Indirect questions: grammar rules with examples

If we want to make questions in the English language, we can do it by changing the word
order (Is he your brother? Was she there? Have you been to Ireland?) or by using the
auxiliary do (Do you know them? Does he live with you? Did you enjoy it?)
The indirect questions are not normal questions. They have the same word order as
statements and we do not use the verb do to form a question. They usually come after
introductory phrases combined with interrogative pronouns and adjectives (who, whom, what,
which, whose), adverbs (when, where, how, why) or if, whether.

Compare the following direct and indirect questions:

Direct: What did she want? - Indirect: Do you know what she wanted?
Direct: Where was it? - Indirect: Do you remember where it was?
Direct: Will they come? - Indirect: I wonder if they will come.

We can use many other introductory phrases to start such questions, e. g. I ask, I wonder, I
want/would like to know, I can't remember, I have no idea, I am sure etc., or they can be
intruduced by direct questions such as Can you tell me, Do you know, Do you remember,
Have you any idea.

Look at more examples to understand how we change the direct questions:

How much is it? - I'd like to know how much it is.
Is this seat free? - He is asking if this seat is free.
Where did she go? - Have you any idea where she went?
Does he want to buy it? - Do you know whether he wants to buy it?

These questions are more common in English than in some other languages. They are more
polite and more formal than the direct questions. Compare the following examples of the
direct - indirect questions.
Why did you do it? - Could you tell me why you did it?
Could I use your telephone? - Do you think I could use your telephone?
Are you married? - I wonder if you are married.

Our tip

 Do some indirect questions exercises to practise the use of these forms.

 See also E-grammar rules where you will find printable grammar rules in pdf.

Direct and indirect speech: grammar rules with examples

Statements

If we want to say what other people said, thought or felt, we can use the direct and indirect
speech (reported speech).
The direct speech: "I like it," he said. "Irene is late," he thought. "I will pass the exam," she
hoped.
The reported speech: He said he liked it. He thought that Irene was late. She hoped she would
pass the exam.
The reported speech is typically introduced by verbs such as say, tell, admit, complain,
explain, remind, reply, think, hope, offer, refuse etc. in the past tense.
He said (that) he didn't want it.
She explained that she had been at the seaside.

If these verbs are in the past tense, we change the following:

a) verb tenses and verb forms
b) pronouns
c) the adverbs of time and place

A) Verb tenses

We change the tenses in the following way:

 Present - past
"I never understand you," she told me. - She told me she never understood me.
"We are doing exercises," he explained. - He explained that they were doing exercises.
 Present perfect - past perfect
"I have broken the window," he admitted. - He admitted that he had broken the window.
"I have been waiting since the morning," he complained. - He complained that he had been
waiting since the morning.
 Past - past perfect
"She went to Rome," I thought. - I thought that she had gone to Rome.
"He was thinking of buying a new car," she said. - She said he had been thinking of buying a
new car.
 Will - conditional
Will changes into the conditional.
I will come on Sunday," he reminded me. - He reminded me that he would come on Sunday.

Notes
I shall, we shall usually become would.
"I shall appreciate it," he said. - He said he would appreciate it.
I should, we should usually change into would.
"We should be really glad," she told us. - She told us they would be really glad.
May becomes might.
"I may write to him," she promised. - She promised that she might write to him.

The verb forms remain the same the following cases.

 If the reporting verb is in the present tense.

