Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 5 · B1

Past simple (I did)

Use the past simple for finished actions and situations in the past. Regular verbs end in -ed, many common verbs are irregular, and questions and negatives use did/didn't. The past of be is was/were.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 27 minutes

In this lesson

What the past simple isA3 screens of questions
Regular and irregular verbsB2 screens of questions
Questions and negatives: did and didn'tC2 screens of questions
was and wereD2 screens of questions

Point A of 4

What the past simple is

Study this example:

Emily Brontë was an English novelist and poet. She lived from 1818 to 1848. She grew up in Haworth, in Yorkshire, and wrote one novel, Wuthering Heights. She was only 30 years old when she died.

lived, grew up, wrote, was and died are all past simple. Each describes something that happened and finished in the past.

  • Emily Brontë lived from 1818 to 1848.
  • She wrote one novel.
  • She was only 30 when she died.

Point A · Exercise 5.1 · part 1 of 3

Nadia, a hospital porter, describes a typical day shift: "My alarm goes off at half five and I make myself a strong tea. I take the tram to the hospital, which is a fifteen-minute ride. My shift starts at seven. I never eat until my break. The shift ends at three. I'm always shattered by the time I'm home. In the evening I usually go for a swim. I hardly ever read. I'm normally in bed by half nine, and I always sleep like a log." Yesterday was a typical day shift for Nadia. Write what she did or did not do yesterday.

  1. Example

    Her alarm went off at half five.

    AnswerHer alarm went off at half five.

  2. She herself a strong tea.

  3. She the tram to the hospital.

  4. The ride about fifteen minutes.

  5. Her shift at seven.

Point A · Exercise 5.1 · part 2 of 3

Nadia, a hospital porter, describes a typical day shift: "My alarm goes off at half five and I make myself a strong tea. I take the tram to the hospital, which is a fifteen-minute ride. My shift starts at seven. I never eat until my break. The shift ends at three. I'm always shattered by the time I'm home. In the evening I usually go for a swim. I hardly ever read. I'm normally in bed by half nine, and I always sleep like a log." Yesterday was a typical day shift for Nadia. Write what she did or did not do yesterday.

  1. She anything until her break.

  2. Her shift at three.

  3. She shattered by the time she home.

  4. She for a swim yesterday evening.

Point A · Exercise 5.1 · part 3 of 3

Nadia, a hospital porter, describes a typical day shift: "My alarm goes off at half five and I make myself a strong tea. I take the tram to the hospital, which is a fifteen-minute ride. My shift starts at seven. I never eat until my break. The shift ends at three. I'm always shattered by the time I'm home. In the evening I usually go for a swim. I hardly ever read. I'm normally in bed by half nine, and I always sleep like a log." Yesterday was a typical day shift for Nadia. Write what she did or did not do yesterday.

  1. She yesterday evening.

  2. She in bed by half nine.

  3. She like a log last night.

Point B of 4

Regular and irregular verbs

Very often the past simple ends in -ed. These are regular verbs. Watch the spelling: stop becomes stopped, study becomes studied.

Many common verbs, however, are irregular. Their past simple does not end in -ed, and the only way to know them is to learn them:

Verb Past simple Example
write wrote Emily Brontë wrote one novel.
see saw We saw your brother at the match on Saturday.
go went I went swimming twice last week.
shut shut It was freezing, so I shut the door.
  • I teach at a primary school now. Previously I was a bank clerk.
  • They asked us to stay for dinner, but we decided to go home.
  • A traffic warden stopped me outside the bank this morning.
  • Sophie passed her driving test because she practised every day.

Point B · Exercise 5.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences using these verbs in the correct form.

Use these

buycatchcostfallhurtsellspendteachthrowwrite

  1. Example

    Agatha Christie wrote more than sixty detective novels.

    AnswerAgatha Christie wrote more than sixty detective novels.

  2. "Who showed you how to knit?" "My nan me."

  3. The house was too big for us after the children left home, so we it.

  4. Gemma off her bike on Tuesday and her wrist.

  5. The goalkeeper the ball to Liam, who it with one hand.

Point B · Exercise 5.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences using these verbs in the correct form.

Use these

buycatchcostfallhurtsellspendteachthrowwrite

  1. Neil a lot of money at the weekend. He a new jacket which £120.

Point C of 4

Questions and negatives: did and didn't

In questions and negatives, use did/didn't + the infinitive (enjoy, see, go). The main verb goes back to its plain form: did you see, not did you saw.

Positive Question Negative
I enjoyed did you enjoy? I didn't enjoy
she saw did she see? she didn't see
they went did they go? they didn't go

Sometimes do is the main verb, so it appears with did: What did you do? I didn't do anything.

  • I enjoyed the film. Did you enjoy it?
  • How many guests did they ask to the wedding?
  • I didn't order a pudding because I didn't have any room.
  • "Did you go to the gym?" "No, I didn't."
  • What did you do on Saturday? (not What did you on Saturday?)
  • I didn't do anything all weekend. (not I didn't anything)

Point C · Exercise 5.3 · part 1 of 2

You are asking Shona about her holiday in Ireland. Write your questions in the past simple.

  1. Example

    You: Where ...? Shona: To Ireland. We did a trip round the west coast, from Galway down to Kerry.

    Where did you go?

    AnswerWhere did you go?

  2. You: How ...? By ferry? Shona: Yes, we took the ferry from Holyhead and drove from there.

  3. You: That's a long trip. How long ...? Shona: Ten days. We stopped in a lot of little towns along the way.

  4. You: Where ...? In hotels? Shona: Mostly in guest houses, and one very damp caravan.

  5. You: ... good? Shona: Not really. It rained most days, which I'm told is traditional.

Point C · Exercise 5.3 · part 2 of 2

You are asking Shona about her holiday in Ireland. Write your questions in the past simple.

  1. You: ... the Cliffs of Moher? Shona: Of course. They were spectacular.

Point D of 4

was and were

be (am/is/are) has its own past: was/were.

Positive / negative Question
I / he / she / it was / wasn't was I / he / she / it?
we / you / they were / weren't were we / you / they?

be never needs did in questions or negatives: Were you tired?, not Did you be tired?

  • I was annoyed because the train was late again.
  • Was the food good when you were in Lisbon?
  • They weren't at the meeting because they were ill.
  • I wasn't thirsty, so I didn't have anything.
  • Did you go to the quiz last night, or were you too busy?

Point D · Exercise 5.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences. Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.

  1. Example

    It was hot, so I took my jumper off. (take)

    AnswerIt was hot, so I took my jumper off.

  2. Example

    The food was disappointing. I didn't like it much. (like)

    AnswerThe food was disappointing. I didn't like it much.

  3. I knew Dad was asleep, so I him. (wake)

  4. We were bored, so we the meeting early. (leave)

  5. It was hard work moving the sofa. It really heavy. (be)

  6. The neighbours' dog barked all night. I well. (sleep)

Point D · Exercise 5.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences. Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.

  1. These trainers weren't expensive. They much. (cost)

  2. The back door was open and a cat into the kitchen. (run)

  3. I was in a rush, so I time to have breakfast. (have)

  4. I didn't like the hotel. The staff very friendly. (be)

Lesson 5 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Past continuous (I was doing)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. What the past simple is–Not checkedB. Regular and irregular verbs–Not checkedC. Questions and negatives: did and didn't–Not checkedD. was and were–Not checked