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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
Nope, my shoes and trousers just got a little bit wet.응, 그냥 신발하고 바지가 좀 젖었어.
What kind of coffee did you get me?커피는 뭘로 사왔어?
Then my phone rang and I went to the garden to talk.그때 전화가 와서 통화하러 안뜰로 갔어요.
What the f*ck! I didn't know that!뭐야 미친! 몰랐잖아!
I just got here mate, about 5 minutes ago.방금 왔다구 친구, 한 5분 전에.
I didn't know what to say, I didn't want to be rude, actually.뭐라고 말해야 할지 몰랐어, 사실 무례하게 굴고 싶진 않았어.
Then we found the wallet with nothing left in it.그리고 다시 찾았더니 돈이 탈탈 털린 상태였죠.
Anyway, did you have any problems with that girl before?아무튼, 전에는 저 여자랑 문제 있었던 거 없었어?
I just wanted to talk to you alone.그냥 둘이 얘기하려던 거였지.
I sent you the link...링크 보냈어...
You didn't tell me what?뭘 말 안해줬어?
Oh god... It was a nightmare for me today!으 세상에... 오늘 정말 끔찍했어!
My housemates once had a dog, too.우리 하우스메이트들도 예전에 개를 길렀거든.
Yes sure, you promised to take me to Brighton Pier.물론이지, 네가 브라이튼 부두 보여주기로 약속했잖아.
An old lady came out and shouted at me very angrily!웬 할머니가 나와서 나한테 호통을 치셨다고!
It was a total disaster!완전 대재앙이었어요!
What brought you to London?너는 왜 런던에 있어?
No, I couldn't, I went to Sainsbury's, they didn't have it.못 찾았어, 세인즈버리에도 갔는데, 없더라고.
So I snore everyday... Why didn't you tell me that before?그럼 매일 곤다는 소리구나... 왜 진작에 말을 안해줬어?
I didn't say monthly! I meant paying 100 more each daily...월 단위라고 안 그랬지! 매일 100파운드씩 더 내면 된다는 거였지...

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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