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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
Have fun, Diego, it was nice to meet you.İyi eğlenceler Diego, tanıştığıma memnun oldum.
Did you check the price of the rice?Sen pirincin fiyatına baktın mı?
Yes, I managed to see the last one... But I didn't like it!Evet, sonuncusunu görmeyi başardım... Ama beğenmedim!
He had an X-ray...Röntgeni çekildi.
Welcome, tonight we reserved one of our best tables for you!Hoşgeldiniz, bu akşam sizin için en iyi masalarımızdan birini ayırdık!
That was so easy, I can't believe it worked!Bu çok kolaydı, işe yaradığına inanamıyorum!
Look at that, it splashed water all over me!Şuna baksana, her yerime su sıçrattı!
Yes sure, you promised to take me to Brighton Pier.Evet tabi, beni Brighton İskelesi'ne götüreceğine söz vermiştin.
While I was trying to catch the rice, I accidentally knocked over a bottle.Pirinci yakalayayım derken yanlışlıkla elim şişeye çarptı.
No, I couldn't, I went to Sainsbury's, they didn't have it.Bulamadım, Sainsbury's'e gittim yoktu.
Then she started to talk about how she was allergic to cats, etcetera.Sonra da kedilere alerjisi olduğunu anlatmaya başladı falan.
Did you get yourself a cappuccino, too?Kendine de cappuccino mu aldın?
It's a nice area, I considered living there once, too...Güzel bir yer, ben de bir keresinde orada yaşamayı düşünmüştüm...
I knew it was too good to be true!Gerçek olamayacak kadar iyi olduğunu biliyordum!
I don't know, did you check the expiry date?Bilmem, son kullanma tarihine baktın mı?
What kind of coffee did you get me?Bana hangi kahveden aldın?
Yep, I gave it to a spider in the garden.Evet, onu bahçedeki bir örümceğe verdim.
We did it together only for one day, dear!Bunu sadece bir gün beraber yaptık, canım!
No, it seems I'd forgotten to charge it before I left.Hayır, galiba çıkmadan önce şarj etmeyi unutmuşum.
Nope, I'm okay, I just had something before I came.Yok, ben iyiyim, gelmeden az önce bir şeyler yedim.

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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