A. 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.
B.
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.
For
spelling (stopped, studied etc.), see Appendix 6.
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.
For a
list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1.
C. 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')
D. 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
