
Is found a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
We found a coin under the bench yesterday.
Answer
Past-simple form.
Found is the main verb in this affirmative past-simple statement; there is no perfect or passive helping verb.
Card 40
Question
Is won a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
By her twentieth birthday, Eva had won two local races.
Answer
Past participle.
Had won is past perfect: had + past participle. Won has the same spelling as the past-simple form.
Card 41
Question
Is leave a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
We didn't leave any bags in the hallway.
Answer
Base form.
Didn't takes the base form leave. The whole clause is past simple.
Card 42
Question
Is drawn a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
The winning numbers will be drawn on Friday.
Answer
Past participle.
Will be drawn is future passive. The name past participle describes the verb form, not the time of this drawing.
Card 43
Question
Is put a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
Yesterday, I put the spare key in a drawer.
Answer
Past-simple form.
This is an affirmative past-simple statement. Put has the same spelling as its base form and past participle; the sentence reveals its role.
Card 44
Question
Is built a base form, past-simple form, or past participle here?
The children have built a tower from boxes.
Answer
Past participle.
Have built is present perfect: have + past participle. Built can also be a past-simple form elsewhere.
Card 45
Question
Choose the past-simple form: Yesterday, the goalkeeper (ran / run) across the field.
Answer
ran
Yesterday, the goalkeeper ran across the field.
This affirmative past-simple statement needs ran; run is the base form and the past participle.
Card 46
Question
Choose the form: I have never (drank / drunk) coconut water.
Answer
drunk
I have never drunk coconut water.
Have + past participle requires drunk. Drank is the past-simple form.
Card 47
Question
Choose the form: Did the painter (wear / wore) gloves?
Answer
wear
Did the painter wear gloves?
Did takes the base form wear. Wore is the past-simple form.
Card 48
Question
Choose the form: The old piano was (sell / sold) at an auction.
Answer
sold
The old piano was sold at an auction.
Was + past participle forms this past passive. Sold is the participle here.
48 cards
Past Simple vs Past Participle Flashcards: Sentence Practice
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