Past Simple Tense Quiz

Past Indefinite Tense — Exercise 3 (Q&A with Full Explanation and Vocabulary Builder (Simple Past Tense)

This practice test trains you to recognize and use the Simple Past Tense (did / verb-ed / verb 2nd form / irregular past forms) across real contexts. Each question includes the correct past form, a short verb definition, which helps building your Vocabulary, & POS notes, and concise explanations for every correct & incorrect choice so you learn both grammar and word meaning. Practice, Prepare with English Quiz and Vocabulary Builder.

English Grammar Definition: Past Indefinite Tense ( V 2nd form / Did + verb 1st form)

  • Form: Verb 2nd form / Did + verb 1st form.
  • Examples: I worked; She tested; Did they wait?
  • Main uses:
  • Actions that started in the past.
  • Actions that happened in past repeatedly with or without present result.
  • Simple Past = completed actions at a specific past time.
  • Signal words: yesterday, last week, ago, in 2024, when.
  • Negatives/Questions: did not (didn’t) and did + subject + (not) + verb 1st form + …?
  • To learn more about it – Visit Here

Quiz Instructions

  1. Read each question and choose the best answer out of four given options.
  2. On top, header section of the quiz, you will see the “title of the quiz,’ ‘spending-time,’ ‘value of question in points,’ and ‘number of questions.”
  3. Below on footer, you will see Full Screen mode. As the name suggests, it covers the whole screen. It will save a lot of your time attempting the quiz.
  4. You can zoom the images given in the questions.
  5. After submitting the quiz, you can see your score and compare with other users.
  6. The Full Leaderboard link will take you to a page, where you can see all users attempts.
  7. Below the quiz box, there are explanation of each options. You can study and try again.
  8. Best of Luck!
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Quiz Question, Answer and Explanation

Note: Do remember in the quiz box above, the questions and options will shuffle, so they won’t have the same sequence like 1, 2, 3, or A, B, C as below.

1. I __ the server logs for anomalies and found a pattern.

A) scanned B) scan C) have scanned D) scanning

Verb: scanverb. To examine quickly or systematically; scanner (noun).

Correct: A) scanned
A) Correct: Completed past scan that revealed a pattern.

B) Wrong: Present — general habit.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — shifts focus to present relevance, while the story is past.
D) Wrong: -ing.

2. They __ the firmware update across all nodes on Monday.

A) installed B) install C) have installed D) installing

Verb: installverb / noun. To place software/hardware for use; installation (noun).

Correct: A) installed
A) Correct: Past event at a definite time (Monday).

B) Wrong: Present — habitual.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — would be acceptable in conversational use but less precise with specific day.
D) Wrong: -ing.

3. He __ me that the vendor had agreed to a discount.

A) informed B) informs C) has informed D) informing

Verb: informverb. To give knowledge or tell; information (noun).

Correct: A) informed
A) Correct: Past telling; fits narrative.

B) Wrong: Present — indicates he usually informs.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — implies present relevance, but the sentence sequences past events.
D) Wrong: -ing.

4. We __ the deprecated endpoints last quarter.

A) retired B) retire C) have retired D) retiring

Verb: retireverb. To withdraw from active use; retirement (noun).

Correct: A) retired
A) Correct: Past action in a stated past period (last quarter).

B) Wrong: Present — habitual.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — possible but clumsy with explicit period.
D) Wrong: -ing.

5. She __ for the position but the company chose a different candidate.

A) interviewed B) interviews C) has interviewed D) interviewing

Verb: interviewverb / noun. To question a candidate; interview (noun).

Correct: A) interviewed
A) Correct: Past event in hiring process.

B) Wrong: Present — general fact/habit.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — would stress present outcome.
D) Wrong: -ing.

6. The group __ the anomaly to its root cause after long analysis.

A) traced B) trace C) have traced D) tracing

Verb: traceverb / noun. To follow the course or origin of something.

Correct: A) traced
A) Correct: Past completion of root-cause tracing.

B) Wrong: Present — habitual.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — less narrative-fitting.
D) Wrong: -ing.

7. I __ the sample dataset into the model and tested its behavior.

A) fed B) feed C) have fed D) feeding

Verb: feedverb / noun (irregular). To provide input or data; past form fed.

Correct: A) fed
A) Correct: Irregular simple past — completed feeding before testing.

B) Wrong: Present — habitual input.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — shifts focus to current result.
D) Wrong: -ing.

8. They __ the incident in the incident tracker immediately.

A) logged B) log C) have logged D) logging

Verb: logverb / noun. To record events in a register.

Correct: A) logged
A) Correct: Past logging action completed.

B) Wrong: Present — habitual.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — emphasizes that it’s logged now; past simple better with “immediately.”
D) Wrong: -ing.

9. She __ a summary and circulated it to stakeholders.

A) compiled B) compile C) has compiled D) compiling

Verb: compileverb. To collect and assemble information; compilation (noun).

Correct: A) compiled
A) Correct: Past action completed then circulated.

B) Wrong: Present — habitual compiling.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — would indicate current relevance; simple past is narrative-accurate.
D) Wrong: -ing.

10. We __ the migration plan after several dry runs.

A) adjusted B) adjust C) have adjusted D) adjusting

Verb: adjustverb. To change slightly to improve fit; adjustment (noun).

Correct: A) adjusted
A) Correct: Past tweaking after dry runs.

B) Wrong: Present — general action.
C) Wrong: Present perfect — implies present relevance rather than a past sequence.
D) Wrong: -ing.

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