PRESENT TUlE PAST TIME

(a) I am in class today. (b) I was in class yesterday.

( c ) Alice b at the library today. (d) Alice was at the library yesterday.
( e ) My friends are at home today. ( f ) My friends were at home yes&rday.
--

SIMPLE PAST TENSE OF BE

Singular Plural
Iwas we were
you were (one person) you were (more than one person)
she was they were
he was
it was

H EXERCISE 1-ORAL: Change the sentences to the past.

1. Bob is in class today. + He was in class yesterday too.

2. I'm in class today. + I was in class yesterday too.

3. Mary is at the library today. 7. The classroom is hot today.

4. We're in class today. 8. Ann is in her office today.

5. You're busy today. 9. Tom is in his office today.

6. I'm happy today. 10. Ann and Tom are in their offices today.
 EXERCISE 2-ORAL (BOOKS CLOSED): l l l k about today and yesterday.
Example: I'm in class.
Response: I'm in class today. I was in class yesterday too. ..,,
( . . . ) is in class.
!'
Examph: I. ..*.

( . . . ) is in class today. ShelHe was in class yesterday too.

' 'I
Response:
.?*'-,:.;.
. ~
:

6 . ( . . . ) is absent.
% J!

..iR." 1. We're in class.

.P. , , 2. I'm in class. 7. I'm tired.
,a,
, .r . ..
3. ( . ) is in class .
8. ( . . . ) and ( . . ) are (in the front row)
. .-
"
"" "
a., . ..
4. ( . . ) and ( . ) are in class. 9. The door is open/closed.
5. ( . . . ) i s h e r e . 10. It's hotlcold.

(a) I
(b) I
waa not in class yesterday.
wcrsn't in class yesterday.

( c ) They woro not at home last night.

NEGATIM! S : + not = waan't
C O ~ C T I O Nwaa
were + not = weren't I
(d) They waven't at home last night.
vpbws!.

EXERCISE 3: Study the time expressions. Then complete the sentences. Use wcrwr't or
weren't. Use a past time expression.

PRESENT PAST
today + yesterday
this morning + yesterday morning
this afternoon + yesterday afternoon
tonight + last night
this week + last week

1. Ken is here today, but he wasnIt here yesterw

2. I'm at home tonight, but I wasn't at home last night.
3. Olga is busy today, but

4. We're in class this morning, but

, , 5. Tom is at the library tonight, but

6. It's cold this week, but
7. Alex and Rita are at work this afternoon, but

172 m CHAPTER 5
 8. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are at home tonight, but
9. You're in class today, but
10. Dr. Ruckman is in her office this afternoon, but

- -- -

YES/NULpYESTIONS

( a ) Were YOU in class yesterday? -r Yes, I wan. ( I was in class yesterday.)

(be) + (subject) -r No, I wasn't. ( I wasn't in class yesterday.)

( b ) Was Carlos at home last night? -r Yen, he was. (He was at home last night.)
(be) + (subject) -r No, he wasn't. (He wasn't at home last night.)

INFORMATION QUBSTIONS SHORT ANSWER + (LONG ANSWER)

( c ) Where were you yesterday? -r In class. (I was in class yesterday.)
When + (be) + (subject)

(d) Where was Jennifer last night? -r At home. (She was at home last night.)
Whae + (be) + (subject)

EXERCISE 4: Make questions and give short answers.

1. (you \ at home \ last night) -
I \, .,*I'

A: Were ,youat h w e last n u t ?

2. (Mr. Yamamoro \ absent @om class \yesterday)

B: Yes,
' Y'
3. (Alex and Sue \ at home \ last night)
( ,a,, 1 , ' 1 111, .

B: Yes,
4. (you \ nervous \ the first day of class)

B: No,
 5 . (Ahmed \ at the library \ last night)

A:
B: Yes,

6 . (Mr. Shin \ in class (yesterday)

B: No,
A: Where
B: At home. ...
7 . (you and your wife \ in Canada \ last year)
-c:*ri3 . 8
' *,,8 a " A:
7: No,
A: Where
B: In Ireland.

EXERCISE 5: Make questions and give short answers.

1 . (you \ in class \yesterday)

A: Were you in class yesterday?

B: Yes, / WQS.
2. (Anita \ in class \ today)
: i : ., ?.,,

A: Is Anita in class today ?

B: NO, she rsn t.I
She's absent.

3. (you \ tired \ last night)

A:

B: Yes, . I went to bed early.

4 . (you \ hungry \ right now)

A:
B: No, ,but I'm thirsty.
 5 . (the weather \ hot in New York City \ last summer)

A:
B: Yes, . It was very hot.
6 . (the weather \ cold in Alaska \ in the winter)

A:

B: Yes, . It's very cold.

( r ".
7. (Yoko and Mohammed \ here \ yesterday afernoon)

A:
' .,'
B: Yes,
8. (the students in this class \ intelligent)

A:
B: Of course ! They are very intelligent!

