Learn about the past simple tenses: affirmative, negative and interrogative forms. Practice useful exercises.

1. PAST SIMPLE: REGULAR &
IRREGULAR VERBS
MADE BY BRENDA GARCIA

2. PAST SIMPLE
•Use the Past Simple for finished actions.
•The Past Simple is the same for all persons ( I, you,
he, she,…)
•There are regular and irregular verbs.

3. PAST SIMPLE: IRREGULAR VERBS
SUBJECT PRONOUNS IRREGULAR VERBS COMPLEMENT
I went to the gym.
You did the housework.
He got up late.
She took a shower at noon.
It had a black collar.
We found your keys.
You made our dinner.
They saw an interesting movie.

4. PAST SIMPLE: REGULAR VERBS
RULES:
• Verb + ed e.g., work worked.
• Verbs with final “e” add “d” e.g.,
change changed .
• Verbs with final consonant + “y” = y +
“ied” e.g., cry cried.
• Verbs with final consonant + vowel+
consonant = double consonant + “ed”
e.g., stop stopped.
SUBJECT P. REGULAR VERB COMPLEMENT
I studied for the exam.
You called her last night.
He lived in Canada.
She finished her report.
It stopped the thief.
We started a new course.
You worked in a bakery.
They danced in my party.

5. EXERCISES
Write the sentences in the past simple. Look at the example:
She has a sandwich for breakfast She had a sandwich for breakfast.
1. Jack gets up late. ___________________________________
2. I worry a lot. ___________________________________
3. We go to school by bus. ___________________________________
4. Anne plays tennis. ___________________________________
5. Chris does his homework. ___________________________________
6. The train stops in Chicago. ___________________________________
7. They find a new Irish restaurant. ___________________________________
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

6. ANSWERS
Write the sentences in the past simple. Look at the example:
She has a sandwich for breakfast She had a sandwich for breakfast.
1. Jack gets up late. Jack got up late.
2. I worry a lot. I worried a lot.
3. We go to school by bus. We went to school by bus.
4. Anne plays tennis. Anne played tennis.
5. Chris does his homework. Chris did his homework.
6. The train stops in Chicago. The train stopped in Chicago.
7. They find a new Irish restaurant. They found a new Irish restaurant.

7. PAST SIMPLE: NEGATIVE FORM
RULES:
• Auxiliary verb: didn’t ( did not)
• Main verb: Infinitive form.
Example:
I didn’t arrive early NOT I
didn’t arrived early.
SUBJECT P. AUX. V REGULAR VERB COMPLEME
NT
I
didn’t
work last week.
You say your last
name.
He stay in a hotel.
She walk to the store.
It bark last night.
We meet yesterday .
You drink anything.
They do their
homework.

8. PAST SIMPLE: INTERROGATIVE
FORMS
RULES:
• Auxiliary verb: Did
• Main verb: Infinitive form.
Example:
Did you go to Anthony’s
house? NOT Did you went to
Anthony’s house?.
? + -
Did you watch TV yesterday? Yes, I did. No, I didn’t.
Did they play soccer? Yes, they did. No, they didn’t.
Did she drive to work? Yes, she did. No, she didn’t.
YES/NO QUESTIONS
WORD QUESTIONS
? ANSWER
Where did you go last weekend? I went to Bogota.
Who did he call? He called his wife.
What did they cook? They cooked burritos.

9. EXERCISES
Complete the dialogues with the verbs in brackets in the past simple +, – or ? . Look at the
example:
A: Did you go to bed early last night? B: No, I didn’t go to bed early. (go)
1. A: ___ you ___ your homework? B: No, I _____ it. It was very late.(finish)
2. I’m very hungry. I _____ breakfast this morning. (not have)
3. A: ___ you ____ the door when you went on? B: Of course I ____ it! (close)
4. Carlos ________ to his English class today. (not go)
5. A: ___you _____ the movie? B: No, I ____ it. The actors were terrible. (like)
6. A: What ___ you____ for lunch today? B: I ___ fish. What’s for dinner? (have)
CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

10. ANSWERS
Complete the dialogues with the verbs in brackets in the past simple +, – or ? . Look at the
example:
A: Did you go to bed early last night? B: No, I didn’t go to bed early. (go)
1. A: Did you finish your homework? B: No, I didn’t finish it. It was very late.(finish)
2. I’m very hungry. I didn’t have breakfast this morning. (not have)
3. A: Did you close the door when you went on? B: Of course I closed it! (close)
4. Carlos didn’t go to his English class today. (not go)
5. A: Did you like the movie? B: No, I didn’t like it. The actors were terrible. (like)
6. A: What did you have for lunch today? B: I had fish. What’s for dinner? (have)