Past simple


Introduction

The past simple tense is used to talk about:
We can say when or for how long these actions happened.

Examples:

Part 1 - Past simple positive

Regular past simple verbs take "–ed".

For example:
I
You
He / She / It
We
They
walked to the office.
played tennis.
laughed.
washed the car.
(worry =) worried all day.

Irregular past simple verbs are different and must be learnt!

For example:
I
You
He / She / It
We
They
fell off the wall.
forgot the keys.
left work early.
bought some new clothes.

Some common irregular verbs:

Past simple
I
You
He / She / It
We
They
did do
got get
went go
had have
heard hear
knew know
left leave
made make
said say
saw see
told tell
won win

Practice

.
1)
My mother    shopping yesterday. (go)

 
2)
We    in an apartment in Thailand. (stay)

 
3)
Bob    to the meeting by train. (travel)

 
4)
I    the news on the radio. (hear)

 

Part 2 - Past simple negative

To make a negative sentence we use
"didn't (did not)" + the infinitive of the main verb (without "to")


For example:
I
You
He / She / It
We
They
didn't buy any new shoes.
go to work yesterday.
play badminton last night.

Practice

.
1)
Sarah    the competition. (win)

 
2)
We    soup for dinner last night. (have)

 
3)
They    about the accident. (know)

 
4)
I    help with the project. (need)

 

Part 3 - Past Simple Questions

To make a question we use
"did" + the infinitive of the main verb (without "to")

Remember to put "did" before the subject: "Did you", "Did he"

Did you ask her to the party? Yes, I did. / No, I didn't (did not).
Did he visit the office yesterday? Yes, he did. / No, he didn't (did not).
Did they buy a new house? Yes, they did. / No, they didn't (did not).

Practice

.
1)
   you    the quiz? (complete)

 
2)
   he    you? (phone)

 
3)
   they    your friends? (meet)

 
4)
   the film    late? (finish)

 

Further practice

.
1)
I ____ fishing when I was young.
 

 

2)
Rick ____ the shop yesterday.
 

 

3)
____ to the cinema last week?
 

 

4)
Emily ____ the answer to the question.
 

 

5)
____ they ____ the museum?
 

 

6)
Robin ____ on time.
 

 


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