9 . (Mr. lbk \ absent \ today)

A:
.1

B: Yes,

A: Where
, . L.

B:
10. (limy and Benito \ at the party \ last night)

A:
. . .
B: No,
-. .,.,,. .
A: Where

B:
1 1 . (Mr. and Mrs. Rice \ in town \ this week)

A:
B: No, . They're out of town.
A: Oh? Where
 12. (Anna \ out of town \ last week)

B: Yes,
A: Where

EXERCISE 6-ORAL (BOOKS CLOSED): Pair up with a classmate and ask questions. If
Student B answers yes, the exercise item is finished. If Student B answers no,
Student A should follow with a whsre-question.
Example: in class \ now
..
STUDENT A: ( . ), are you in class now? (StudentA's book is open.)
STUDENT B: Yes, I am. (Student B's book is closed.)
Example: at the library \ last night
STUDENT A: ( ...
), were you at the library last night?
STUDENT B: NO,I wasn't.
'f
STUDENT A: Where were you?
STUDENT B: I was (at home /inmy room / at a party, etc.) t ,~ 3 1 .d

1. at home \ now
2. at home \ yesterday morning
3. at home \ last night
4. in class \two days ago
5. in (name of a place in this city) \ now
6. in (mame of this city) \ last year
7. (name ofyour teacher) \ in class \ yesterday
8. (names of two classmates) \ here \ yesterday

Change roles. Student B should now ask StudentA questions.

9. in (name of this country) \ two weeks ago
10. in (name of this country)\ two years ago
11. in (name of a city) \ now
12. at (name of a park in this city) \ yesterday afternoon
13. at (name of a famous place in this city) \ this morning*
14, at (name of a popular plnce where students like to go) \ last night
15. (name of the teacher) \ at home \ last night
16. (names of two students) \ (name of this building) \ yesterday aftemoon
1,

*Student B: If you are asking this question in the morning, use a present verb. If it is now afternoon or
evening, use a past verb.
I SIMPLB PRESEN
SIMPLE PAST:
(a) I
(b) I
walk toschool wory day.
waRed to school yesterday.
wrb + -ed = the simple past tense

SIMPLE PRESEN
SIMPLE PAST:
( C ) Ann
( d ) Ann
walks to school every day.
walked to school yeafmday.

we
i
't

they
1 +walked (verb + -ed)

EXERCISE 7: Complete the sentences. Use the words in the list; use the SIMPLE PRESENT or
the SIMPLE PAS?.

I. ~t often rain5 in the morning. ~t famed

yesterday.
2. I to school every morning. I to
school yesterday morning.
3. Sue often questions. She a
question in class yesterday.
4. I a movie on television last night. I usually
T V in the evening because I want to improve my English.
5. Mike his own dinner yesterday evening. He
his own dinner every evening.
6. I usually home at night because I have to study. I
home last night.
7. I have a job at the library. I at the library every evening. I
there yesterday evening.
8. When I am asleep, I often .I
about my family last night.*,. ,

*The past of d r a m can be dreamed or dwamt.

EXPRESSING PAST TIME W 177

 9. Linda usually for the bus at a bus stop in front of her

apartment building. She for the bus there yesterday

morning.

10. The teacher some words from the board a couple of

minutes ago. He used his hand instead of an eraser.

11. Our teacher is a warm, friendly person. She often when

she is talking to us.

12. Rick doesn't have a beard anymore. He five days ago.

Now he every morning.

5-5 PAST TIME WORDS: YESTERDAY, LAST, AND AGO

NOTICE:
In (a): yesterday is used with morning, afrernoon, and evening.
In (b): last is used with night, with long periods of time (week, month, year), with seasons (spring, summer,
etc.), and with days of the week.
In (c): ago means "in the past." It follows specific lengths of time (e.g., two minutes + ago, five years + ago).

YESTERDAY AGO

(a) Bob was here . . . (b) Sue was here .. . (c) Tom was here . . .
yestorday. Iast night. five minutes ago.
yesterday morning. last week. two hours ago.
yesterday afternoon. Iast month. three days ago.
yesterday ewening. last year. a (one) week ago.
six months ago.
last spring. a (one) year ago.
last summar.
last fall.
last winter.

last Monday.
last Tuesday.
last Wednesday.
etc.
EXERCISE 8: Use yesterday or last.

1. I dreamed about you /aSt night.

2. I was downtown morning.

3. Two students were absent Friday.

4. Ann wasn't at home night.

5. Ann wasn't at home evening.

6. Carmen was out of town week.

7. I visited my aunt and uncle fall.

8. Roberto walked home afternoon.

9. My sister amved in Miami Sunday.

10. We watched T V night.

11. Ali played with his children evening.

12. Yoko arrived in Los Angeles summer.

13. I visited my relatives in San Francisco month.

14. My wife and I moved into a new house year.

15. Mrs. Porter washed the kitchen floor morning.

EXERCISE 9: Complete the sentences. Use ago in your completion.

