Explanation and English Practice: past simple intro: EP2-11G

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Explanation: the use of the past simple

 

The past simple is the main tense we use for telling stories, whether we are speaking or writing.[1] We begin with a verb in the past simple:

The trouble began at 4.30 on Wednesday afternoon as I came out of the bank.

And each action which continues the development of the story uses the past simple.

A security van was parked outside. A security guard in uniform appeared at the back door of the van. Then, suddenly, three masked men jumped out of a doorway…

NOTE: to study the past simple in narratives, go to file: (details to follow)

Your ‘story’ may be just one sentence which you tell your friend about what you did yesterday. It makes no difference, you still use the past simple.

Yesterday afternoon I went shopping with my sister and I bought a blue top in the sales.

Explanation: the form of the past simple (and see R2-11G)

When we want to use the past simple, we must know that many verbs have an irregular form in this tense.

Regular verbs add -ed to the base form (the infinitive without ‘to’ – to walk > walk etc)

Walk walked; play played; look looked

If they end with an e, they just add d: hope hoped; love loved;

If they end with a y and a consonant before the y, the y changes to -ied:

carry carried; bury buried; study studied etc

Irregular verbs do something different, and must be learned one by one:

Come came; feel felt; shut shut; fight fought etc

To be is irregular, and has two forms:

I, he, she, it was

you, we, they were

 

 

Exercise 1: regular verbs + to be

Put past tense positive, negative or question in the gaps

Example

0. I _________ (cycle) to my friend’s house yesterday evening, but I ___________ (not / need) a map to find my way.

I cycled six kilometres to my friend’s house yesterday evening, but I didn’t need a map to find my way.

Now try these

1. I ___________ (walk) to work yesterday, but I _______________ (not / walk) this morning.

2. Yesterday I ___________ (start) work at 8 am and I _____________ (not / finish) until 7 pm.

3. I __________ (open) a tin of tuna, but I _____________ (not / like) it – I think it _______ (be) off.

4. A: ___________ (you / arrive) in the afternoon?

B: No, the train ___________ (be) late, we ____________ (not / arrive) until 8 p.m.

5. Yesterday I __________ (relax) at home and ___________ (listen) to the radio. I ____________ (not / phone) anyone.

6. A: Where __________ (you / wash) your clothes?

B: There’s a launderette on the corner near college: I __________ (use) it yesterday evening after class.

7. Yesterday afternoon, my girlfriend and I _________ (be) in Brighton. We _________ (look) at the shops, but we ____________ (decide) not to spend any money..

8. Last night I __________(wait) two hours for a bus. I ________ (be) very angry.

9. I __________ (want) to telephone you last Friday, but I _______________ (not/remember) your number.

10. This afternoon I __________ (ask) a man in the street for a light, but he _____________ (not/be) English and he ___________ (ignore) me.

11. ___________ (you/phone) your parents last night?

Well, I ________ (try) to, but they _________ (not /be) at home so nobody ___________ (answer).

12. Why __________ (you / not / text) me this morning?

 

Exercise 2: irregular verbs - positive-negative

Fill in the gaps using the verbs given: the past simple positive in the first gap, negative in the second.

Example

0.GIVE: I ________ him my phone number, but I _________ _________ him my address.

I gave him my phone number, but I didn’t give him my address.

Now try these

1. LOSE: last week I __________ my wallet, but I ________ _________ my mobile phone.

2. FIND: This morning I _________ a purse in the street, but I _________ _________ any money in it.

3. DRINK: On Saturday night, she __________ six pints of beer, but she _________ __________ any water.

4. EAT: Last night my friend _________ three hamburgers, but he __________ __________ many chips.

5. COST: That shirt _________ £9.99 in the sale. It __________ ___________ the normal price of £17.99.

6. BUY: I __________ the shirt, but I ___________ ____________ a tie to go with it.

 

Exercise 3: irregular verbs – question and answer?

Fill in the gaps with the right form of the verb.

Example:

Q: ___________ (you / buy) that jacket in the High Street?

Did you buy that jacket in the High Street?

A: No I _________(do) . I ________ (buy) it in Italy, actually.

No I didn’t – I bought it in Italy, actually.

Now try these:

1. Q: ___________ (I / see) you with Josie on Saturday night?

A: It’s possible – we _______ (go) dancing at the Blue Light disco.

2. Q: _________ (you / finish ) your homework over the weekend?

A: Yes, I _________ . I ___________ (do) it on Friday before I _________ (go) out.

3. Q: Where _________ (you /go) after school on Friday?

A: Some of us _________ (take) the train and __________ (go) to London.

4. Q: What time _____________ (you / get) back?

A: We ________ (get) back late. I __________ (fall) asleep around 3 a.m.

5. Q: ___________ (you/ find) your watch in the end?

A: No, I ________ (do). I __________ (lose) it in the park, and I can’t find it.

6. Q: __________________ (your sister / come) from Germany for the weekend?

A: Yes, she _________. But she ________ (fly) back on Sunday night. She __________ (have to) be back at work on Monday.