DEALING WITH THE PAST

I. Preparation

Did you ever experience having a bad day?

How did you deal about it? How would you react
if one morning, all the things you do seem to be
unsuccessful?

Imagine yourself in this situation: One

morning, you want to use the elevator but
unfortunately, it’s not in use. The only way for you
to reach your destination is you have to climb ten
trips of stairs. Will you take the other option? Or
will you just come back to that area by the time the
elevator is already functioning?

Whenever we encounter such incident, what is the best thing for us to do? Shall
we immediately get mad and let the rest of the day be spoiled? Can you enumerate some
ways on how we can control our temper whenever we are in such situations?

II. Vocabulary Building: Link It!

You might encounter difficult words in the story that you will read. Let’s play a
game so that you can understand them faster. Put words inside the circle that is related to
the concept at the center circle.

Exhaustion

Frustration
 III. Presentation

Now, enjoy reading the following story about an individual who

had terrible experiences one day.

Truly Frustrating!

Yesterday, I had a very rough day. I got up early to go shopping,

but as soon as I stepped out of the door, it began to rain, so I had to go back to the
apartment and get my umbrella. The elevator was out, so I had to climb six flights of
stairs to get to my place. When I got back downstairs, I was so exhausted that I had to sit
down on a bench to rest. By that time, it had stopped raining, but the ground was still wet.
A brown dog came to where I was sitting and begged for something to eat. I tried to
ignore him, but he splashed water all over my brand new shoes. Finally, the bus came,
and I was on my way to the supermarket. When I got to the supermarket, I realized I had
forgotten my shopping list, so I couldn't remember everything I wanted to buy. The
cashier was too busy to help me, so I gathered up a few items and carried them to the
counter. After the cashier finished ringing up my purchase, he gave me the wrong change
and stuffed my groceries into my small shopping cart. I was not in a good mood when I
left the supermarket. If that wasn't bad enough, I had a terrible time on the bus ride home.
First, the bus driver yelled at me because I took too much time to get on. Couldn't he see
that I had a cart full of groceries? Then, there were not seats. I'm sure that someone on the
bus could have offered me a place to sit, but everyone was so rude. They pretended not to
see me. I just stood there, leaned against one of the poles in the aisles, put my head down,
and sighed.

IV. Discussion

How do you find the story? Do you have the same

experiences with the writer? How did the writer deal those
experiences? If you were the writer, how would you handle the
situation? Do you think things like those are destined to happen?

Read the following sentences. Notice the words in italics.

1. I got up early to go shopping, but as soon as I stepped out of the door, it began to
rain.

2. When I got back downstairs, I was so exhausted that I had to sit down on a bench
to rest.

3. The bus driver yelled at me because I took too much time to get on.

4. They pretended not to see me.

5. I just stood there, leaned against one of the poles in the aisles, put my head down,
and sighed.

6. A brown dog came to where I was sitting and begged for something to eat.

7. I tried to ignore him, but he splashed water all over my brand new shoes.

8. Finally, the bus came, and I was on my way to the supermarket.

9. When I got to the supermarket, I realized I had forgotten my shopping list.

10. After the cashier finished ringing up my purchase, he gave me the wrong change
and stuffed my groceries into my small shopping cart.

What do you notice with the verbs used in the sentences? Do they follow a similar
pattern?

Can You Work Out With the Rule?

 Read the sentences below. Choose the correct verb
and underline it.

1. My grandfather (has died, was died, died) last year.

2. I (eat, ate) lunch at noon today.

3. He (drive, drove) to work yesterday.

4. She finally (mail, mailed) the letter.

5. Jan (finish, finished) her report on time.

6. John (is, was) still single in 1995.

7. Jane (is, was) a movie star ten years ago.

Put your answers in the column provided. Give reasons for the choice of answers.

Answers Why?
 How did you find the activity? Are you sure your answers are all correct? Why
did you choose them instead of the others? Let us see if your answers are correct through
the discussion below.

Grammar Notes…

1. The simple past tense is expressed with the past form of the verb and nothing
else.

My grandfather died last year. (Correct)

My grandfather was died last year. (Incorrect)
My grandfather has died last year. (Incorrect)

2. The simple past tense refers to

a. action which occurred at a specific time in the past

b. completed action
c. past status

Specific past action Completed action Past status

I ate lunch at noon today. She finally mailed the letter. John was still single in
1995.

He drove to work yesterday. Jan finished her report on Jane was a movie star ten
time. years ago.

More on Simple Past Tense

Simple past tense states that an action or situation was

MORE finished in the absolute past and bears no connection with the
present. The point of time in the past in which the action occurred is
well defined. Most Past Simple verbs end in ed (regular verbs).

The purpose of past tense verbs within the English language

is to express activity, action, state, or being in the past.

Examples:

“We visited the grocery store yesterday.”

Visited is a simple past tense verb that is used to describe a completed action.
 “Emily said that she went to the mall.”

Said is a past perfect tense verb that describes reported speech.

V. Generalization

The simple past tense is used to describe an action, an event, or condition that
occurred in the past, sometime before the moment of speaking or writing.

Each of the highlighted verbs in the following sentences is in the simple past tense
and each sentence describes an action taking place at some point in past. A flea jumped
from the dog to the cat.

