1 Complete the past simple sentences with was or were.

Part 1: Fill in the blanks with 'was' or 'were'.

1. Neymar is Brazilian. Ayrton Senna was.
2. The café isn't open now. The café was open yesterday.
3. We are happy today. We were sad yesterday.
4. Today, Pompeii is in ruins. In the past, Pompeii was a busy town.
5. They are at the sports centre. They were at the skate park yesterday.

Part 2: Complete with the correct form of was or were.

1. There were many people at the cinema last night. (-)
2. Was there any fruit at the market?
3. There was a supermarket in the city centre. (+)
4. Were there any dinosaur bones in the museum?
5. There was a train at the station. (-)

Part 3: Write the past simple of these verbs.

1. travel travelled
2. be was/were
3. come came
4. make made
5. like liked
6. live lived

Part 4: Read about Joe's week and complete the sentences using the past simple.

On Saturdays I got up late and had a big breakfast. I usually went to the park by bus. It takes about 30 minutes. I met my friends and we talked for a long time. I really liked Saturdays.

1. Joe got up late on Saturdays.
2. He had a big breakfast.
3. He went to the park by bus.
4. It took about 30 minutes.
5. He met his friends.
6. They talked for a long time.

Part 5: Write sentences about Julius Caesar and Tchaikovsky using the past simple.

1. Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.
2. Tchaikovsky composed many famous classical pieces.