Past Simple Tense

Theory
We use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in the past. We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.

She came back last Friday. I saw her in the street. They didn't agree to the deal.

It can also be used to talk about a period of time.

She lived in Tokyo for seven years. They were in London from onday to Thursday of last week. When I was living in !ew "ork# I went to all the art e$hibitions I could.

"ou will often find the past simple used with time e$pressions such as these%

"esterday three weeks ago last year in &''& from arch to (une for a long time for ) weeks in the *+,'s in the last century in the past

Exercises
Exercise 1
-omplete the sentences% . started . called . parked . . . asked improved introduced . . . arrived presented visited

"esterday /eorge 0000000000..his boss for a raise. Fred000000000the new IT system at the meeting. I only 000000000.work here last month. 1ne of my colleagues 00000000..me at home last night. I000000000.half an hour early for my appointment. (erry000000000.me to his wife. There was no space so I 00000000000on the pavement. Sales0000000..dramatically in 2ecember. 1ur 3sian colleagues000000000..us a couple of days ago.

Exercise 2
4ut in order% him# see# you# did# yesterday5 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 glasses5# you# find# your# Where# did 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 call# Why# didn6t# me5# you 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 What# did# the# think# meeting# you# about 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 did# for5# option# which# go# he 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 best5# Which# like# she# did 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 they# any# have# 7uestions5# 2id 000000000000000000000000000000000000000.. did# it# long# 8ow# last5 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 they# did# many# order5# 8ow# 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 did# get# you# When# back5 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Exercise 3
i$ and match She lost his telephone number 8e had a couple of whiskies The meeting ran over 8e missed his train 8e only spoke 4ortuguese She forgot her laptop I made a mistake with his e.mail address They were stuck in traffic so he didn6t come. so she didn6t have lunch. so she didn6t do the presentation so she didn6t call him so he didn6t get the message so we didn6t understand so they didn6t make the plane so he didn6t drive home.

Exercise 4
-omplete the sentences% 8e didn6t leave at *' yesterday. 8e00000000.at **. This morning we didn6t have enough coffee so I 000000000some more. When she was a student# she didn6t go to 1$ford# she00000000to -ambridge. I didn6t fly direct to -hicago# I 00000000via London. I didn6t get the 9ob I wanted# I 00000000.a better one. She gave me the address but she 0000000000me the phone number. It didn6t cost very much. It only 000000000. :*'. I sent an e.mail to (erry about it# but I 0000000..one to 3rthur. While I was there# I 000000004ierre but I didn6t see (ean. It didn6t take very long. It only00000000.half an hour. We didn6t sell our house last month. We0000000..it two months ago.