Need an engaging way to practise the past simple? This free ESL board game helps students review past simple question forms while building fluency and confidence. It’s perfect for elementary and pre-intermediate learners and works well as a lively grammar review or end-of-lesson activity.
The game turns grammar practice into a fun group challenge, encouraging students to use the past simple naturally in conversation and share personal experiences.
Activity Overview
- Level: Elementary / Pre-intermediate
- Target language: Past simple tense (questions and short answers)
- Time: 20–30 minutes
- Group size: 3–4 students
What you need
- A copy of the board game for each group (download here)
- One counter per player
- One dice per group
How to play
- Divide students into groups of three or four.
- Give each group a board game, a dice, and one counter per player.
- Players place their counters on START and throw the dice to decide who begins.
- Player A throws the dice and moves forward that number of spaces.
- Player B asks the question on the square where Player A lands. Player A answers using the correct past simple form.
- If the group agrees the answer is correct, Player A stays on that square. If not, they return to their previous position.
- Encourage short follow-up questions or extra discussion to support fluency development.
- The first player to reach FINISH is the winner.
Why use this activity?
This board game makes past simple practice more dynamic and interactive. It gives learners repeated opportunities to form and answer past simple questions in a natural, conversational setting. It’s particularly useful for reviewing regular and irregular verbs, past events, and personal experience questions in a low-pressure environment.
Related grammar links
- Past simple guide – Learn how to form and use past simple.
