Past Simple
Use of the Past Simple
The Past Simple is used to write and talk about completed actions that happened in a time before the present. It is the basic form of the past tense in
English. Study the following information how to form the simple past and how to form the negation and questions.
Regular Verbs
How to form: Infinitive + ed = 2nd form
Examples: walk + ed walked
laugh + ed laughed
want + ed wanted
Note: cry - cried y»i
carry
y»i
- carried
love - loved no e
hope - hoped no e
stop -
if you speak a short vowel » doubling
stopped
drop
if you speak a short vowel » doubling
-dropped
Key words: yesterday, last week (month, Monday, October,...), in 1984, ago
Irregular Verbs
1st form 2nd form 1st form 2nd form
am, is was see saw
are were do did
get got take took
go went have had
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Negation of the Past Simple
How to form: didn't (= did not) + 1st form
He didn't go to her last party. They didn't like his story.
BUT: was not (wasn't), were not (weren't), could not (couldn't)
Questions in the Past Simple
How to form: did + 1st form
Did he go to her last party? Did they like his story?
Where did they live? How did she feel?
Question word - did - person - verb
BUT: Was he angry? Were they late? Could they swim?
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A) Tell the story – fill in the past simple tense
On Friday, the children (talk) about a day out together in the country. The next morning, they (go) to the country
with their two dogs and (play) together. Ben and Dave (have) some kites. Some time later the dogs (be)
not there. So they (call) them and (look) for them in the forest. After half an hour the children (find)
them and (take) them back. Charlie (be) very happy to see them again. At lunch time Nick (go) to the
bikes and (fetch) the basket with some meat sandwiches. Then they (play) football. Nick and Dave (win).
In the evening they (ride) home.
B) Fill in the correct simple past forms.
The students of class 8B (do) a project last week. First the pupils (choose) what they wanted to do. Then
they (get) information from books and brochures, and they (talk) to a lot of people. They (find) some
interesting photos in the library. Their teacher (help) them when they (ask) her. Then they (make) a
poster and a video and (tell) the other groups about their project.
C) A project about Cornwall - Fill in the correct simple past forms.
arrange • bring • choose • decide • find • get • go • say • start
Last month Jenny, Nick and Ben to do a project together. They Cornwall. First Jenny to a travel agency
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and some brochures. Nick and Ben some interesting books in the library. Then they work. A week later
they all their material to school and it on a poster. ‘Your presentation is interesting’, Miss Hunt.
C) Complete these sentences. Use the verbs below.
clean - die - enjoy - end - happen - live - open - play - rain - repair - start - stay - want - watch
1. Yesterday evening I TV.
2. I only my teeth four times last week.
3. Bruce his mountain bike yesterday evening.
4. The concert last night at 7.30 and at 10 o'clock.
5. The accident last Sunday afternoon.
6. When I was a child I to be a lawyer.
7. Mozart from 1756 to 1791.
8. We our holiday last week.
9. Today the weather is nice, but yesterday it .
10. It was hot in the room, so I the window.
11. The weather was good yesterday afternoon, so we tennis.
12. William Shakespeare in 1616.
D) Put the sentences from the present into the past tense.
1. He always goes to work by car. Yesterday he to work by bus.
2. They always get up early. This morning they up late.
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3. Bill often loses his key. He one last Saturday.
4. I write a letter to Jane every week. Last week I two letters.
5. She meets her friends every evening. She them yesterday evening, too.
6. I usually read two newspapers every day. I only a newspaper yesterday.
7. They come to my house every Friday. Last Friday they , too.
8. We usually go to the cinema on Sunday. We to the cinema last Sunday, too.
9. Tom always has a shower in the morning. Tom a shower this morning, too.
10. They buy a new car every year. Last year they a new car, too.
11. I eat an orange every day. Yesterday I two oranges.
12. We usually do our shopping on Monday. We our shopping last Monday, too.
13. Ann often takes photos. Last weekend she some photos.
14. We leave at 8.30 every morning. But yesterday we at 8.00.
E) Put the sentences into past tense.
1. She wins the money. She the money.
2. They can eat. They eat.
3. She must go. She go.
4. We go shopping. We shopping.
5. She runs to school. She to school.
6. I can walk. I walk.
7. We buy a new car. We a new car.
8. They leave the party. They the party.
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9. We collect coins. We coins.
10. You are allowed to eat. You allowed to eat.
11. Peter eats a hamburger. Peter a hamburger.
12. She has to wash it. She to wash it.
13. They want to go home. They to go home.
14. I close the windows. I the windows.
15. She studies for a test. She for a test.
16. They can drive. They drive.
17. Sam likes to laugh. Sam to laugh.
18. Mary goes home. Mary home.
19. We write a letter. We a letter.
20. She opens the window. She the window.
F) Put the following sentences into the negation. Fill in the negative form of the verb.
Example: She wrote an email to Tom. She didn't write an email to Tom.
