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Past simple Exercises

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Past simple form : ( verb 2 )

In English we use the past simple tense to talk about finished actions in the past.

We use 'did' as an auxiliary verb in negatives and questions and we often use the past simple with past time phrases such as 5 minutes ago, yesterday, last week, in the 1980s, and when I was a child.

Notes for use of past simple  :

In English, to change verbs to the past tense, we add '-ed' to regular verbs. For example;

work --> worked

live --> lived

walk --> walked

If the verb ends in 'e', we drop the 'e' before adding '-ed'. For example;

dance --> danced

smile --> smiled

phone --> phoned

If the verb ends in a vowel + consonant, we double the last consonant. For example;

stop --> stopped

tag --> tagged

plan --> planned

If the verb has more than one syllable, we double the consonant at the end only if the last syllable is stressed. For example;

prefer --> preferred

permit --> permitted

regret --> regretted

If the last syllable of the verb is not stressed, we do not double the last consonant. For example;

visit --> visited

happen --> happened

develop --> developed

In British English, verbs ending in 'l' double the 'l' before '-ed' whether the last syllable is stressed or not. For example;

travel --> travelled

cancel --> cancelled

If the verb ends in a 'y' or a 'w', we do not double it when we add '-ed'. For example;

stay --> stayed

play --> played

sew --> sewed

In English we do not double the consonant if the verb has two vowels before the last consonant. For example;

boil --> boiled

explain --> explained

In English we also do not double the consonant if the verb ends in two consonants. For example;

help --> helped

start --> started

However, irregular verbs change to completely different words in the past tense. For example;

go --> went

take --> took

know --> knew

The table below shows the different forms of past simple :

Example Verb : live
I / You  / We / They / He / She / It
Positive... lived.
Negative... didn't live.

Questions

Did ... live?
Short answers

Yes, ... did. /

No, ... didn't.

For the verb 'to be' we use 'was' and 'were'' in the past simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.

Verb : Be
I / He / She / It
You / We / They
Positive... was ...... were ...
Negative... wasn't ...... weren't ...
QuestionsWas ... ... ?Were ... ...?
Short answers

Yes, ... was. /

No, ... wasn't.

Yes, ... were. /

No, ... weren't.

Past Simple Example Sentences :

Positive Examples of Past Simple :

  • I went to Japan last year.
  • She worked as a consultant for 5 years.
  • We saw a film last night.
  • He was ill yesterday.
  • They were at the party last Saturday night.

Negative Examples of Past Simple :

  • You didn't go to the gym last night.
  • He didn't attend the meeting this morning.
  • We didn't have a dog when I was a child.
  • I wasn't at home last weekend.
  • They weren't happy with the service.

Question Examples of Past Simple :

  • Did you visit New York last summer?
  • Did you eat at the Japanese restaurant last night?
  • Who did you meet at the conference?
  • Was she angry?
  • Where were you yesterday afternoon?

Past simple example sentences
No, I got myself a macchiato.아니, 난 마끼아또 사왔어.
That's funny... What did you forget to ask?그거 재밌네... 그리고 뭘 깜빡하고 안 물어봤지?
There was nothing wrong with you at the shop.상점에서는 아무 문제 없었는데.
Didn't you forget something, dear?뭔가 깜빡한 건 없어, 자기?
They're fine, we played a game called *catch the wasp*!잘 지내고 있지, "말벌을 잡아라" 놀이 했다니까!
He had an X-ray...엑스레이를 찍었는데...
So you already knew the cat was here before you came.그러니까 당신도 여기 오기 전부터 고양이가 있다는 건 알고 있었단 거네요.
I just took it without thinking too much.별 생각 없이 얻었어.
I didn't ask when, I asked why!언제 지었느냐가 아니라, 왜 지었냐구!
I'm sorry, why did you call that much?미안해, 전화는 왜 그렇게 많이 했는데?
Meanwhile I was feeling very tired and wanted to lie down for a while.와중에 너무 피곤해서 잠깐 누워볼까 했지.
Unfortunately, the next one was at 11 and the last one was at 15:30.끔찍하게도, 그 다음 약속은 11시였고 그 다음 건 오후 3시 반이었어.
Nope, I'm okay, I just had something before I came.됐어, 난 오기 전에 뭐 먹었어서 괜찮걸랑.
Did you call this one near the station?역 근처에 여기는 전화해봤어?
Sorry, but I have to say, we saw another house earlier today...미안하지만, 오늘 이전에 다른 집도 봤는데요...
5 minutes before I arrived, I called her, but she didn't answer.도착하기 5분 전에 전화를 했는데, 안 받잖아.
What brought you to London?너는 왜 런던에 있어?
Good morning my friend, did I wake you up?좋은 아침이에요, 제가 깨운 건가요?
Basically everything, it was like a haunted hippie house.그냥 다 이상했어, 무슨 히피족들이 사는 폐가 같았어.
No, don't worry, nothing happened to him.아뇨, 걱정 마요, 포고는 괜찮으니까.

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Be going to
Be going to passive
Be used to / Get used to
Comparative
Defining relative clause
Echo tag
Expression
First conditional
Future
Future continuous
Future perfect continuous
Future perfect passive
Future perfect simple
Future simple passive
Greeting
Have/Get something done
Imperative
Implied conditional
Indirect question
Infinitive of purpose
Interjection
Mixed conditional
Modal
Modal passive
Non-defining relative clause
Other
Past continuous
Past continuous passive
Past perfect continuous
Past perfect passive
Past perfect simple
Past simple
Past simple passive
Polite request / offer / suggestion
Present continuous
Present continuous passive
Present perfect continuous
Present perfect passive
Present perfect simple
Present simple
Present simple passive
Question tag
Reduced relative clause
Reported speech imperative
Reported speech question
Reported speech request
Reported speech statement
Second conditional
Short answer
Superlative
Third conditional
Used to / would (past habit)
Was/were going to
Was/were supposed to
Wish
Would rather
Zero conditional