Do you remember?

1. Do you have a good memory? Which things do you usually forget?

2. You are going to read a short retelling of events. After you read, complete the activities.

​ hat was I doing?​ Let me remember.

“W
I wasn’t sleeping.​ ​I was getting ready to go to class when I put on the TV and the
newscaster stopped and said, “This just in.”
Two planes hit the Twin Towers. ​I didn’t know what to do.​ My mother called and
asked, “​Did you see the news?​”
Every single channel had a building that was on fire. T​his businessman was covered
in dust.​ And I saw the big hole in the side of the building. ​People were panicking​. It
was sort of surreal.”

3. Complete the explanation with the examples in bold from the text.

Past simple
The past simple shows us that an action was in the past, not in the present. Regular past simple
verbs have -ed at the end (e.g. called, played, arrived). Irregular verbs have a different form,
usually with a different vowel sound (e.g. wake → woke, break → broke, feel → felt).

POSITIVE FORM.
My parents called me yesterday.
I woke up early this morning.
_________________________________________________.

NEGATIVE FORM.
We make the negative with didn't and the infinitive verb.

My parents didn't call me yesterday.

________________________________________________.

QUESTIONS.
We make the question form with did and then the subject and infinitive verb.

Did you wake up early this morning?

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 ________________________________________________?

Past continuous
The past continuous shows us that an activity was in progress for some time, not just for a
moment.
We make the past continuous with was or were and the -ing form of the verb.

POSITIVE
She was working on her computer.
___________________________________________________.

NEGATIVE
I tried to give him some advice, but he wasn't listening.
_________________________________________________.

QUESTIONS.
What were you doing this time last year?
_________________________________________________?

Past continuous and past simple

When we use these two tenses together, it shows us that the past simple action happened in
the middle of the past continuous action, while it was in progress.

While I was studying, I suddenly felt sleepy.

We often use these tenses to show an action interrupting another action.

I broke my leg when I was skiing.

As I was going to work, I saw an old friend.
_______________________________________________________________.

4. Write the infinitive of these verbs in the past

PAST FORM INFINITIVE

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 Was Is/Am

Put Put

Stopped

Said

Hit

Had

Saw

5. What event was describing the text in exercise 2? What do you remember from that
day?
6. Choose one of these past events and write a short retelling of it.
a. Your first day at school.
b. Your first kiss.
c. 9/11
d. The first time you voted.
e. A historical event of your own choice that you lived.

7. Share what you wrote with your partners and discuss your different experiences.

8. You are going to watch a short documentary on memory from the Netflix series
“Explained”. Read the following questions and answer them while you watch the video.

a. What happened to Henry Molaison?

b. What things did he remember and what things did he forget?
c. What does Yanjaa Wintersoul, memory champion, do to improve her memory?
d. What is the name of the test cab drivers in London have to pass to get their
licenses?
e. How can people reinforce false memories?

9. After watching the documentary discuss these questions.

a. What techniques do you have to remember specific things (i.e. studying for a
test, special dates, Doctor’s appointments, etc.)
b. What is the earliest memory you have?
c. What is your favourite memory?

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