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Past Tense

Diagnostic Quiz

Identify specific English grammar points that need review. Use the study links to find out why a particular answer is correct or incorrect.

Quiz 1

Beginning

Decide which past verb form can complete the sentence.

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 1-12" button.

While I coffee with Max in a café, he told me an interesting story.

Feedback 1

Past

Last year, Max to Pamplona, Spain to run with the bulls.

Feedback 2

Past Irregular forms

I asked him, "How such a crazy custom begin?"
custom (N) – traditional activity

Feedback 3

Past - questions

He me that it started in Northern Spain.

Feedback 4

Past Past / Participles 2

As the cattlemen their cattle to market, some men ran in front of the animals.

Feedback 5

Past-backgrounding

I asked, " to make them hurry?"

Feedback 6

Past

"Yes, the cattle faster and arrived in time for the market."

Feedback 7

Past

While the men , it turned into a competition.
turn into (V) — became

Feedback 8

Past

Young men in front of the bulls.

Feedback 9

Past–irregular Past / Participles 2

10.

They to get to the pens safely before the bulls.
pen (N) – place where animals are enclosed

Feedback 10

Past - irregular

11.

Some men got to the bull pens, and some there in time.

Feedback 11

Past - auxiliaries

12.

As more competitors came each year, the competition .

Feedback 12

Past - word forms

Quiz 2

Intermediate

Decide which past verb form can complete the sentence.

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 13-25" button.

13.

" in the competition?"

Feedback 13

Past - auxiliaries

14.

"Yes, he about the Running of the Bulls before he traveled to Spain.

Feedback 14

Past / Past Perfect

15.

First, he a plane to Madrid. Then he took a bus to Pamplona for the San Fermin Fiesta in July.

Feedback 15

Past Series of events

16.

He early and dressed in the traditional white clothes with a red sash.

sash (N) – a cloth belt tied around the waist

Feedback 16

Past - irregular

17.

The runners to a statue of St. Fermin when the fireworks went off.

stature (N) – a stone or metal image of an important person

Feedback 17

Past By the time/When

18.

Max there would be a lot of people, but still he was surprised to see thousands there!

Feedback 18

Past

19.

Many of the competitors for years.

Feedback 19

Past / Past Perfect

20.

As Max , he saw a lot of people doing crazy things.

Feedback 20

Past / Past Progressive

21.

People and the bulls them.

Feedback 21

Past - temp vs perm

22.

Max one man out from under a bull seconds before another bull fell.

Feedback 22

Past Series

23.

On the side of the race, he saw a woman who the treatment of the bulls and the competition in general.

Feedback 23

Past

24.

As Max watched a bull toss a man in the air with his horns, Max ran faster and shouted, " ?"

Feedback 24

Reporting Source/ Emotional Outbursts

25.

Fearing for his life, Max jumped over the barriers to safety. He he should never risk doing such a crazy thing again.

barrier – the temporary wooden wall that keeps the bulls on the road
risk (V) – dare to do something dangerous

Feedback 25

Past