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Simple Past Tense Short Stories – (PDF’s)

Reading past tense short stories is a great way to practice and improve your English. Many students love these stories because they are not boring and they are designed to improve your English skills while reading a good story. The simple past tense is often used in storytelling, so it is important that you have a good grasp of it.

Remember regular verbs in the past tense typically end in -ed (e.g., played, walked), while irregular verbs change form (e.g., go → went, eat → ate).

In this article, you will find a collection of simple past tense stories created for English learners.

THE FROG PRINCE – Simple Past Tense Short Story

frog prince short story in simple past tense

Once upon a time, there was a young princess who loved shiny things, especially gold. Her favorite toy was a golden ball. Every day, she played near an old well in the forest, throwing her ball into the air and catching it.

One afternoon, as she tossed the ball, it slipped from her hands and fell into the deep well. She ran to the edge and looked down, but she could not see the bottom.

“Oh no! My golden ball is gone!” she cried.

Suddenly, a voice spoke from the well.

“Why are you crying, Princess?”

She looked around but saw no one.

“Down here!” the voice said again.

The princess looked into the well and saw a little green frog staring up at her.

“If you help me,” she said, “I will give you anything—my jewels, my crown, anything!”

The frog shook his head. “I don’t want your jewels or your crown. But if I bring back your ball, you must promise to be my friend. Let me eat with you and sleep in your palace.”

The princess thought the frog was talking nonsense, but she agreed anyway. “Alright, I promise,” she said quickly.

The frog jumped into the well and disappeared. After a moment, he returned with the golden ball in his mouth. He dropped it at the princess’s feet.

She laughed with joy, grabbed the ball, and ran home without another word.

“Wait!” called the frog. “You forgot your promise!”

But the princess did not stop.

The next evening, as she ate dinner with her family, she heard a strange noise at the castle door.

“Princess! Open the door!” a small voice called.

Curious, she opened the door and gasped—it was the frog!

She shut the door quickly. “Father, it’s just an ugly frog!” she said.

“And what does the frog want?” the king asked.

The princess told him everything.

“You must keep your promise,” the king said. “Let him in.”

The princess sighed and opened the door. The frog hopped in and followed her to the dining table.

“I am too small. Lift me up,” the frog said.

The princess rolled her eyes but picked him up and placed him on the table.

“Now, push your plate closer,” he said.

Disgusted, the princess moved her plate and watched as the frog ate happily.

After dinner, the frog yawned. “I am tired. Take me to your room so I can sleep.”

The princess was shocked. “You are just a frog!” she exclaimed.

But the king gave her a stern look. “A promise is a promise,” he reminded her.

Unhappy, the princess carried the frog upstairs and set him in a far corner of the room.

But the frog hopped to her bed. “I am cold. Lift me into bed, or I will tell your father!”

Angry but defeated, the princess picked him up and placed him on a small pillow beside her.

Then, she heard a quiet sob.

“What’s wrong now?” she asked.

“I only wanted a friend,” the frog whispered. “But you don’t like me at all. I should just go back to the well.”

The princess felt guilty. She sighed, sat beside him, and smiled.

“I will be your friend,” she said, and this time, she meant it. She gave him a small kiss on his cheek.

Suddenly, the frog glowed and transformed into a handsome young prince!

The princess gasped. “You were a prince all along?”

“Yes,” he said. “A wicked witch cursed me, and only a true friend’s kindness could break the spell.”

From that day on, the princess and the prince became great friends. And a few years later, they got married and lived happily ever after.

past tense verbs used in the story

Simple Past Tense Stories PDF’s

You can download Simple Past Tense Short Story PDF files with exercises down below.

The Frog Prince PDF

Cinderella Short Story PDF

Jack and the Beanstalk 

Rapunzel Past Tense Short Story

Elves and the Shoe Maker 

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Thanks for the awesome pdfs!

Can I get more Simple past tense

Can I have a winter short story pls

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