Exercise - regular verbs in the past simple

Put the correct forms of the verbs into the gaps. Use the Simple Past in the statements.

Example: I ______ to the teacher. (to talk)

Answer: I talked to the teacher.

1) Jane __________ a film. (to watch)
2) He __________ a box. (to carry)
3) They __________ their father. (to help)
4) John and Amy ___________ things. (to swap)
5) I ___________ to Andrew. (to talk)
6) Susan ____________ with Peter. (to dance)
7) The boys ____________ basketball. (to try)
8) We ____________ a trip. (to plan)
9) She ____________ her hair. (to wash)
10) The car ___________ at the traffic lights. (to stop)

Source and answers: http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_past_statements.htm

Exercise - irregular verbs in the past simple

Examples of past simple:

I saw him yesterday I didn't (did not) see him yesterday Did you see him?

Complete each of the following by putting the verb in brackets ( ) into the past simple.
Example: I (see) Michael yesterday.

I (see) George last week - he looked very well.

Seven people (ring) while you were out.

I (leave) my mobile phone at home this morning. I had to go back.

Dinner was great. We (have) salmon and lobster.

I (tear) my shirt when I fell off my bike.

I'm think you misunderstood me. I (mean) 'bed' not 'bird'!

I (hurt) my leg playing football yesterday. I can't walk very well today.

Pedro (teach) me to speak Spanish in a year. He was a great teacher.

For checking answers and source: http://www.speakspeak.com/html/d3a002_english_grammar_exercise_beginners_irreg_verbs.htm

Video: What did you do yesterday?

Source: www.youtube.com

Reading: past simple

Reading: was/were

Simple past: when to use it

Simple Past

FORM

[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs

Examples:

• You called Debbie.
• Did you call Debbie?
• You did not call Debbie.

s

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Examples:

• I saw a movie yesterday.
• I didn't see a play yesterday.
• Last year, I traveled to Japan.
• Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
• Did you have dinner last night?
• She washed her car.
• He didn't wash his car.

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

Examples:

• I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
• He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.
• Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

USE 3 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

Examples:

• I lived in Brazil for two years.
• Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
• They sat at the beach all day.
• They did not stay at the party the entire time.
• We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
• A: How long did you wait for them?
  B: We waited for one hour.

USE 4 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

• I studied French when I was a child.
• He played the violin.
• He didn't play the piano.
• Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?
• She worked at the movie theater after school.
• They never went to school, they always skipped class.

USE 5 Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

Examples:

• She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.
• He didn't like tomatoes before.
• Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?
• People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.

Source: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplepast.html

Exercises: was and were

Video: Were you good at school?

Source: www.youtube.com

More reading: Findmeafriend.com

More reading: London or Hollywood

More reading: Everyday life

Reading: My favourite thing.

Hey guys,

How are you going? Here you have the first text I promised. Please, read as much as you can so you learn new vocabulary. You have some exercises too.

Regards,

Dani