Past simple. Ask questions or describe events in the past. -Alba Pérez.

 Session 5 :

 

Past simple. Ask questions or describe events in the past.

 

We use the simple past to express something that has already been finished and completed.

It is one of the most important verbs in the English language.

It is used when the action we want to talk about has already been completed, either a short time ago or a long time ago.

 

The two endings for the formation of the past simple are –d or –ed and depend on the following:

1. The –d is for verbs whose last letter is e.

2. The –ed is for verbs in any other ending.

3. When there is a y at the end, after a vowel, you just have to add –ed.

4.When there is no vowel before the y, it is changed to i+ ed.                 

5. In other cases, the last consonant of the word must be repeated to add the formula –ed.

 

To construct sentences in the past simple in a negative way you have to use the do/does auxiliary. It is the only one that is conjugated in the past. The main verb remains in its infinitive form.

 

In interrogative sentences, the do/dos auxiliary must also be used. As in the negative form, only the auxiliary is conjugated in the past tense, while the main verb remains in its infinitive form.

 

Irregular verbs in English tend to cause greater difficulties. They are called irregular because they modify their root completely, either in their form of simple past or participle or both. Do not include –d or –ed, their structure changes completely.

To learn them we must know them, below you will find a table in which they all appear:

 

 

 

ACTIVITIES

 

Activity 1: “Listen and revise”

Developement: This activity consists of listening to a podcast in which you can review the contents previously given, in addition to improving our pronunciation and use of verbs in the past tense. The teacher will propose that after listening to the pronunciations of each verb, the students repeat it so that it is clear enough to express each word.

Grouping: The students will listen together.

 

Click on this to listen to the podcast.

Click here to see the presentation of the podcast.

Activity 2: “Fill the gaps”

Developement: In this activity we will find different phrases in the simple past. We must fill in the empty gaps with the corresponding verb that we think fits there. In this way we will put into practice everything that has been explained above. At the end of the activity you will find the solutions. Be honest and don't look at them, this way you won't learn.

Grouping: The activity will be done individually, so that each child is able to show what he has learned or understood.

 

1.     Ana ___________ a taxi. (call)

2.     Juan __________ my mom yesterday. (not phone)

3.     When I ________ at home, he ________ very happy. (arrive) (is not)

4.     Yesterday, we _________ to the cinema and we ______ Avatar, Betty really ______ the film. (go) (see) (like)

5.     _______ you kind and helpful to your Friends yesterday? (be)

6.     The book I _________ yesterday ________ really misterious. I __________ sleep well. (read) (is) (can not)

7.     My parents _______ me a birthday present which ______ a ring. (give) (is)

8.     My cousin and I ________ at the zoo last Friday. (be)

9.     He _________ a letter two days ago. (write)

10.  _______ the window open in class. I ________ really cold. (be) (feel)

 

 

11.  Ana called a taxi. (call)

12.  Juan didn´t phone my mom yesterday. (not phone)

13.  When I arrived at home, he was not very happy. (arrive) (is not)

14.  Yesterday, we went to the cinema and we saw Avatar, Betty really liked the film. (go) (see) (like)

15.  Were you kind and helpful to your Friends yesterday? (be)

16.  The book I read yesterday was really misterious. I couldn´t sleep well. (read) (is) (can not)

17.  My parents gave me a birthday present which was a ring. (give) (is)

18.  My cousin and I were at the zoo last Friday. (be)

19.  He wrote a letter two days ago. (write)

20.  Was the window open in class? I felt really cold. (be) (feel)