Past Simple Tense

FORM

1. REGULAR VERBS
+ - ?

I walked I did not walk Did I walk?

DID + subject+
infinitive + ED DID NOT + infinitive
infinitive
 SPELLING

 if a verb ends in a y preceded by a consonant:

to carry→ he/she/it carried
 if a verb ends in a y preceded by a vowel:
to play→ he/she/it played
 one syllable verbs ending in one consonant, double the final consonant
before –ed:
to stop → stopped
 FORM

1. IRREGULAR VERBS
+ - ?

I went
I did not go Did I go?

2ND COLUMN of DID + subject+

DID NOT + infinitive
irregular verb list infinitive
TASK 1: Write down the past simple
form of the following verbs

INFINITIVE PAST SIMPLE

to wash
to beg
to buy
to stay
to plan
to eat
to write
to dry
to catch
TASK 1: Write down the past simple
form of the following verbs

INFINITIVE PAST SIMPLE

to wash washed
to beg begged
to buy bought
to stay stayed
to plan planned
to eat ate
to write wrote
to dry dried
to catch caught
 USE

1. COMPLETED ACTION IN THE PAST, OR A SEQUENCE OF ACTIONS:

• The ‘Titanic’ sank on its first voyage from Southampton to New York in 1912.
• I woke up very early. Then I got dressed, had breakfast and left the house.
2. PAST HABIT OR REGULAR EVENT:
• He smoked for most of his life.
• We went out for a meal every evening on holiday.
3. PERMANENT OR LONG-TERM SITUATION IN THE PAST
• I really enjoyed working in this factory.
• I lived with my granparents when I was a child.
 TIME EXPRESSIONS

 these time expressions are often used with the past simple

yesterday
last week/month/year
in 1492
two days/weeks/months
ago
earlier today/this month
the other day/week
 TASK 2: Put the verbs in brackets into Past
Simple

1. We ________________ (DO) a Google search and ________________ (FIND) the answer

very quickly.

2. When Trevor Baylis ________________ (HEAR) about communication problems in Africa,

he ________________ (DECIDE) to build a radio without batteries.

3. As soon as oil prices ________________ (BEGIN) to rise, scientists ________________ (START)

to develop alternative fuel for cars.

4. In 1990 when a Dutch company ________________ (BUILD) a new coal power station,
they ________________ (PLANT) trees in Indonesia to help reduce the amount of CO2
produced.
 TASK 2: Put the verbs in brackets into Past
Simple

1. We did a Google search and found the answer very quickly.

2. When Trevor Baylis heard about communication problems in Africa, he decided to

build a radio without batteries.

3. As soon as oil prices began to rise, scientists started to develop alternative fuel for
cars.

4. In 1990 when a Dutch company built a new coal power station, they planted
trees in Indonesia to help reduce the amount of CO2 produced.
Past Continuous Tense
 FORM

+ - ?
I was walking I was not walking Was I walking?

Past Simple of to be + present participle

present participle = main verb + ing
 USE

1. TO DESCRIBE AN ACTION IN PROGRESS AT A PARTICULAR TIME IN THE PAST:

• In 1995, I was working for a small car manufactoring company.

2. TO DESCRIBE TWO ACTIONS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME IN THE PAST (with while):
• While I was driving home, I was thinking about what you’d said.

3. TO POINT OUT THAT A PAST EVENT CONTINUED FOR SOME TIME (with all night, all
morning, all day etc.):
• It was raining all night.
 USE

4. WITH PAST SIMPLE – TO DESCRIBE AN ACTION THAT WAS INTERRUPTED:

• Rutherford was working in Manchester when he split the atom.

5. TO DESCRIBE THE BACKGROUND AND SET THE SCENE FOR A STORY:

• The wind was blowing and the rain was beating down. John Snell was standing on the
wharf shivering, waiting for the ship to arrive. Finally, he saw lights in the distance.
TASK 3: Put the verbs in the brackets in
Past Simple or Past Continuous

1. When he ____________________ (WORK) in Nigeria, there ____________________ (BE) a

serious accident on the oil rig.

2. He ____________________ (NOT WEAR) a hard hat when the accident

____________________ (HAPPEN), so he hurt his head.

3. A large wave ____________________ (DESTROY) the generator when engineers

____________________ (RUN) tests.

4. The earthquake ____________________ (HAPPEN) last night, while most people

____________________ (SLEEP).
TASK 3: Put the verbs in the brackets in
Past Simple or Past Continuous

1. When he was working in Nigeria, there was a serious accident on the oil rig.

2. He was not wearning a hard hat when the accident happened, so he hurt his head.

3. A large wave destroyed the generator when engineers were running tests.

4. The earthquake happened last night, while most people were sleeping.
It was a cold, dark night...