Talk About the Past: Past Simple and Continuous Tense for Class 5

This Grade 5 worksheet introduces learners to two essential tenses—Past Simple (completed past actions) and Past Continuous (ongoing past actions). Through verb recognition, tense transformation, sentence completion, and paragraph writing, students learn to describe past experiences accurately and fluently.

Why Past Tense Matters in Grammar?

Understanding when to use the correct past tense builds sentence clarity and story accuracy. For Grade 5 learners, it’s important because:

1. It distinguishes between finished and ongoing past actions.

2. It teaches correct verb structure and tense consistency.

3. It supports narrative writing and real-life recounts.

4. It prepares learners for more advanced tense combinations.

What’s Inside This Worksheet?

This worksheet includes five targeted grammar activities that build a strong understanding of the past tense:

🧠 Exercise 1 – Underline the Verb Tense

Students underline the verb in each sentence and label it as either Past Simple or Past Continuous.

✏️ Exercise 2 – Change the Verb Form

Learners convert ten given verbs into either past simple or past continuous form based on the instruction.

📋 Exercise 3 – Fill in the Blanks

Students complete ten mixed sentences using the correct form of the verb in either past simple or continuous tense.

📝 Exercise 4 – Rewrite the Sentences

Learners rewrite ten past simple sentences into past continuous form using “was/were + verb + ing”.

🎨 Exercise 5 – Paragraph Writing

From topics like “The Day I Got a Prize” or “A Rainy Day Experience,” learners write a paragraph using either the Past Simple or Past Continuous tense consistently.

✅ Answer Key (For Parents & Educators)

Exercise 1 – Underlined Verbs and Tense Labels

1. was writing – Past Continuous

2. baked – Past Simple

3. cleaned – Past Simple

4. were watching – Past Continuous

5. lost – Past Simple

6. was crying – Past Continuous

7. painted – Past Simple

8. were playing – Past Continuous

9. were walking – Past Continuous

10. dropped – Past Simple

Exercise 2 – Verb Form Changes

1. wrote

2. talked

3. painted

4. ate

5. danced

6. was watching

7. was listening

8. was helping

9. was climbing

10. was jumping

Exercise 3 – Fill in the Blanks

1. walking

2. drew

3. were watching

4. played

5. were studying

6. barked

7. ate

8. was reading

9. dropped

10. cleaned

Exercise 4 – Rewritten in Past Continuous

1. I was painting the wall yesterday.

2. She was baking a cake in the morning.

3. They were playing cricket in the park.

4. He was watching a movie last night.

5. We were cleaning our classroom after lunch.

6. The children were dancing on stage.

7. My father was driving to work early.

8. She was writing a letter to her cousin.

9. I was reading a book in my room.

10. The students were completing their homework.

Exercise 5 – Sample Paragraphs

1. The Day I Got a Prize:

I was feeling nervous in the morning. Everyone was sitting quietly. Suddenly, my name was called. I walked to the stage while my heart was racing. I received the prize and smiled brightly.

2. A Rainy Day Experience:

It was raining heavily outside. We were looking out of the window and watching the trees sway. My brother was jumping in puddles. I was sipping hot chocolate. It was a cozy and fun day indoors.