PAST SIMPLE

Questions

What did you have for lunch yesterday?

What did you do before going to bed last night?

USAGE

We use the Past Simple to express the idea that an action started and finished in the past.

These are some words and expressions that usually appear with a verb in the Past Simple.

Last week, night, Monday, year, month,... ……..ago Yesterday... In 1986... The other day...

Time expressions

REGULAR VERBS

To form the past simple of a regular verb we add “-ed” to the base form.

Work --- Worked Play --- Played Paint --- Painted

SPELLING RULESTo avoid spelling mistakes we must remember these rules:

1.Afterconsonant + vowel + consonant we double the last consonant when the syllable is stressed.

Stop Stopped Clap Clapped Plan Planned

SPELLING RULES

2- After a final -e only add d .

Rule Ruled Live Lived Love Loved Move Moved

SPELLING RULES

3.When the verb ends in consonant+y we drop the “y” and write “i+ed”.

Cry Cried Try Tried Carry Carried

Spelling Rules

4.When the verb ends in vowel+y we leave the “y” and add “ed”.

Play Played

sway Swayed

IRREGULAR VERBS

Most verbs are regular. But there are also irregular verbs. You must study the List of Irregular verbs to use them.

Break ------ Broke Do ------- Did Write ------- Wrote

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

We use the same form with different subjects to express the past.

She broke her leg. I found a job. We worked together. You stopped the car.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

We add didn´t before the main verb. Remember the verb in the infinitive.

SUBJECT +DIDN’T+INFINITIVE

I didn´t study for my exams. They didn´t bring the flowers. She didn´t stop the car. The programme didn´t begin one hour ago.

QUESTIONS IN THE PAST SIMPLE

We write did /didn’t before the subject. The main verb is written in the infinitive.

DID + SUBJECT + INFINITIVE

Did you come yesterday? Did you hear the noise? Did she open the present?

Put the verbs in the correct tense:

Last year I (spend) ________my holiday in Ireland. It (be) ________great. I (travel)___________ around by car with two friends and we (visit) ________lots of interesting places. In the evenings we usually (go)_______ to a pub.

Answers

Last year I (spend) ________my holiday in Ireland. It (be) ________great. I (travel)___________ around by car with two friends and we (visit) ________lots of interesting places. In the evenings we usually (go)_______ to a pub.

spent

was

travelled

visited

went

One night we even (learn)________ some Irish dances. We (be) ________very lucky with the weather. It (not / rain)___________ a lot. But we (see) ________some beautiful rainbows. Where (spend / you)__________ your last holiday?

Put the verbs in the correct tense:

One night we even (learn)________ some Irish dances. We (be) ________very lucky with the weather. It (not / rain)___________ a lot. But we (see) ________some beautiful rainbows. Where (spend / you)__________ your last holiday?

learnt

were

saw

didn’t rain

did you spend

Answers