Mastering the Past Simple

Mastering the Past Simple

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to confidently apply the past simple tense in your writing and speech.

Introduce the learning objective to your students at the beginning of the lesson so they know what to expect.

What do you already know about using the past simple tense?

What is the Past Simple?

The past simple tense is used to describe a completed action in the past. It is typically formed by adding '-ed' to the base form of a regular verb, or by using the second form of an irregular verb.

Explain to your students what the past simple tense is and how it is formed.

Regular Verbs in the Past Simple

To form the past simple tense of regular verbs, you add '-ed' to the base form of the verb. For example, 'walk' becomes 'walked'.

Provide examples of regular verbs in the past simple tense and have your students practice conjugating them.

Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple

Irregular verbs have a unique second form that is used in the past simple tense. For example, 'eat' becomes 'ate'.

Provide examples of irregular verbs in the past simple tense and have your students practice conjugating them.

Regular and Irregular Verbs

Some verbs are regular in the past simple tense, while others are irregular. It is important to memorize the second forms of irregular verbs.

Explain the difference between regular and irregular verbs in the past simple tense.

Using the Past Simple in Writing

The past simple is commonly used when writing about past events or actions that have been completed. It can also be used to describe a sequence of events.

Provide writing prompts for your students to practice using the past simple tense in their writing.

Using the Past Simple in Speech

The past simple is commonly used when telling stories or describing past experiences in speech. It is important to use the correct form of the past simple verb.

Have your students practice telling stories or describing past experiences using the past simple tense in their speech.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to master the past simple tense is to practice using it in your writing and speech. Keep practicing until it becomes natural.

Encourage your students to practice using the past simple tense as much as possible to improve their skills.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.