The Simple Past - Use

EXAMPLES
In 1897, Andrée left for the North Pole in a balloon.
EXPLANATION
We use simple past with a single, short past action.

EXAMPLES
The balloon traveled for 65 hours.
EXPLANATION
We use Simple Past with a longer past action.

EXAMPLES
Peter Athans climbed Mt. Everest seven times.
EXPLANATION
We use simple past with a repeated past action.
NOTES

 If the verb ends in /t/ or /d/, the past simple

ending is pronounced /ed/.
For example, wanted and ended.
Decided, landed, visited, invited.
 If the verb ends in a voiceless sound, such as
/p/, /f/, /s/, /ʃ/, /ʧ/ or /k/, the past simple ending is
pronounced /t/.
 p, k, s, ch, sh, f, x, or h,
For example, stopped and washed, watched,
walked, worked, asked, guessed, Bluffed, relaxed,
laughed.

 If the verb ends in another voiced sound, the

simple past ending is pronounced /d/.
 l, v, n, m, r, b, g, w, y, z
For example, played and allowed, called, Loved,
burned, welcomed, scared, stabbed, belonged,
Quizzed
EXERCISE 3 In Exercise 2, identify the regular, irregular
verbs and the form of Be.

EXERCISE 4 Write the base form of the verbs. Write R for

a regular verb, Write I for an irregular verb. Write B for
Be.

Cheered: Cheer ®
Were: BE
Attempted: Attempt ®
Thought: (I)
Died: Die®
Waved: Wave®
Froze: (i)
Lifted
Heard
Learned
Took
Left
Climbed
Brought
Helped
Answered
Went
Picked
Had
Shouted
Baked
Took
Listened
Asked
Hoped
Wrote
Drove
Painted
Drank
Waved
Sang
Stayed
Closed
Visited
Shouted
Swam
Spoke
Conjugate the following verbs in base for to their simple
past form.

Dare

announce

Choose

travel

Bathe

push

Mistake

Spend

trick

confess

Undertake

Win

move

visit

Bring

grab

Fight

Avoid

guess

Cough

offer

fight

trap
 NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN

George Dawson was a successful man. Was he famous? No, he wasn't. He

was just an ordinary man who did something extraordinary.

George Dawson lived in three centuries-from 1898 to 2001. He was born in

Texas, the grandson of slaves.
At that time, there were fewer opportunities for African Americans. Dawson was
the oldest of five children. His family was very poot, so George had to work to
help his family. He started working for his father when he was only four years
old. As a result, he didn't have a chance to get an education. He didn't learn to
read and write. He signed his name with an X

"Every morning I get up and I wonder what I might learn that day."

Richard Glaubman read an article about Dawson in the newspaper and wanted
to meet him. Glaubman helped Dawson write a book about Dawson's life, called
Life Is So Good. Dawson was 102 when the book was published. Dawson wrote
about what makes a person happy. He learned from his father to see the good
things in life. They had a close family, and George never felt lonely, Dawson
says in the book, "People worry too much. Life is good, just the way it is.” When
Dawson was 98 years old, he decided to go to school. He wanted to learn to
read and write. He went to adult literacy classes. The teacher asked him,"Do
you know the alphabet?" When he answered "No," his teacher was surprised.
Over the next few years, his teacher taught Dawson to read and write. Dawson
said.

Was George Dawson a success? He definitely was. He enjoyed life and

accomplished his goal: learning to read and write.
COMPREHENSION Based on the reading, write T for true
or F for false.

____ George Dawson was born a slave.

____ Richard Glaubman helped Dawson write his book.

____ Dawson learned to enjoy life from his father.

THINK ABOUT IT Discuss the questions with a partner or

in a small group.

1. What kind of student do you think Dawson was?

2. Dawson's philosophy is that "People worry too much.

Life is good, just the way it is." Do you live by this
philosophy? Explain.
EXERCISE 5 Fill in the blanks to complete these affirmative
and negative statements and questions.

1. George Dawson____________ poor.

2. Dawson _____________born in 1898.
3. At that time there_________ many opportunities for
him.
4. His parents _____________ poor.
5. He__________ unhappy.
6. George Dawson wasn’t able to write his name. Why
_______ he able to write his name?
7. __________ he happy to go to school? Yes, he
_______.
8. How old___________ he when he learned to read?
He___________ 98 years old.
9. __________there slavery in the U.S when Dawson
was born? No, there wasn’t.
10. _________ there a lot of opportunities for
African Americans at that time? No, there weren’t.
ABOUT YOU. Discuss your answers to these questions.

1. What do you think makes a person successful?

2. What personal goals do you have? What steps do
you need to take to reach those goals?
3. Were your goals different when you were younger?
Do you think your goals will change over time?