Simple Past Tense

Simple Past Tense
Simple Past gap-fill exercise

William Shakespeare …………………. (be) born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564. He …………………. (go) to the local Stratford Grammar School, where he …………………. (be) …………………. (teach) by Master Walter Roche. Lessons began at six o'clock in the morning in the summer in order to make the most of daylight.

His father …………………. (be) …………………. (call) John Shakespeare a Stratford upon Avon glove-maker. He …………………. (send) William to the local grammar school in 1571, but when William …………………. (be) only 14 years old his fortunes fell so low that William …………………. (have) to leave school. Some historians say he …………………. (work) in his father's shop.

At the age of 19 William …………………. (to marry) Anne Hathaway the daughter of a rich farmer near Stratford. Three years later Shakespeare …………………. (go) to London. How he …………………. (live) there we do not know.

In about 1587 he …………………. (become) a member of one of the few theatrical companies which …………………. (exist) in those days. Around 1590 he …………………. (begin) to try his hand at writing plays. There …………………. (be) no female actors in those days, all the female parts …………………. (be) …………………. (play) by boys. It is thought that he …………………. (write) his first major play, Henry VI., Part One, in 1592.

His most famous play, Hamlet, …………………. (be) probably first seen in 1601 at the Globe Theatre. Shakespeare …………………. (continue) to write about 2 plays a year.

He …………………. (return) to Stratford in 1612, where he …………………. (live) the life of a country gentleman. He …………………. (die) of a fever on his birthday in 1616.

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