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 I worked in a shop.
* We invited them to our party but they decided not to come.
* The police stopped me on my way home last night.
* She passed her examination because she studied very hard.
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 Rose in town a few days ago.
go -> went
* I went to the cinema three times last week.
shut -> shut
* It was cold, so I shut the window.
In questions and negatives we use did/didn't + infinitive (enjoy/see/go etc.):
I/she/they: enjoyed/saw/went
Did: you/she/they: enjoy?/see?/go?
I/she/they: didn't: enjoy/see/go
* A: Did you go out last night?
B: Yes, I went to the cinema but I didn't enjoy the film much.
* 'When did Mr Thomas die?' 'About ten years ago.'
* They didn't invite her to the party, so she didn't go.
* 'Did you have time to write the letter?' 'No, I didn't.'
Be careful when do is the main verb in the sentence:
* What did you do at the weekend? (not 'what did you at the weekend')
* I didn't do anything. (not 'I didn't anything')
The past of be (am/is/are) is was/were:
I/he/she/it was/wasn't
we/you/they were/weren't
was I/he/she/it?
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?
EXERCISES
5.1 Read what Sharon says about a typical working day:
SHARON
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. I always sleep well. Yesterday was a typical working day for Sharon. Write she did or didn't do yesterday.
1. She got up at 7 o'clock.
2. She --- a big breakfast.
3. She ---.
4. It --- to get to work.
5. --- at 8.45.
6. --- lunch.
7. --- at 5 o'clock.
8. --- tired when --- home.
9. --- a meal yesterday evening.
10. --- out yesterday evening.
11. --- at 11 o'clock.
12. --- well last night.
5.25 Put one of these verbs in each sentence:
buy catch cost drink fall hurt sell spend teach throw win 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. I was very thirsty. I --- the water very quickly.
5. Paul and I played tennis yesterday. He's much better than me, so he --- easily.
6. Don --- down the stairs this morning and --- his lag.
7. Jim --- the ball to Sue, who --- it.
8. Ann --- a lot of money yesterday. She --- a dress which --- l100.
5.3 A friend has just come back from holiday. You ask him about it. Write your questions.
1. (where/go?) Where did you go?
2. (go alone?) ---
3. (food/good?) ---
4. (how long/stay there?) ---
5. (stay/at a hotel?) ---
6. (how/travel?) ---
7. (the weather/fine?) ---
8. (what/do in the evenings?) ---
9. (meet anybody interesting?) ---
5.4 Complete the sentences, Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.
1. It was warm, so I _took_ off my coat. (take)
2. The film wasn't very good. I didn't enjoy it very much. (enjoy)
3. I knew Sarah was very busy, so I --- her. (disturb)
4. I was very tired, so I --- to bed early. (go)
5. The bed was very uncomfortable. I --- very well. (sleep)
6. Sue wasn't hungry, so she --- anything. (eat)
7. We went to Kate's house but she --- at home. (be)
8. It was a funny situation but nobody --- (laugh)
9. The window was open and a bird --- into the room. (fly)
10. The hotel wasn't very expensive. It --- very much. (cost)
11. I was in a hurry, so I --- time to phone you. (have)
12. It was hard work carrying the bags. They --- very heavy. (be)
Answers:
5.1 2 had 3 She walked to work 4 It took her (about) half an hour 5 She started work 6 She didn't have (any) lunch./... eat (any) lunch. 7 She finished work 8 She was tired when she got home. 9 She cooked 10 She didn't go 11 She went to bed 12 She slept
5.2 2 taught 3 sold 4 drank 5 won 6 fell ... hurt 7 threw ... caught 8 spent ... bought ... cost
5.3 2 Did you go alone? 3 Was the food good? 4 How long did you stay there? 5 Did you stay at a hotel? 6 How did you travel? 7 Was the weather fine? 8 What did you do in the evenings? 9 Did you meet anybody interesting?
5.4 3 didn't disturb 4 went 5 didn't sleep 6 didn't eat 7 wasn't 8 laughed 9 flew 10 didn't cost 11 didn't have 12 were
