Past Simple - Questions and Negations

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Learning objectives

I can use the past simple (regular and irregular) correctly.

I can make questions and negations in the past simple correctly.

Verleden tijd

Tegenwoordige tijd (duurvorm)

Tegenwoordige tijd

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Past Simple

When to use which tense..

Present Simple	facts, habits, opinion.
Present Continuous	something is happening now, to express irritation.
Past Simple	things that happened and have finished.

Examples

Present Simple	Water boils at 100 degrees. He studies two hours every day. I don't like potatoes.
Present Continuous	Look! They are coming ! You are always shouting !
Past Simple	Last year I went to Scotland

Listen!

usually

last month

in 2018

at the moment

regularly

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Past Simple

Past Simple

You use the past simple if you talk about actions or events that happened at a certain time in the past. The action or event is finished and there is no connection with the present. 

Signal words: Last ... (week, month etc.) ... ago (a minute, an hour etc.), dates in the past (in 2007, on February 20th), yesterday. 

Past Simple

Regular verbs are formed in the past simple by adding -(e)d to the verb.

We looked at the animals.

I waited in near the entrance.

Past Simple

Verbs that have a short vowel + a consonant at the end get a double consonant in before -ed.

He stopped to take a picture.

They grabbed the food tossed into the cage.

Past Simple

Verbs that have a -y at the end get -ied in the past simple if there is a consonant in front of the -y.

The monkey tried to climb the tree.

If there is a vowel in front of the -y, they get -ed after the -y.

The cubs played with the ball.

Past Simple (irregular)

The irregular verbs have their own forms of the past simple (see list with irregular verbs on page 204).

I sat on a bench. (to sit)

She bought a snack. (to buy)

You were at the elephants. (to be)

Questions and Negations

Turn the affirmative sentence below into a question:
"You are the principal"

Turn the affirmative sentence below into a question:
"They go to the same school."

Questions in the past simple

There are 2 ways to form a question in the past simple.

Rule 1: was, were, would, could are placed at the beginning of the sentence.

Your friend was glad to see you.

Was your friend glad to see you?

You were happy yesterday.

Were you happy yesterday?

Questions in the past simple

There are 2 ways to form a question in the past simple.

Rule 2: receive an extra verb (did) which is added at the beginning of the sentence. The main verb also changes to the infinitive

We brought the rackets.

Did we bring the rackets?

He committed  a crime.

Did he commit a crime?

Turn the affirmative sentence below into a negation:
"I like maths."

Turn the affirmative sentence below into a negation:
"He knows the answer."

Negations in the past simple

The same structure applies for making negations in the past simple.

Rule 1: in sentences with were, was, would, could, you add not to the verb.

You were at the game yesterday.

You were not a the game yesterday.

Negations in the past simple

The same structure applies for making negations in the past simple.

Rule 2: an extra verb (didn't) is added in front of the main verb. The main verb also changes to the infinitive.

He played football.

He didn't play football.

We saw the rally.

We didn't see the rally.

They ____ (to think) about a solution now.

1. think
2. are thinking
3. thought

The coach always _____ (to say) that having fun is important.

1. says
2. is saying
3. said

Yesterday, the grocer _____ (to say) that he ______ (to have - not) any apples left

1. says / has not
2. is saying / is not having
3. said / didn't have