Bill: "I am enjoying my holiday." - Bill says he is enjoying his holiday.
Sandy: "I will never go to work." - Sandy says she will never go to work.
 When we report something that is still true.
Dan: "Asia is the largest continent." - Dan said Asia is the largest continent.
Emma: "People in Africa are starving." - Emma said people in Africa are starving.
 When a sentence is made and reported at the same time and the fact is still true.
Michael: "I am thirsty." - Michael said he is thirsty.
 With modal verbs would, might, could, should, ought to, used to.
George: "I would try it." - George said he would try it.
Mimi: "I might come." - Mimi said she might come.
Steve: "I could fail." - Steve said he could fail.
Linda: "He should/ought to stay in bed." - Linda said he should/ought to stay in bed.
Mel: "I used to have a car." - Mel said he used to have a car.
  After wish, would rather, had better, it is time.
Margo: "I wish they were in Greece." - Margo said she wished they were in Greece.
Matt: "I would rather fly." - Matt said he would rather fly.
Betty: "They had better go." - Betty said they had better go.
Paul: "It is time I got up." - Paul said it was time he got up.
 In if-clauses.
Martha: "If I tidied my room, my dad would be happy." - Martha said that if she tidied her
room, her dad would be happy.
 In time-clauses.
Joe: "When I was staying in Madrid I met my best friend." - He said that when he was staying
in Madrid he met his best friend.
 We do not change the past tense in spoken English if it is clear from the situation when the
action happened.
"She did it on Sunday," I said. - I said she did it on Sunday.
We must change it, however, in the following sentence, otherwise it will not be clear
whether we are talking about the present or past feelings.
"I hated her," he said. - He said he had hated her.
 We do not usually change the modal verbs must and needn't. But must can become had to
or would have to and needn't can become didn't have to or wouldn't have to if we want to
express an obligation.
Would/wouldn't have to are used to talk about future obligations.
"I must wash up." - He said he must wash up/he had to wash up.
"I needn't be at school today." - He said he needn't be/didn't have to be at school that day.
"We must do it in June." - He said they would have to do it in June.
If the modal verb must does not express obligation, we do not change it.
"We must relax for a while." (suggestion) - He said they must relax for a while.
"You must be tired after such a trip." (certainty) - He said we must be tired after such a trip.

B) Pronouns

We have to change the pronouns to keep the same meaning of a sentence.

"We are the best students," he said. - He said they were the best students.
"They called us," he said. - He said they had called them.
"I like your jeans," she said. - She said she liked my jeans.
"I can lend you my car," he said. - He said he could lend me his car.

Sometimes we have to use a noun instead of a pronoun, otherwise the new sentence is
confusing.
"He killed them," Kevin said. - Kevin said that the man had killed them.
If we only make mechanical changes (Kevin said he had killed them), the new sentence can
have a different meaning - Kevin himself killed them.

This and these are usually substituted.

"They will finish it this year," he said. - He said they would finish it that year.
"I brought you this book," she said. - She said she had brought me the book.
"We want these flowers," they said. - They said they wanted the flowers.

C) Time and place

Let's suppose that we talked to our friend Mary on Friday. And she said: "Greg came
yesterday." It means that Greg came on Thursday. If we report Mary's sentence on Sunday,
we have to do the following:
Mary: "Greg came yesterday." - Mary said that Greg had come the day before.
If we say: Mary said Greg had come yesterday, it is not correct, because it means that he
came on Saturday.

The time expressions change as follows.

today - that day, tomorrow - the next day/the following day, the day after tomorrow - in two
days' time, yesterday - the day before, the day before yesterday - two days before, next
week/month - the following week/month, last week/month - the previous week/month, a year
ago - a year before/the previous year

Bill: "She will leave tomorrow." - Bill said she would leave the next day.
Sam: "She arrived last week." - Sam said she had arrived the previous week.
Julie: "He moved a year ago." - Julie said he had moved a year before.

Note
If something is said and reported at the same time, the time expressions can remain the same.
"I will go on holiday tomorrow," he told me today. - He told me today he would go on holiday
tomorrow.
"We painted the hall last weekend," she told me this week. - She told me this week they had
painted the hall last weekend.
On the other hand, if something is reported later, the time expressions are different in the
reported speech.
Last week Jim said: "I'm playing next week."
If we say his sentence a week later, we will say:
Jim said he was playing this week.

Here usually becomes there. But sometimes we make different adjustments.

At school: "I'll be here at 10 o'clock," he said. - He said he would be there at 10 o'clock.
In Baker Street: "We'll meet here." - He said they would meet in Baker Street.

Questions

Questions become statements. The reporting verb say changes into ask, want to know,
wonder...
"Where have you been?" he said. - He asked me where I had been.
"What time did it start?" he said. - He wanted to know what time it had started.
"Why won't he do it?" she said. - She wondered why he wouldn't do it.
In yes/no questions we use if or whether in questions. If is more common and whether is more
formal.
"Will you come?" she asked me. - She asked me if/whether I would come.
"Did he marry Sue?" she said. - She wondered if/whether he had married Sue.

Commands, requests and advice

The commands, requests and advice mostly have the same form in English: verb + object +
infinitive (advise, ask, beg, forbid, order, persuade, recommend, tell, urge, warn etc.).
Unlike the direct speech the person addressed must be mentioned in the indirect speech.
"Get up!" he said. - He told me to get up.
"Please, revise for the test," he said. - He urged me to revise for the test.
"Put on your coat," I said. - I advised him to put on his coat.
Negative commands, requests and advice are made by verb + object + not + infinitive.
"Don't hesitate," he said. - He persuaded me not to hesitate.
"Don't smoke," the doctor warned my father. - The doctor warned my father not to smoke.

