Simple Past Tense Overview 4by63

INSTRUCTIONS  Slides 2 to 8 contain explanations on the use of the simple past. On slide 6, elicit from students the past form of the verbs displayed

and click on the images to start the animation and see the answers.  On slides 11 to 24 have students, in pairs, complete the sentences using the simple past. Click on the slides to start the animation and see the answers.

By Lilian Marchesoni

The simple past tense describes an event that is completed. It started and finished at a specific time in the past.

Susan went to Paris last year.

AFFIRMATIVE FORM  Regular Verbs The simple past of regular verbs is formed by adding –d or –ed to the base form of the verb.

Everyday they go to school by bus. But, yesterday they walked to school.

 Some examples of regular verbs

painted paint

surfed surf

walked walk

listened listen

played play

brushed brush

 Irregular Verbs Each irregular verb has its own unique form in the past.

Tim usually goes to school by car. But, yesterday he

went to school by bike.

 Some examples of irregular verbs

bought buy take took eat ate saw see

go went have had

do did

NEGATIVE FORM  To form a negative statement, use the auxiliary verb did + not + the base form of the verb.

Bob usually goes to school by bus. Yesterday he went

to school on foot. He didn’t go by bus.

QUESTIONS  To form questions in the past, use the auxiliary verb did + subject + the base form of the verb.

Yesterday they went to school by car. They didn’t go by bus.

Did they go to school together?

Complete the sentences with the simple past form of the verbs.

got together Mike and his friends (get) last weekend. They (have) had a barbecue,

but they didn’t (neg. go) go out after that.

went to Rio last summer. She Julia (go) (stay) in a nice hotel. She visited (visit) many stayed didn’tgo) go to Corcovado. places, but she (neg.

didn’tgo) go I (neg. anywhere. I (stay) home and stayed saw a movie on (see) TV.

Where Where / you did / you go /golast last night? night?

Yes, I had fun!

Did you have fun?

Fred and his sister

(do) did the homework together yesterday. didn’thave) have They (neg. time for games.

No, it (neg. didn’train) rain was yesterday. It (be) went sunny and I (go) to the cub.

Did it rain It / rain / yesterday? yesterday?

Did / you take You take / the test? test? the

took Yes, I (take) the test and I think I (get) got a good grade.

got up) up late Sarah (get yesterday and she didn’t go to school (neg. go)

was because she (be) very sick.

What did / you / do you /yesterday? yesterday?

I (go) went to the mall and bought (buy) a camera. took many photos I (take) yesterday!

Who did you visit?

I visited Beth.

What time did you arrive home?

I arrived home at 2:30.

Bob and his friends (be) very happy were because they (have) had time to play during the break.

Did have You you / have / a good time at school?

Yes, mom. was School (be) great. I (play) played soccer and (study) a lot! studied

Where did you go?

I went to the club.

Rebecca doesn’t like

vegetables. Yesterday ate spaghetti, she (eat) didn’t eat but she (neg. eat) the green salad.

Authored by Lilian Marchesoni – 2009 All rights reserved.

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