SIMPLE PAST TENSE

When we start talking about the past, we have to bear in mind that verbs are
classified in two categories.

1.- Regular Verbs: We add “d” , “ed” or “ied” to the base form of the verb, in
other words, to the infinitive form.

like liked
want wanted
carry carried

2.- Irregular Verbs: they are different from the base form, we can find them in the
second column of an irregular verb list.

go went
take took
find found

SIMPLE PAST OF THE VERB “TO BE”

We use the past tense of the verbe “TO BE” to talk about a definite time in
the past, eg. last week, yesterday, last night, in 1988, ago, etc.

Verb “to be” is an irregular verb. However, we do not use auxiliaries with the
simple past, we just add “not” to the verb “to be” and for questions we just
switch the subject and the verb “to be” , the same as we did with the simple
present of verb “to be”
 REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS

AFFIRMATIVE FORM

I
You
He paid
She
It worked
We
You went
They

NEGATIVE FORM

I
You pay
He
She did not
work
It
We didn’t
go
You
They

INTERROGATIVE FORM

I
You pay?
He
She work?
Did It
We go?
You
They
SHORT ANSWERS
Yes, I/you/he/she/it/we/you/they did
No, I/you/he/she/it/we/you/they didn´t.

 TIME EXPRESSIONS USED WITH SIMPLE PAST

 USES OF THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

1.- Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at
a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention
the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Examples:

 I saw a movie yesterday.

 I didn't see a play yesterday.
 Last year, I travelled to Japan.
 Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
 Did you have dinner last night?
 She washed her car.
 He didn't wash his car.

2.- A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These
actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

Examples:

 I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
 He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00,
and met the others at 10:00.
 Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

3.- Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the
past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for
two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.
Examples:

 I lived in Brazil for two years.

 Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
 They sat at the beach all day.
 They did not stay at the party the entire time.
 We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
 A: How long did you wait for them?
B: We waited for one hour.

4.- Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the
past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are
talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often,
usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

 I studied French when I was a child.

 He played the violin.
 He didn't play the piano.
 Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?
 She worked at the movie theater after school.
 They never went to school, they always skipped class.

5.- Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations
which are no longer true.
Examples:

 She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

 He didn't like tomatoes before.
 Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?
 People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past

REGULAR VERBS PRONUNCIATION

1.- Verbs ending in the sound : p-k-s- ch-sh- f- x- pronounce ED as “t”

asked stopped guessed watched washed mixed laughed

2.-Verbs ending in the sound: l- v- n- m- r- b- g- w- y. z and vowel

sound pronounce ED as “d”

called arrived earned performed appeared described belong

interviewed enjoyed realized

3.-final “t” or “d” sound pronounces “id”

wanted decided needed collected

 Do these verbs end in /d/, /t/ or /id/?

We prepared designs and discussed them with the clients before we started. We
looked at the drawings together and they liked them. We provided detailed
specifications and showed them the plans at every stage. They discovered a few small
mistakes but we corrected them. We changed anything they didn´t like. We even
included extra features when they asked for them. Then as soon as we finished they
complained. They said they wanted something different.

 Complete the table below according to the

pronunciation

/d/ /t/ /id/

prepared discussed started

……………………… ………………………….. ……………………………

…………………….. ………………………….. …… ……………………

…………………….. ………………………….. …………………………..

……………………… …………………………… ……………………………

 Let’s have some practice !!!

1. Our company (start) business in 1995.

2. We (order) the goods two months ago.

3. I (send) you the letter last week.

4. We (receive) your order yesterday.

5. The postman (come) in, (give) me the documents

and (leave) .

6. When I (arrive) , Anne was talking on the phone.

7. I (get / not) your letter yesterday.

8. Mister O'Brian (be / not) in the office last week.

9. (Sarah / go) to the trade fair on Thursday?

10. (you / ring) me ten minutes ago?

 A family crisis

In 1970, Neal Boyle, Managing Director of Columbia Sportswear, borrowed a

large sum of money from his bank to finance the business. As security for the
loan, he offered his life insurance, his family house, and his wife’s mother’s
house.
Three months later, he died. His wife Gert had no money, no job, and little work
experience. She also had three children, including a son, Tim, who was at
university.

What do you think she did next?

This is what happened to Columbia Sportswear after Neal Boyle’s death.

Shall we complete the gaps?