Tell can introduce statements, commands, requests or advice. The form is different, however.

Statements with tell

"I'm leaving," he told me. - He told me that he was leaving.

Commands, requests or advice with tell

"Leave the room," he told John. - He told John to leave the room.
"Don't give up," the teacher told her students. - The teacher told the students not to give up.

Similarly ask is used in reported questions, commands, requests or advice in different forms.

Questions with ask

"Will you make coffee?" he said. - He asked me if I would make coffee.

Commands, requests or advice with ask

"Make coffee, please," he said. - He asked me to make coffee.
"Don't park in my place," Greg told me. - Greg asked me not to park in his place.

Our tip

 Do some direct and indirect (reported) speech exercises to practise the use of these forms.
 See also E-grammar rules where you will find printable grammar rules on the direct and
indirect speech in pdf to download.

Modal auxiliaries can, may, must

We use modal auxiliary verbs can, may, must in the English language for various meanings -
ability, possiblity, probability, certainty, permission, prohibition, obligation, opinion,
speculation, etc.

Can

1. It is used to express the ability to do something.

I can swim very well.

Can he speak English fluently? - No, he can't.
We cannot sing at all!

2. It expresses the possibility to do something.

We can go to the seaside at last. Our holidays start next week.

3. We use it to say that something is probable.

It can be John. He has blond hair and he is wearing glasses.

4. It expresses the permission to do something.

Why not? You can marry her. She is a nice girl.

May

1. It is used for permissions.

You may borrow my car. I won't need it.

May I smoke here? - No, you can't, I'm sorry.

2. It is used to express probability or prediction.

They may call tomorrow. I hope so.

The main difference between may and can is in style. May is more formal than can. Can is
typical of spoken English.

3. The opposite of may is must not or may not.

May I smoke here?

- You mustn't smoke here. (strong prohibition)
- You may not smoke here. (more polite, very formal)
- You can't smoke here. (informal spoken English)

Must

1. It is used for strong obligations. It is personal, because it expresses the speaker's opinion
or will.

I must clean my teeth. I want to be healthy.

You must go there. And do it right now!

2. It means a strong recommendation.

You must see it. It's the best film I've ever seen.

3. We use it to show the certainty of the speaker.

They must be at school by now. It's already 9 o'clock.

4. The opposite of must is need not.

Mum, must I wash up? - No, you needn't. I've already done it.

Must not has a different meaning. It is used to express prohibition that involves the speaker's
will.
We mustn't come late today. Or the teacher will be very angry.
He mustn't enter this room. It is dangerous.

Note

Normally, these modal auxiliary verbs are not used in different tenses. The past tense of can
is could, may and must, however, only have the present form. All the other tenses must be
formed in a different way.

We make the passive voice with a verb + be + past participle: This can be done. The laws
must be respected.

Our tip

 Try some modal verbs exercises online to understand the difference between can, may and
must.
 If you prefer a printable version of these rules, go to E-grammar rules, where you can
download the use and form for free with more examples.
 You will also find some printable modal verbs exercises in pdf at Esl worksheets.

Direct | indirect object: grammar rules with examples

In the English language verbs with two objects are followed by two different types of objects.
Let's have a look at the following examples.
I sent Mary some flowers.
I sent some flowers to Mary.
These two sentences contain both kinds of objects. Flowers are the direct object. It refers to
what I sent. Mary is the indirect object. It refers to whom I sent it.
As you can see, the word order in these two sentences is different - Mary and flowers can be
placed first or second in each of these examples.

The changeable word order in English sentences

1. If the indirect object comes first in a sentence, there is no preposition.

They gave Harold a new car.
Mrs. Jones offered the girls a cake.
My grandma always wishes me a good luck.

2. If it comes second, a preposition must be used.

They gave a new car to Harold.
Mrs Jones offered a cake to the girls.
My grandma always wishes a good luck to me.

