Le passé simple – Free Exercise

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Exercise

Complete the sentences with the passé simple form of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Je (dormir)   pendant dix heures.1st person singular: remove the -ir ending and add is.I slept for ten hours.
  2. Ils se (réveiller)   à huit heures.3rd person plural: remove the -er ending and add èrent.They woke up at eight o’clock.
  3. Nous (sortir)   de la maison.1st person plural: remove the -ir ending and add îmes.We left the house.
  4. Vous (arriver)   en retard.2nd person plural: remove the -er ending and add âtes.You arrived late.
  5. Tu (répondre)   à la question.2nd person singular: remove the -re ending and add is.You answered the question.

Complete the sentences with the passé simple form of the verbs in brackets. Remember – some verbs do not follow the regular conjugation rules.

  1. Est-ce que vous (être)   surpris?Être is an irregular verb.
    See the list of irregular verbs.    Were you surprised?
  2. Ils (venir)   à midi.Venir is conjugated differently in the passé simple.
    See the list of irregular verbs.    They came at midday.
  3. Tu (voyager)   autour du monde.For verbs ending in -ger, add an e before the ending, except in the 3rd person plural.You travelled around the world.
  4. Nous (avoir)   soudain très faim.Avoir is an irregular verb.
    See the list of irregular verbs.    We were suddenly very hungry.
  5. Je (commencer)   un exercice.For verbs ending in -cer, we add a ç before the ending, except in the 3rd person plural.I started an exercise.

Complete the sentences using the passé simple form of the verbs in brackets. Remember – not all verbs follow the regular conjugation rules.

  1. Je (revoir)   un ami d'enfance hier.Revoir is an irregular verb.
    See the list of irregular verbs.    I saw a childhood friend again yesterday.
  2. Est-ce que vous (aller)   au restaurant?Aller is an irregular verb, but not in the passé simple.
    2nd person plural: We remove the er-ending and add âtes.    Did you go to the restaurant?
  3. Maxime se (souvenir)   de la recette.Se souvenir is conjugated differently in the passé simple.
    See venir in the list of irregular verbs.    Maxime remembered the recipe.
  4. Ils (avancer)   la date du rendez-vous.For verbs ending in -cer, add a ç except in the 3rd person plural.They moved the appointment forward.
  5. Nous (comprendre)   la phrase.Comprendre is an irregular verb.
    See prendre in the list of irregular verbs.    We understood the sentence.