Past Simple questions & negative - March '26 (27-12Q)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo k, mavo
• Leerjaar 2

Questions

Look at the 2 questions. What's the difference?

Were you late for school yesterday?
Did you work in the supermarket yesterday?

Questions in the Past Simple

Rule 1 

was/were & could, would, must  -> beginning of the question

(= auxiliaries = hulpww)

-> never: 'to do'

Examples

Was I late for school?
Could he help me with my homework?

Turn this sentence into a question:
You were happy to go back home.
(use 'you' as subject)

Rule 2
All other verbs:

  Did + subject + verb

examples: 

He worked at the supermarket yesterday. 
Did he work at the supermarket yesterday?

We went to the swimming pool last week.
Did we go to the swimming pool last week?

Turn into a question:
I finished my book today. (Use 'I')

Make a question:
She built this entire house.

Make a question:
I grabbed my books.
(use 'you' as subject)

Rule 3: Question Word Questions 

Start with the QW (what, where, when, how, why, who, which) 

2 kinds of questions: (subject questions &) QWQ
What did you do yesterday?

Normal QWQ: examples

Where did you put your keys?

How was the pasta?
Who did you talk to?
When did Daisy leave for school?

Make a question:
When - you work ?

Ask a QWQ:
I forgot my laptop IN FRENCH CLASS. (you)

More examples

Did you go to school yesterday?
Did he do his homework last week?

Was Peter at home all weekend?
Were they at Daniel's birthday party on Saturday?

Question Word Questions

One special form: Subject questions

Subject -> 

• Who ... ?  
• What ...?

Subject question
DAD went to the grocery shop last night.
Question?

Subject question
Met wie ging je naar de film? (the cinema)?

 Past Simple Negative 

Rule nr. 1

was/were - could -> + not 
short form:  --- > n't 
wasn't / weren't / couldn't

Examples

It wasn't sunny yesterday.

My parents weren't at home this morning.
I couldn't see the Mona Lisa in Paris.

Make negative:
We were late for school.

Turn into a negative sentence:
He would help me an hour ago.

past simple negative

Rule nr. 2
With all other verbs: use 'didn't'.
order: Subject - didn't - base form - rest of the sentence.

Example:

He sent me a book.

He didn't send me a book.

More examples

You cut too many onions. 
You didn't cut too many onions.

I studied for two hours last week.
I didn't study for two hours last week.

Turn into a negative sentence:
She heard a weird sound.

Make this negative:
You learnt three words.

?
past simple:
I can turn a sentence into a question

1. Yes
2. Almost, I need more practice
3. No, I need more explanation.

?
I can turn a positive sentence into a negative sentence

1. Yes
2. Almost, I need more practice.
3. No, I need more explanation.