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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
Why didn't you ask while you were on the phone then?그럼 통화 중에 질문을 하지 그랬어?
I didn't have any time to go and check houses.직접 집을 확인하고 할 시간이 없었어.
While I finished doing things here by myself!난 여기서 일 다 끝내놓고 있는 동안!
But we had some *little* problems.하지만 좀 *사소한* 문제가 있었지 뭐야.
No, I couldn't, I went to Sainsbury's, they didn't have it.못 찾았어, 세인즈버리에도 갔는데, 없더라고.
Hello, I booked a table for two in the name of Cate for 20:30.안녕하세요, 오후 8시 반에 두 사람 테이블 예약했고요, 이름은 케이트예요.
After hearing that, she decided to leave suddenly.그걸 듣더니 갑자기 떠나기로 하지 뭐야.
I took a picture and printed it out at school!사진을 찍어서 학교에서 프린트 했단 말야!
But unfortunately, they didn't!안타깝게도, 안 그런 거지!
I just woke up half an hour ago.한 30분쯤 전에 일어났는데.
I don't know, did you check the expiry date?글쎄, 유통기한은 확인했어?
Nope, there was no evidence of fire anywhere...아니, 불 난 흔적은 아무 데도 없었어...
I hope the other appointments weren't very far apart from each other.다른 약속들 사이에 뜨는 시간이 길지는 않았길 바라.
I hope I didn't make you wait long.제가 너무 오래 기다리게 만든 건 아니길 바라요.
I didn't want to wake you up, so I went to the kitchen.깨우기 미안해서, 부엌으로 갔지.
No, I didn't even know her name, until today.아니, 저 사람 이름도 오늘 전까지는 몰랐다구.
I hope I didn't make you wait long.너무 오래 기다리게 만든 게 아니면 좋겠는데.
Do you need help, how did you search?뭐 도와줄까? 뭐라고 검색했는데?
Except Pinocchio knew he wasn't a real boy from the beginning.물론 피노키오는 처음부터 자기가 진짜 아이가 아니라는 걸 알았지만.
We talked on the phone before.아까 통화했잖아.

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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