1. I'm in class now, but I was at home ten minutes a_ao/two hours a&70/et
2. I'm in class today, but I was absent from class

3. I'm in this country now, but I was in my country

4. 1was in (name of a city)

5. I was in elementary school

6. I arrived in this city

7. There is a nice park in this city. I was at the park

8. We finished EXERCISE 2

9. 1was home in bed

10. It rained in this city

EXPRESSING PAST TIME H 179

 Mr. Wilson in his garden yesterday morning.

Judy because she was sick. She had the flu.

Don is a good cook. He some delicious food last night.
Linda a question in class yesterday.
I had a problem with my homework. The teacher me
before class.

GROUP B: Final -ed is pronounced Id/ after voiced sounds:

1. rained 5. smiled 9. remembered

2. signed 6. Wed lo. played
3. shaved 7. sneezed 11. enjoyed
4. arrived 8. closed 12. snowed

13. It's winter. The ground is white because it yesterday.

14. Anita in this city three weeks ago. She
at the airport on September 3rd.*
15. The girls and boys baseball after school yesterday.
16. When Ali got a new credit card, he his name in ink on the
back of the card.
17. Rick used to have a beard, but now he doesn't. He this
morning. I I, I.

18. The students' test papers were very good. The teacher, Mr. Jackson, was very
pleased. He when he returned the test papers.
19. I the party last night. It was fun. I had a good time.
20. The window was open. Mr. Chan it because it was cold
outside.
' ,!&<.<i , ,~
2 1. The saeets were wet this morning because it last night.
22. "Achoo!" When Judy ,Ken said, "Bless you." Oscar said,
"Gesundheit!"

*Notice preposition usage after ambe:

Iarrive in a counny or in a city.
Iarrive at a particular place (a building, an airport, a house, an apamnmt, a party, ctc.)
Adw is followed by either in or at. Am'w is not followed by to.

.
I N C O ~ T She
: am'wd to the Umted States.
INCORRECT: She arrived to the airpon.

EXPRESSING PAST TIME 18 1

 23. I have my books with me. I didn't forget them today. i

to bring them to class.

24. Mrs. Lane was going crazy because there was a fly
in the room. The fly was buzzing all around

the room. Finally, she

it with a rolled up newspaper.

GROUP C: Final -ed is pronounced ladl after It/ and /dl:

I
1. waited 5. invited
2. wanted 6. needed
3. counted 7. added
4. visited 8. folded

9. The children some candy after dinner.

10. Mr. Miller to stay in the hospital for two weeks after he had
an operation.

11. I the number of students in the room.

12. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson us to come to their house last

Sunday.

13. Last Sunday we the Johnsons.

14. I the letter before I put it in the envelope.

15. Kim for the bus at the comer of 5th Avenue and Main
Street.

16. The boy the numbers on

the chalkboard in arithmetic class yesterday.
:, I

182 W CHAPTER 5
 EXERCISE 11-ORAL (BOOKS CLOSED): Practice pronouncing -ed.

Example: walk to the front of the room

STUDENT A: (Student A walks to the front of the room.)
TEACHER: What did ( . . . ) do?
STUDENT B: She/He walked to the front of the room,
TEACHER: What did you do?
STUDENT A: I walked to the front of the room.

1. smile 11. wash your hands (pantomime)

2. laugh 12. touch the floor
3. cough 13. point at the door
4. sneeze 14. fold a piece of paper
5. shave (pantomime) 15. count your fmgers
6. erase the board 16. push (something in the mom)
7. sign your name 17. pull (something in the room)
8. open the door 18. yawn
9. dose the door 19. pick up your pen
10. ask a question 20. add two and two on the board

END OFVhRB + -EDFORM

END OF VERB: A CONSONANT + -e + ADD -d

smile smiled
erase erased

Rule 2: ON6 VOWEL + ONE CONSONANT* + DOUBLE THE CONSONANT, ADD -ed
stop st@f=d
rub rubbed

Rule 3: TWO VO'WELS + ONE CONSONANT + ADD -ed; DO NOT DOUBLE THE CONSONANT
rain rained
need needed

Rule 4: TWO CONSONANTS + ADD -ed; DO NOT DOUBLE THE CONSONANT

count counted
help helped

Rule 5: CONSONANT + -y + CHANGE -y TO -i, ADD -ed

studied
C W carried

Rule 6: VOWEL + -y + ADD -ed; DO NOT CHANGE -y TO -i

play played
enjoy enjoyed

*wcEmoNs: Do not double x (fix + -od =fixed). Do not double w (snow + -sd = s m e d ) .
NOTE: For two-syllable verbs that end in a vowel and a consonant (e.g., visit, open), see Chart 5-8.

EXPRESSING PAST TIME . 183