0 ratings0% found this document useful (0 votes) 307 views2 pagesEnglish Grammar in Use - PAST SIMPLE
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Study this example:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian
musician and composer. He lived from 1756 to
1791. He started composing at the age of five
and wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
He was only 35 years old when he died
Lived/started/wrote/was/died are all past simple.
Very often the past simple ends in -ed (regular verbs)
I work in a travel agency now. Before that | worked in a department store.
We invited them to our party, but they decided not to come.
The police stopped me on my way home last night.
Laura passed her exam because she studied very hard.
For spelling (stopped, studied etc), see Appendix 6
But many verbs are irregular. The past simple does not end in -ed. For example
write + wrote Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
see > saw We saw Tanya in town a few days ago.
go > went | went to the cinema three times last week.
shut > shut It was cold, so | shut the window.
juestions and negatives we use did/didn't + infinitive (enjoy/see/go etc):
1 | enjoyed jou | enjoy? I enjoy
she | saw she | see? she | didn't | see
they | went [| they | gor | | they go
a: Did you go out etree night?
8: Yes, | went to the cinema, but | didn’t enjoy the film much.
‘When did Mr Thomas die?’ ‘About ten years ago.’
They didn't invite us to the party, so we didn't go.
‘Did you have time to do the shopping?’ ‘No, | didn't’
In the following examples, do is the main verb in the sentence (did ... do / didn't do):
What did you do at the weekend? (not What did you at the weekend?)
I didn't do anything. (not | didn’t anything)
The past of be (am/is/are) is was/were:
was | I/he/she/it?
Vhe/shesit was/wasn't
we/you/they were/weren't were | we/you/they? |
Note that we do not use did in negatives and questions with was/were:
) I was angry because they were late
Was the weather good when you were on holiday?
They weren't able to come because they were so busy.
Did you go out last night or were you too tired?. Unit
Exercises 5
@ Read what Laura says about a typical working day:
T usually get up at 7 o'clock and have a big breakfast. | walk to work, which
takes me about half an hour. I start work at 8.45. I never have lunch. Ifinish
work at 5 o'clock. I'm always tired when | get home. | usually cook a meal
in the evening. | don’t usually go out. | go to bed at about 11 o'clock, and |
always sleep well
Laura
Yesterday was a typical working day for Laura. Write what she did or didn’t do yesterday.
1 She. got up, at7o'clock. 7 at S o'clock.
2 She abig breakfast. 8 tired when home.
3 She 9 a meal yesterday evening
4 it to get to work, 10 out yesterday evening,
5 atads, 11 at 11 o'clock
6 lunch. 12 well last night.
© complete the sentences using the following verbs in the correct form:
buy catch cost fall hurt sell. spend teach throw write
1 Mozart ...wrote. more than 600 pieces of music
2 'How did you learn to drive?" ‘My father me’
3 We couldn't afford to keep our car, so we it.
4 Dave down the stairs this morning and his leg,
5 Joe the ball to Sue, who it
6 Ann a lot of money yesterday. She adress which
£100.
© Vou ask james about his holiday. Write your questions.
Hi, How are things?
Fine, thanks. I've just had a great holiday.
1 Where did. you. go. ?
To the U.S. We went on a trip from San Francisco to Denver.
2 How ? By car?
Yes, we hired a car in San Francisco.
3 It'sa long way to drive. How long to get to Denver?
‘Two weeks.
4 Where ? Inhotels?
Yes, small hotels or motels.
5 good?
Yes, but it was very hat - sometimes too hot.
6 ‘the Grand Canyon?
Of course. It was wonderful.
EBD complete the sentences. Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative,
1 Itwas warm, so! tk off my coat. (take)
2 The film wasn't very good. |. didn’t enjoy it much. (enjoy)
3. I knew Sarah was busy, so | her. (disturb)
4 We were very tired, so we the party early. (leave)
5 The bed was very uncomfortable. 1 well. (sleep)
6 The window was open and a bird into the room. (fly)
7 The hotel wasn't very expensive. It much to stay there, (cost)
8 Iwas ina hurry, so | time to phone you. (have)
9. Itwas hard carrying the bags. They very heavy. (be)
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