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.

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 

I sat on a bench. (to sit)

She bought a snack. (to buy)

You were at the elephants. (to be)

Questions and Negations

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?

Turn the affirmative sentence below into a question:
"You were the best football player"

Turn the affirmative sentence below into a question:
"You were at the movies together."

Questions in the past simple

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

Rule 2: put (did) at the beginning of the sentence if you don have 'was' or 'were' in the sentences. 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?

What is the question form of:
We had a good time today.

1. Had we a good time today?
2. Do we have a good time today?
3. Did we had a good time today?
4. Did we have a good time today?

Why is "Did we have a good time today?" the correct answer?

1. Because the infinitive of had is have
2. Because the row of irregular verbs is: have - had - had - hebben
3. Because the infinitive means that the verb is in its original form
4. All of these answers are correct

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: if you don have was/were/would/could in the sentence we add (didn't / did not)  in front of the main verb. The main verb also changes to the infinitive.

He caught the ball.

He didn't catch the ball.

We saw the rally.

We didn't see the rally.

We _____ (to take) the bus to school yesterday.

1. took
2. are taking
3. are going to take
4. take

They ____ (to think) about a solution last night.

1. think
2. are thinking
3. are going to think
4. thought

What _______ (to be) your previous address?

1. were
2. did
3. was
4. do

_____________ (to do) he do all his homework yesterday?

1. Do
2. Does
3. Do not
4. Did

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

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