1.- Gert…………………………………..(decide) to run Columbia herself…

2.- She………………………………….(ask) the company accountant to resign…
3.- Columbia………………………….(lose) many of their regular clients…
4.- The bank manager…………(tell) Gert it was necessary to sell Columbia…
5.- She………………………………..(not/sell) the company…
6.- Tim Boyle……………………(join) the company straight from university at the age
of 22. At university, he…………………………..(study) journalism….
7.- Gert and Tim…………………….(begin) to change the product range….
8.- They…………………………(launch) a new product, the “Bugaboo” jacket, in 1982…
9.- Time………………………(become) President of Columbia…
10.- The company…………………….(grow) during the 1980s….

Now… match the sentence-endings (a-j) below with 1-10 above.

a.- …so they had very bad results.

b.-…because they had too many products that weren’t profitable.
c.-…and in 1993, Columbia’s turnover reached $193 million.
d.-…and it was a big success- they sold 1.5 million between 1982 and 1993.
e.-…so he didn’t have any business experience.
f.-…but Gert didn’t want to retire, so she decided to continue to work for the
company.
g.-…so she found someone who wanted to buy the company.
h.-…because she needed money to repay her husband’s loan.
i.-…because the buyer offered her a very low price.
j.-…because he didn’t agree with her ideas.
More past events!!!

 Peter Wilsdon is one of the American managers attending an international

conference here in Buenos Aires. He is a friend of Tom Sanders, that’s why
he sent him an email to welcome him yesterday. Something happened
because all the verbs in the email have disappeared. Could you complete it
to make it readable?

Dear Peter,

Welcome to Buenos Aires. ..............................................(you/have) a good trip

? ......................................(you/be) tired when you........................(get) here?
What...................................(you/do) last night? I’m sure
you............................................(not/go) out.

I..............................(come) to your hotel this morning, but you...........................

(not/be) here. The receptionist ..........................(tell) me that
you.................................(leave) the hotel at about 9 a.m.
I....................................(not/be) surprised because I knew that you have a
meeting at ICL today.

If you are free tomorrow, phone me or email me on 4-222-1234, and we’ll have
a drink together.

Best wishes,
Tom.

 Now write a email from Peter to Tom following these instructions

 Thank him for his fax.

 Answer his questions in the first paragraph.
 Explain where you were today (meeting at ICL).
 Explain that you are busy this evening and can’t meet him for a drink.
I’m afraid....
 Suggest that you meet tomorrow. Let’s...
  Shall we try questions in the past? Use “you” when
necessary

How _______________________________________ (be) your weekend?

That’s a nice… Where __________________________________ (buy) it?
What time _______________________________ (finish) work last night?
What time ________________________________(get home) last night?
What time _________________________________ (get to) work today?
When _________________________________ (start) your present job?
Where ____________________________(last go) on holiday (= vacation)?
_______________________________________ (have) a good weekend?
________________________________________(do) the last homework?
____________________________ (have) time for breakfast this morning?
_____________________________________ (hear) the news about…?
____________________________ (go out) for dinner/ drinks/… last night?
______________________________ (see) anything good on TV last night?
How _______________________________(be) your journey here today?

 PAST ACTIVITIES

 Read what Sharon says about a typical working day.

I usually get up at 7:00 and have a big breakfast.

I walk to work, which takes me about half an hour.
I start work at 8:45. I never have lunch. I finish work
at 5:30. I’m always tired when I get home. I usually cook a meal in the evening.
I don’t usually go out. I go to bed at about 11:00 p.m. I always sleep well.

 Yesterday was a typical day for Sharon. Write what she did or didn’t do
yesterday.

1. She....................................................................................at 7.00 a.m.

2. She...........................................................................a big breakfast.
3. She..........................................................................................................
4. It..................................................................................to get to work.
5. ............................................................................................at 8:45 a.m.
6. ........................................................................................................lunch.
7. ....................................................................................................at 5:30.
8. ......................................................tired when..............................home.
9. .......................................................................a meal yesterday evening.
10. ............................................................................out yesterday evening.
11. .............................................................................................at 11 :00 p.m.
12. ...........................................................................................well last night.

THE “YES-NO” CONTEST

Let’s have fun !!

Different ways to mean YES!!

 You are right!

 Certainly

 Sure

 Of course, I was/did.

 Obviously

 Definitely

 That’s right

Different ways to say NO !!

 Of course, I was not/ didn’t.

 I’m afraid I was not/didn’t.

 You are wrong.

 That’s incorrect.

Now…Make Yes/No questions to your partner referring to past activities.

She/He shouldn’t say either Yes or No. Use the expressions above.