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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
I met him last week at the vet.지난 주에 동물병원에서 만났어.
Because you didn't remind me!네가 얘기를 안 해주길래!
I hope you managed to find it, then.그럼 찾았길 바라.
Yes, I thought about moving upstairs.응, 윗층에 살까도 생각해봤어.
You didn't tell me what kind of muffin you wanted.그러고보니 네가 무슨 머핀 좋아하는지를 말 안해줬더라구.
Have fun, Diego, it was nice to meet you.재밌는 시간 보내요, 디에고. 만나서 반가웠어요.
Good morning my friend, did I wake you up?좋은 아침이에요, 제가 깨운 건가요?
Don't lie, I saw you googling it just now.뻥 치시네, 방금 구글 찾아보는 거 봤어.
Anyway, did you have any problems with that girl before?아무튼, 전에는 저 여자랑 문제 있었던 거 없었어?
No, I didn't have much money in it.아니, 돈이 많이 있진 않았는데요.
You got it right, cleaning in general!잘 맞혔어, 치우는 건 전반적으로 다 싫어!
We are going to follow the original plan, how it was before.원래 계획대로 하자. 하기로 했던 대로.
Yes they do, they looked after him last time.있기야 하지, 전에도 봐줬으니까.
Unfortunately, I already did.애석하게도 벌써 물어봐버렸는걸.
Look at that, it splashed water all over me!봐봐, 내 몸에 물이 다 튀었어!
Did anything happen to you?너는 괜찮아?
I thought you turned it on when you went home.집에 가서 휴대폰 켠 줄 알았더니.
I'm still shocked... I can't believe what I just heard!아직도 충격이야... 무슨 말을 들은 건지 믿기지도 않아!
Yes, I managed to see the last one... But I didn't like it!응, 마지막 약속 집은 봤는데... 마음에 안 들잖아!
Nope, there was no evidence of fire anywhere...아니, 불 난 흔적은 아무 데도 없었어...

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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