1. Past Simple Tense
Use the past simple to talk about activities or routines which take place at a specified
time in the past. Notice that all subjects take the same conjugation of the verb. Regular
verbs end in '-ed'.
visit – visited
enjoy - enjoyed
Irregular verbs have various forms and each verb needs to be learned.
see – saw
think - thought

2. The past simple is used to express a finished past action which occurs at a specific
moment in the past.
Examples
She visited Iran last month.
They didn't go to Tom's party last weekend.
Where did you go on vacation last summer?
The following time signifiers often
Examples indicate a specific point in time.
They had lunch at home last week.
He left the company many years ago. last
Susan bought a new car in May. ago
He telephoned his friend in Rome in ... (plus a year or month)
yesterday. yesterday
I played golf when I was a teenager. when ... (plus a phrase)

3. Structure
Negative Form
Positive Form
Subject + did + not + base form of verb
Subject + past form of verb +
+ object(s) + (time)
object(s) + time
Examples
Examples
They didn't expect to see you at
They flew to Chicago last month.
Christmas.
Peter completed his course three
She didn't understand the question.
weeks ago.
Question Form
(Wh?) + did + subject + base form of
verb + (object(s))+ (time)?
Examples
Where did you study French?
When did you arrive last week?

4. Now let’s watch a short video containing useful tips on the pronunciation of regular (–
ed) verbs

5. Past Continuous
Something happening at a specific point of time in the past
I was watching TV at 9 o'clock last night.
They were working on the report at six.
Something that was happening during a period of time in the past
We were studying during the recess.
Peter was sleeping during class.
Something that was happening when something important took place
She was speaking on the phone when he arrived.
When he won the game, I was cooking.
Something that was happening while something else was happening
She was working on her homework while I was preparing dinner.
They were finishing the project while we were putting together the proposal.

6. Common time expressions used with the past
continuous:
at six/nine/four/etc o'clock, during, while, when
Structure
Positive
Subject + conjugate the helping verb "be" + verb + -ing.
I was, You were, He was, She was, We were, You were, They were -> watching TV when I
arrived.
Negative
Subject + conjugate the helping verb "be" + not + verb + -ing.
I wasn't, You weren't, He wasn't, She wasn't, We wasn't, You wasn't, They wasn't ->
working when he came into the room.
Questions
Question word + conjugate the helping verb 'be' + subject + verb + -ing
What -> were you, they -> doing at seven o'clock?
What -> was I, he, she -> doing at seven o'clock?

7. Alright! Now, let’s listen to a song by American band Boston, called More Than a Feeling.
Notice how the author starts by reporting facts that happened earlier in the fictional
time the song was written, and then mixes present and past.

8. OK! Now, it’s time to report to your partner everything you did since you woke up this
morning. Remember to use the past simple, as you are to tell about finished past
actions.

9. Listening 1
A Trip to London
You will hear a man talking about a trip to London that he has just returned from. You will
hear the selection twice. Discuss your findings with your partner.
How long did he stay in London? Which tour did he choose?
When did he leave? Where did he have lunch?
When did he arrive? What did he do in the afternoon?
How did he get to the hotel? Where did he have dinner?
What did he get for free in the hotel? What kind of food did he have for dinner?
When did he have dinner? Where did he dance?
What did he have for dinner? When did he get back to the hotel?
What tour choices did he have on Saturday When did he leave London?
morning?

10. Listening 2
A Policeman Asking Questions
You will hear a policeman asking a woman questions about a robbery. Choose the correct
multiple choice answer to the questions. You will hear the listening twice.

11. Listening 3
A Missing Handbag
You will hear a woman reporting a missing handbag. Write down the answers to the
questions. You will hear the listening twice.

12. Now, you are going to listen to two songs by American singer and songwriter Bob
Seger, Night Moves and Against The Wind. Seger is known for his quasi-autobiographic
lyrics, which often tell stories in a reminiscing way – as if the narrator were recalling
moments of his own life. After watching the videos with the lyrics, discuss the following
topics with your partner:
Are the situations portrayed in each song similar? In which ways?
In which ways do they differ?
What has he learned from each experience?
Do you think it’s possible that the women portrayed in each song might have been part of
Seger’s real life experience? Why?
Do you think both songs were written about the same woman? Why?
What scenery comes up to your mind as you hear the lines?
Do you have similar memories to recall from your teenage/early adulthood years? If you
don’t, would you like to have gone through such experiences? Why?
Do you think one day you’d share your own experiences in a book/song/film? Why/why
not?
If so, what do you think the audiences’ reception to your work would be like?
Positive, mixed, or negative? Explain your reasoning.

15. Are the situations portrayed in each song similar? In which ways?
In which ways do they differ?
What has he learned from each experience?
Do you think it’s possible that the women portrayed in each song might have
been part of Seger’s real life experience? Why?
Do you think both songs were written about the same woman? Why?
What scenery comes up to your mind as you hear the lines?
Do you have similar memories to recall from your teenage/early adulthood
years? If you don’t, would you like to have gone through such experiences?
Why?
Do you think one day you’d share your own experiences in a
book/song/film/blog? Why/why not?
If so, what do you think the audiences’ reception to your work would be
like? Positive, mixed, or negative? Explain your reasoning.