1. My dad met her in Paris three days ago.
My dad her in Paris three days ago.
2. Sam bought a new camera.
Sam a new camera.
3. They came home late from work last Monday.
They home late from work last Monday.
4. We played tennis yesterday afternoon.
We tennis yesterday afternoon.
5. I caught a cold last winter.
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I a cold last winter.
6. The girls watched TV yesterday evening.
The girls TV yesterday evening.
7. The student copied the text from the board.
The student the text from the board.
8. The children swam in the sea.
The children in the sea.
9. We stayed at the same hotel in Paris.
We at the same hotel in Paris.
10. Linda flew to Las Vegas last Wednesday.
Linda to Las Vegas last Wednesday.
11. I was really tired yesterday evening.
I really tired yesterday evening.
12. They went to bed early last Friday.
They to bed early last Friday.
13. We found out what they did yesterday night.
We what they did yesterday night.
14. She cooked pasta for dinner last Thursday.
She pasta for dinner last Thursday.
15. They were late for school again two days ago.
They late for school again two days ago.
G) Fill in the negative form of the past simple.
1. They invited Linda to their party but they Carol.
2. We met Sally but we Frank.
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3. They did their English homework but they their maths homework.
4. The girls visited the Tower but they Westminster Abbey.
5. He bought jeans but he any T-shirts.
6. We watched the news but we the weather report.
7. We read chapter 1 to 4 but we the last chapter.
8. She talked to us but she to Mr Brown.
9. They played tennis but they football.
10. She made breakfast but she lunch.
11. They were in Boston but they in New York.
12. She liked Chris but she Robert.
13. He was happy but she happy.
14. Paula sang well but Christina well.
15. She got up early but he early.
H) Fill in the negation.
1. They went to work by train. They to work by train.
2. We gave her an expensive necklace. We her an expensive necklace.
3. They did their homework carefully. They their homework carefully.
4. He drove very fast. He very fast.
5. Daniel opened a new restaurant. Daniel a new restaurant.
6. We worked last Monday. We last Monday.
7. We saw Bill yesterday evening. We Bill yesterday evening.
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8. The boys liked their sports teacher. The boys their sports teacher.
9. I ordered ham and eggs. I ham and eggs.
10. Nicole found her ring. Nicole her ring.
11. The twins were at the party. The twins at the party.
12. They watched TV. They TV.
13. Nancy went to school. Nancy to school.
14. He was in town. He in town.
15. They lived in Glasgow. They in Glasgow.
I) Form the questions.
Example: She did her homework. - and Peter - Did he do his homework?
1. She went to the cinema yesterday. - and you?
to the cinema yesterday?
2. He drove to London yesterday. - and Hanna?
to London yesterday?
3. They wrote an email. - and you?
an email?
4. She learned for the test. - and Jake?
for the test?
5. Linda got up early. - and her kids?
early?
6. I watched TV yesterday - and you?
TV yesterday?
7. I phoned her last week? - and Peter?
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her last week?
8. I had a cold last month. - and Barbara?
a cold last month?
9. We bought some nice presents for her. - and your brother?
nice presents, too?
10. He tidied up his room. - and you?
your room?
11. They invited Neil to their party. - and you?
Neil to your party?
12. We played tennis yesterday. - and Jill?
tennis yesterday, too?
J) Form the questions.
Example: He bought a new laptop. - Did he buy a new laptop?
1. He was at the office yesterday. at the office yesterday?
2. That jacket cost more than 100 euros. more than 100 euros?
3. We watched the late night movie. the late night movie?
4. My father walked to work yesterday. to work yesterday.?
5. She took the bus to Manchester. the bus to Manchester?
6. They ate out last evening. out last evening?
7. They were in London last month. in London last month?
8. They arrived at the airport on time. at the airport on time?
9. Linda decided to go home straight away. to go home straight away?
10. I bought bread. bread?
11. My friends swam in the sea. in the sea?
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12. My sister missed the bus. the bus?
13. She answered by email. by email?
14. They won a lot of money. a lot of money?
15. She drove all the way without stopping. all the way without stopping?
K) Form the questions.
Example: Carol opened the window. - Did Carol open the window?
1. Sam bought a CD. a CD?
2. We played chess last Saturday. last Saturday?
3. She went to the market yesterday. to the market yesterday?
4. My friends watched this movie last week. this movie last week?
5. They collected postcards. postcards?
6. The teacher pointed to the board. to the board?
7. I was thirsty. thirsty?
8. Frank married her a year ago. her a year ago?
9. My brother rang Susan yesterday. Susan yesterday?
10. He had ham and eggs for breakfast. ham and eggs for breakfast?
11. The girls talked all night. all night?
12. They lived in New York. in New York?
13. My sister bought a new laptop last year. a new laptop last year?
14. The film started at 10.00 pm. at 10.00 pm?
15. Our parents got up before 8 o'clock. before 8 o'clock?
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