Lesson 12 |Past Simple (I did/ was, were)

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Márcia Mucavele
 Lesson 12 | Past Simple (I did/ was, were)
Study this example situation: But many verbs are irregular. The Past Simple does
not end in -ed.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian
musician and composer. He lived from 1756 write → wrote
to 1791. He started composing at the age of Eg.: Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
five and wrote more than 600 pieces of see → saw
music. He was only 35 years old when he Eg.: We saw Tanya in town a few days ago.
died. go → went
Eg.: I went to the cinema three times last week.
lived/started/wrote/was/died are all Past Simple.
shut → shut
Eg.: lt was cold, so I shut the window.
Very often the Past Simple ends in -ed (regular verbs):
Examples: In questions and negatives we use did/did not (didn't) +
infinitive (enjoy/see/go etc.):
 I work in a travel agency now. Before that I worked in a
affirmative interrogative negative
department store.
 We invited them to our party, but they decided not to come. I enjoyed did I enjoy? I did not (didn’t) enjoy
 The police stopped me on my way home last night. did she see? She did not (didn’t) see
She saw
 Laura passed her exam because she studied very hard.
They went did they go? They did not (didn’t) go

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 Lesson 12 | Past Simple (I did/ was, were)
More examples

A: Did you go out last night?

B: Yes, I went to the cinema, but I didn't enjoy the film much.
A: When did Mr Cooper die?
B: About ten years ago.

They didn't invite us to the party, so we didn't go.

A: Did you have time to do the shopping?

B: No, I didn't.

In the following examples, do is the main verb (did... do/didn't do):

A: What did you do at the weekend? (not What did you at the weekend?)
B: I didn't do anything. (not I didn't anything)

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 Lesson 12 | Past Simple (I did/ was, were)
The Past of be (am,is/are) is was/were:

Affirmative/Negative Interrogative
I /he/she/it was/wasn't was I/he/she/it?
we/you/they were/weren't were we/you/they?

Note that we don’t use did in negatives and questions with was/were:

Examples:
 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?

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 Lesson 12 | Practice Time (Exercises)
1. Read what Laura says about a typical working day:
I usually get up at 7 o'clock and have a big breakfast. I walk to work, which takes me about
half an hour. I start work at 8.45. I never have lunch. I finish work at 5 o'clock. I'm always
tired when I get home. I usually cook a meal in the evening. I don't usually go out. I go to
bed at about 11 o'clock, and I always sleep well.

Yesterday was a typical working day for Laura. Write what she did or didn't do yesterday.
1. She got up at 7 o'clock. 7. _______________________at 5 o'clock.
2. She ________a big breakfast. 8. _________tired when ________ home.
3. She ____________________. 9. _____________________ meal yesterday evening.
4. lt ____________________to get to work. 10. ____________________out yesterday evening.
5. ____________________________at 11. ____________________ at 11 o'clock.
8.45. 12. ____________________ well last night.
6. __________________________ lunch.

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 Lesson 12 | Practice Time (Exercises)
2. Complete the sentences using the following verbs in the 3. Complete the sentences. Put the verb into the correct
correct form: form, positive or negative.
a) lt was warm, so I took off my coat. (take)
buy catch cost fall hurt sell spend teach throw write b) The film wasn't very good. I didn’t enjoy it much.
(enjoy)
a) Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music. c) I knew Sarah was busy, so I ________________her.
b) A: How did you learn to drive? B: My father ________me. (disturb)
c) We couldn't afford to keep our car, so we ________it. d) We were very tired, so we ____________ the party
d) Dave_______down the stairs this morning and early. (leave)
_________his leg. e) The bed was very uncomfortable. I ____________well.
e) Joe _________the ball to Sue, who _________ it. (sleep)
f) Sandra _____________a lot of money yesterday. She f) The window was open and a bird __________into the
________a dress which ________ £100. room. (fly)
g) The hotel wasn't very expensive. lt __________much
to stay there. (cost)
h) I was in a hurry, so I ____________ time to phone you.
(have)
i) lt was hard carrying the bags. They ____________very
heavy. (be)