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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
Really, how long did you live here?真的是这样,你之前在这里住了多长时间?
I can't believe that, you were a very nice couple!我无法相信,你们那时是多么令人羡慕的一对!
Of course, we all grew up together.当然,我们都是一起长大的。
I'm almost at Brighton! Why didn't you inform me earlier?我就快到布莱顿了!你为什么不早点通知我?
Didn't you forget something, dear?难道你没忘说什么吗,亲爱的?
Nope, I'm okay, I just had something before I came.不用,我不饿。我在来之前吃过东西了。
This was the only one left on the shelf.货架上只有这一袋了。
Exactly, I think they understood it at first sight!确实是,我觉得他们一眼就明白了!
You, too, I hope you found the house easily.见到你也很高兴,我希望你们很容易就找到了这个房子。
Oh, okay, did she say why they needed to cancel it?哦,好吧,她有说为什么要取消吗?
Then when I got there, I called her again, but she didn't answer!我到那里后,又给她打电话,但是她还没接!
My housemates once had a dog, too.我的室友之前也养了一只狗。
I didn't want you to come out for a smoke, actually.实际上,我要你出来不是为了抽烟的。
I didn't ask when, I asked why!我没有问什么时候建造的,我问的是原因!
I went home and plugged my phone into the charger...我回到家,把手机连上充电器...
Oh, what did she say?哦,她说什么了?
Really, when did you wake up?真的吗,你几点醒的?
Were you drunk or sober?你喝醉了还是没醉?
I have to say, your checking the heaters lie wasn't very clever.我不得不说,你撒谎检查暖气可以不怎么高明。
I came here to visit her, then she went back and I stayed here.我当初来这里是为了看望她,后来她回去了,我呆在了这里。

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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