3. If the direct object is a pronoun (it, this ... ), it comes first and we must use a preposition.
Compare the difference in the following examples.
I bought it for my sister.
Can you send it to him?
I'll get it for you as soon as I can.
(Not: I bought my sister it. Can you send him it? I'll get you it as soon as I can.)
Notes
1. If the verbs read and write are only followed by the indirect object, a preposition must be
used.
Please, read to me. (Not: Please, read me).
You must write to your parents next weekend.) (Not: You must write your parents next
weekend.)
The following examples, however, will show the possible positions of two different objects
that are used after the verbs read and write.
Read me the letter. Read the letter to me.
You must write your parents an e-mail. You must write an e-mail to your parents.

2. We can use the verbs promise, show, and tell with the indir. object only, but without a
preposition. Compare the examples:
I can't promise you. (Or: I can't promise it to you.)
Show him. (Or: Show it to him.)
Can you tell me? (But remember: Can you say it to me? After the verb say we must use the
pronoun and preposition in the English language.)

Our tip

 Do some online grammar exercises to learn the differences quickly.

 If you prefer a printable version of these grammar rules, go to E-grammar rules where you
can download all the grammar rules in pdf documents for free and print them easily.

There are three types of relative clauses in the English language - the defining, non-defining
and connective.

Defining relative clauses: grammar rules with examples

These relative clauses specify a noun or pronoun in the main clause and are necessary if we
want to understand the meaning of a sentence.
I saw the girl who was outside our house. They wanted the picture that cost two pounds.

If we omit them, it is not clear what girl or picture we are talking about. They follow after the
pronouns who, which, that, whose and whom. We do not write them with commas.

Use of the relative pronouns

Who for persons

The man who called you has just arrived.

Which for things

This is the book which I wanted.

That for persons and things

Are you the boy that lives next door?
Can you see the tree that has no leaves?

That is less formal than who or which.

Who vs whom

Whom is the object of a verb. We use it for persons. The meaning is similar to who.
The man whom I met yesterday...
This is the girl whom I saw at the party.
Whom is very formal. In spoken English who or that are much more common.
The man who I met... The man that I met...
This is the girl who I saw... This is the girl that I saw...

We can also leave out the pronoun. It is the most usual form.
The man I met... This is the girl I met...

If the subject in the main clause is different from the subject in the defining relative clause,
we normally leave out the pronoun.
The student you saw in Oxford is my neighbour. (The subjects are the student and you.)
The bike she borrowed belongs to me. (The subjects are the bike and she.)

Be careful
If the subjects in both parts of a sentence are the same, we cannot omit the pronoun, because
it becomes the subject of the clause.
The driver who took you to school is from York. The pen that is on the desk is new.
There is only one subject in each sentence - the driver and the pen. If we leave out the
subject, it will not be clear what we mean.
Wrong: The driver took you to school is from York. (This sentence does not make any sense.)

Whose is a possessive pronoun for persons and things.

It is a story about a boy whose parents got divorced.
The river whose bridge is in front of us is called the Cam.

Relative pronouns with prepositions

We use the pronouns with prepositions as follows.

The man I got it from...
The man who/that I got it from...
The man from whom I got it...
The last sentence is not very common in spoken English as it is quite formal.

Non-defining relative clauses

They only describe a preceding noun or pronoun (add some information about them), but do
not specify them. They must be written with commas.
My father, who is 65 now, still works.
His car, which cost nearly 20,000 pounds, is broken.
If we leave them out (My father still works. His car is broken.), the sentences remain
grammatically correct and we know what father or car we are talking about. The only effect
is that there is less information in the sentences.

More examples
I gave it to Peter, who is my close friend.
Ann, whom I admire, is not right in this case.
Their garden, which is near here, looks beautiful.
Pam, whose children go to school, is not so busy.

The non-defining relative clauses are quite formal and are typical of written English. In
spoken English we prefer less formal structures.
Written English: My father, who is 65 now, still works.
Spoken English: My father is 65 now and still works.
Written English: Their garden, which is near here, looks beautiful.
Spoken English: Their garden is near here. It looks beautiful.

In informal English we use who instead of whom.

Formal: Sam, whom I know quite well, would be a good husband.
Informal: Sam, who I know quite well, would be a good husband.

3. The connective clauses

These relative clauses do not specify or describe the preceding nouns or pronouns, but only
develop the story.
I gave the letter to James, who sent it to London.
She passed me the salt, which fell on the floor.
Their function is different, but the rules are the same as with the non-defining clauses. We
make them with the pronouns who, whom, whose, which and write them with commas.