Phoebe gripped the hammer tightly and nailed the boards together.

The gem-stones sparkled in a velvet lined display case.

Artemisia Gentilsechi probably died in 1652.

The storyteller began every story by saying "A long time ago when the earth
was green."

Activity 1 Figure It Out!

Read the short article below. The sentences are all correct in terms on the
use of simple past tense. Put the verbs which are in simple past tense and the write the
rule in the columns provided.

Hello everybody! My name is Past Simple Boy because I am very

nostalgic and I always talk about the past. This is an old picture of me. I was
eighteen in this picture. It was thirteen years ago.

I studied at University at that time. I lived with my friends Paco and

Javi in a big and old flat. We didn't study much and we enjoyed our life.
Every weekend we went to the disco and met new girls. I remember I had a
girlfriend called Margarita. I finished my studies in 1995. A year later I
started to work as a Language teacher in a Secondary school. Life is not too
bad, but those days were fantastic!

Verb (Simple Past Tense) Rule

Activity 2: Fill In the Gaps!

Read the following stories taken from Jonathan Harker's Journal. Fill in all the
gaps with the simple past of the verbs in parentheses.

Jonathan Harker's Trip to Dracula's Castle - Part 1

As I (look) back I (see) the steam from the horses of the coach by
the light of the lamps, and projected against it the figures of my late companions crossing
themselves. Then the driver (crack) his whip and (call) to his horses, and
off they (sweep) on their way to Bukovina. As they (sink) into the darkness
I (feel) a strange chill, and a lonely feeling come over me. But a cloak was thrown
over my shoulders and a rug across my knees, and the driver (say) in excellent
German-"The night is chill, mein Herr, and my master the Count (bid) me take all
care of you. There is a flask of slivovitz (the plum brandy of the country) underneath the
seat, if you should require it."
I (take neg.) any, but it was a comfort to know it was there all the
same. I (feel) a little strange, and not a little frightened. I think had there been any
alternative I should have taken it, instead of prosecuting that unknown night journey. The
carriage (go) at a hard pace straight along, then we (make) a complete turn
and (go) along another straight road. It (seem) to me that we were simply
going over and over the same ground again, and so I (take) note of some salient
point, and (find) that this was so. I would have liked to have asked the driver what
this all (mean), but I really (fear) to do so, for I (think) that, placed
as I was, any protest would have had no effect in case there had been an intention to
delay.
By-and-by, however, as I was curious to know how time was passing, I
(strike) a match, and by its flame (look) at my watch. It was within a few minutes
of midnight. This (give) me a sort of shock, for I suppose the general superstition
about midnight was increased by my recent experiences. I (wait) with a sick
feeling of suspense.
Then a dog (begin) to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road,
a long, agonized wailing, as if from fear. The sound was taken up by another dog, and
then another and another, till, borne on the wind which now (sigh) softly through
the Pass, a wild howling (begin), which (seem) to come from all over the
country, as far as the imagination could grasp it through the gloom of the night.

Jonathan Harker's Trip to Dracula's Castle - Part 2

At the first howl the horses (begin) to strain and rear, but the
driver (speak) to them soothingly, and they (quiet) down,
but (shiver) and (sweat) as though after a runaway from
sudden fright. Then, far off in the distance, from the mountains on each
side of us (begin) a louder and a sharper howling, that of wolves,
which (affect) both the horses and myself in the same way. For I was minded to
jump from the coach and run, whilst they (rear) again and (plunge) madly,
so that the driver (have) to use all his great strength to keep them from bolting. In
a few minutes, however, my own ears (get) accustomed to the sound, and the
horses so far (become) quiet that the driver was able to descend and to stand
before them.

He (pet) and (soothe) them, and (whisper) something in

their ears, as I have heard of horse-tamers doing, and with extraordinary effect, for under
his caresses they (become) quite manageable again, though they still
(tremble). The driver again (take) his seat, and shaking his reins, (start) off
at a great pace. This time, after going to the far side or the Pass, he suddenly (turn)
down a narrow roadway which (run) sharply to the right.
 Soon we were hemmed in with trees, which in places (arch) right over the
roadway till we (pass) as through a tunnel. And again great frowning rocks
(guard) us boldly on either side. Though we were in shelter, we could hear the
rising wind, for it (moan) and (whistle) through the rocks, and the
branches of the trees (crash) together as we (sweep) along. It
(grow) colder and colder still, and fine, powdery snow (begin) to fall, so that soon
we and all around us were covered with a white blanket. The keen wind still
(carry) the howling of the dogs, though this (grow) fainter as we (go) on
our way. The baying of the wolves (sound) nearer and nearer, as though they were
closing round on us from every side.

Activity 3: Talking about Past Actions

1. Tell your partner or classmates what you did yesterday. Remember to use
past tense.

Examples:

Yesterday, I went to the mall.

I bought some shorts and a baseball cap.

2. Ask your partner what he/she did last weekend. Respond with related
questions.

Examples:

What did you last Saturday?

I stayed home and cleaned my room.
Did you do anything fun?
Not really.

3. Tell about a childhood experience.

Examples:

One day, when I was about 7 years old, there was a knock on our door.
When I opened the door, I saw that nobody was there.
I felt something was wrong, so I called my mother. . .