Past simple exercises:
positive + negative

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Positive and negative sentences

Correct the information in the general knowledge quiz. Complete the sentences with the positive and negative forms of the past simple.

Columbus discovered America in 1592.

Columbus ___ (not discover) America in 1592. He ___ (land) on an island in the Caribbean in 1492.
Columbus did not discover America in 1592. He landed on an island in the Caribbean in 1492.

Princess Victoria became Qeen of the United Kingdom in 1901.

Victoria (not become) queen in 1901. She (rule) Britain from 1837 to 1901.
Shakespeare was the author of the tragedy called As You Like It.

As You like It (not be) a tragedy. Shakespeare (write) it as a comedy.
Julius Caesar died in a war in 44 BC.

Caesar (not die) in a war. The Roman senators (kill) him in the Senate.
Sandro Botticelli created the portrait known as Mona Lisa.

Botticelli (not create) Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci (paint) it.
Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor in India, built Taj Mahal for his oldest daughter.

Shah Jahan (not build) Taj Mahal for his daughter. It (be) the tomb of his third wife.
Admiral Lord Nelson fought against the French and Spanish at the Battle of Hastings.

He (not fight) against the French and Spanish at the Battle of Hastings. The battle (take) place near Cape Trafalgar.
Nikola Tesla invented the first electric light bulb.

Nikola Tesla (not invent) the first electric light bulb. It (be) Thomas Edison who patented it in 1880.
The Beatles were formed in London in 1960.

The Beatles (not be) formed in London. They (start) playing together in Liverpool in 1960.
Björn Borg won the Wimbledon tennis tournament eight times.

Björn Borg (not win) the Wimbledon tennis tournament so many times. It was Roger Federer who (become) the winner eight times.
The worst earthquake in the history of the USA struck New York in 1906.

The worst earthquake (not strike) New York in 1906. It (destroy) San Francisco.

Past simple Exercises with answers, PDF worksheets and grammar rules.

For elementary - intermediate learners of English as a foreign language.

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