Remember
We cannot write the defining clauses with commas, because they change the meaning of a
sentence. Compare the following sentences.
The passengers who fastened their seatbelts survived. (Which passengers survived? Only the
pasengers wearing the seatbelts.)
The passengers, who fastened their seatbelts, survived. (Because all the passengers were
wearing their seatbelts, they survived.)
The students who did all the exercises succeeded. (Which students succeeded? Only the
students doing all the exercises.)
The students, who did all the exercises, succeeded. (All students succeeded. Why? Because
they did all the exercises.)
In spoken English we make pauses in sentences instead of commas.

 Try some connective, defining and non-defining relative clauses exercises to practise the
difference.
 If you prefer the printable version of these grammar rules, look at E-grammar rules (the first
button in the menu on the left).

Present conditonal tense (would be) - grammar rules

Statement: I would be
Negative: He would not be
Question: Would you say?
Neg. question: Would she not practise?
Short forms: I'd do, He wouldn't ask, Wouldn't we go?

Use
We use the present conditional tense in English (I would be/do etc.) to speculate about
present or future situations that could theoretically happen. This form is used when the action
is either impossible or when we do not think that the action will happen.
Examples: He would be here. (But he can't. It is not possible.) I would travel by plane. (If I
wanted to go on holiday. But I do not want to go.)

In the first person singular and plural should instead of would is also possible. But it is not
very common in modern English.
I should/would be really glad. (If you could help me). We should/would send the fax. (But we
do not know how to do it).

Should, however, can also express a recommendation or advice. In this respect, it is similar to
ought to.
I should study tonight. I ought to study tonight. (Or I will fail the exam tomorrow.)
He should drive carefully. He ought to drive carefully. (Or he will crash one day.)
You should speak loudly. You ought to speak loudly. (I can't hear you.)

Could and might are the conditional tense of can and may. They are used to speculate about
the present or future. Could indicates theoretical possibility, might indicates possibility +
uncertainty.
She could come with us tomorrow. (It is possible. She will be free.)
She might come with us tomorrow. (We hope that it is possible, but we are not sure.)

Could is also the past form of the modal verb can and expresses possibility, ability or
permission in the past.
Possibility: She could travel in our car. (It was possible because we had a free seat for her.)
Ability: She could play again in the last match. (She was able to play because she was not ill
anymore.)
Permission: She could come with us last weekend. (Her father allowed her to go.)

Perfect conditional tense (would have been)

Statement: I would have been

Negative: He would not have been
Question: Would you have practised?
Neg. question: Would she not have written?
Short forms: I'd have been, He wouldn't have given, Wouldn't we have written?

We make the perfect conditional tense with would and the perfect infinitive (have + past
participle).
In the first person singular and plural should instead of would is also possible. But it is not
very common in modern English.

Use

We use the perfect conditional tense in English (I would have been/done etc.) to speculate
about the past situations which were theoretically possible, but did not happen in fact.
Examples: I would have done it. (But I didn't do it). I would have told her. (But she didn't
want to listen.) She wouldn't have married me. (Because she didn't like me.)
Compare:

She would lend me some money now. (She is willing to lend me the money. I will ask her.)
She would have lent me some money last year. (She was willing to lend me the money, but I
didn't ask her.)

Similarly: I would do it. Will you help me? x I would have done it. But you didn't help me.

Should, could and might are used in the same way.

You should finish it soon. x You should have finished it. Why did you give up?
We might have dinner. I am hungry. x We might have had dinner. But we didn't eat anything.
They could fly tomorrow. x They could have flown last week. But they stayed at home.

Should + have + past participle (should have finished) is used to express regrets or
recommendations concerning the past.
He shouldn't have refused it. It was a good offer. (It is a pity that he refused it.)

Might (might have had) and could (could have flown) are used to speculate about the past.
We say that something was possible, but we know that it did not happen.
He might/could have died. But they rescued him.
He might/could have won. But he didn't buy a lottery ticket.

Compare

In English we can also speculate with may. In this case we do not know if the action really
happened or not.
He may have died. (It is possible that he died. But maybe he is still alive.)
He may have won. (It is possible that he won. But maybe he lost.)

Our tip

 Try some English conditional tense exercises to understand the difference between the
present conditional tense and perfect conditional in English grammar.
 See also Conditional sentences with if clauses on this website.
 If you prefer printable grammar rules on the conditional in pdf, you can go to E-grammar
rules.

Examples and grammar rules

► The second person imperative: bare infinitive

We can express commands in English by an imperative sentence made with the bare
infinitive without to.
Examples: Be careful. Open your books. Come here.

For the negative imperative we use do not or don't .

Don't be late. Do not sit down. Don't have so many bags.

We can mention a person in the command, usually at the end of the sentence.
Have something to eat, Greg.
If we talk to more people, we use the pronoun you to make the distinction between them.
You take these bags and you park the car. You wait here and I'll call the police.

► The emphatic imperative: do

In writing it is not usual to use an exclamation mark. If we put it at the end of an imperative
sentence, it becomes more urgent.
Examples: Wait! Don't do that!

We can emphasize our request with do. It is common in polite requests.

Do sit down. Do be reasonable.

On the other hand, do before the imperative can express the irritation of the speaker.
Do be quiet. Do come on time.

You before the command also shows the speaker's anger or even rudeness.
You get out of here. Don't you follow me.

In a different context, however, it can show your positive emotions.

Don't you be so sad.

► The first person imperative: let me, let us

In the first person we make it with let + me or let + us.

Examples: Let me do it for you. Let me see. - Let us go. Let's do some exercises.

For the negative we put not before the imperative.

Let us not be worried.

In spoken English it is possible to use don't at the beginning of sentences.

Don't let's be worried.

► The third person imperative: let him

We make it with let + him/her/it/them and the infinitive without to.

Examples: Let him go. Let her explain it. Let it be. Let them try it. Let the customers pay
immediately.

This form is not very common in modern English. It is more usual to say the same in a
different way.
He must go. She should explain it. Leave it alone. They can try it. The customers must pay
immediately.

The negative imperative in the third person is archaic. We use more common forms instead.
They mustn't stay here. Mary is not to travel alone.

► The polite requests: shall, will

We can make a polite request in English if we put shall we or will you at the end of the
imperative sentence. This is used in positive sentences.
Examples: Let's get started, shall we? Be careful, will you?

If you want to be even more polite, you can use questions instead of commands.
Will you pass me the salt, please? Will you help me? Could you do it for me? Would you mind
opening the window?

Our tip

 Do some exercises to improve your English grammar.

 See also E-grammar rules where you will find grammar rules in pdf on all the English tenses
and other verb forms.

Regular and irregular verbs

Regular verbs

The regular past simple and past participle forms are usually made by -ed ending (listen -
listened, play - played). It is the same for all persons, singular and plural: I listened, you
listened, he listened, we played, they played.
For spelling rules and the list of the most common regular verbs with spelling changes go to
Regular verbs.

Irregular verbs

There are basically three irregular verb forms in English:

1.The base form (or bare infinitive): draw, lead, read, dream
2. The past tense (also called preterite): drew, led, read, dreamt or dreamed
3. The past participle (sometimes called perfect participle): drawn, led, read, dreamt or
dreamed

As you can see from the examples above, some of the forms are completely different (draw -
drew - drawn), some have a different infinitive, but the two other ones are the same (lead -
led - led), some have the same spelling, but different pronunciation (read - read - read), some
can be both regular and irregular (dream - dreamt/dreamed - dreamt/dreamed) and some
have the same spelling and pronunciation (set -set -set).

List of irregular verbs

There are hundreds of such words in English. In the two lists below you will find the
following:

Basic irregular verbs list The list of the most common words used in everyday English.
Full list of irregular verbs pdf The more complete list which is longer than the first one.

You can download them for free to your computer and print them easily.
Pdf worksheets

You can download the following printable worksheets in pdf with exercises for elementary,
pre-intermediate and intermediate esl students for free and print them easily.

Irregular verbs exercises - pdf worksheet 1 The past simple tense for elementary students of
English. Fill in the missing forms and find past tenses in the word chain.
Key 1

Exercises - printable worksheet 2 The past tense and past participle for pre-intermediate
students. Complete sentences with the words in brackets and find mistakes.
Key 2

Exercises - printable worksheet 3 The past tense and past participle for intermediate students.
Fill the gaps and choose similar verbs to rewrite sentences.
Key 3

Online exercises
You can practise the preterite online in Past tenses.

If you want to practise all the three forms, try and see our present perfect, past perfect and
future perfect pages containing the explanation and a lot of online interactive exercises with
answers.

And, of course, you can also try and see other English tenses where you will learn how to use
the irregular forms in typical English sentences.

Finally, if you are looking for printable materials in pdf, you might want to have a look at E-
grammar rules and Esl worksheets at our website (see the first and last items in the red menu
on the left). You can download all the materials for free and print them easily.