Simple Past tense: Irregular Verbs
B.1 Read the sentences. Circle the verbs that are irregular.
1. We took the bus. 6. We played the piano. 2. We arrived at nine. 7. We left after dinner. 3. She had dinner. 8. He read a book. 4. They invited us to their party. 9. We went to the park. 5. I watched TV. 10. They prepared dinner.
Say or write the regular past simple forms of the following verbs, putting them into three columns according to their pronunciation.
add agree ask belong breathe end
camp carry complete decide describe drop
fail finish guess hate hope invite
knock live miss open pass start
taste visit walk
/t/ /d/ /id/
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES WITH THE CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB (Regular)
1- Pam (want) _______________ to go to the cinema yesterday but she didn't have any money.
2- So she (watch) ___________ a TV programme about the gold rush.
3- James Marshall (discover) _____________ gold in America in 1848.
4- The early miners (live) ____________ in the mountains.
5- They (look) ______________ for gold in the rivers.
6- They (work) ___________ very hard and some of them (be) _________ very rich.
7- Pam (like) _____________ the programme because it (be) ___________ very interesting.
DOLLY WAS IN MEXICO LAST SUMMER
Dolly (go) __________ to Mexico last year. She (fly) ___________ by British Airways. She (eat) ___________ "chili con carne" and (drink) _________ tequila, she (see) ____________ the Aztec pyramids. She (buy) ____________ a Mexican hat.
Dolly met you on the street yesterday. She wanted to know about your holidays. What did she ask you and what did you answer?
Dolly: Where __________ you (go) _________ for your last holiday?
You: I (go) _________ to ________________.
Dolly: What __________ you (see) _________ there?
You: I (see) _____________ _________________.
Dolly: What __________ you (eat) ______________?
You: I (eat) ___________ __________________.
Complete these sentences. Use the past tense of each verb.
Last week Ron (find) .................. a new apartment. He (move) ............... into it on Saturday. Then he (go) .......................... shopping and (buy) ........................ a new lamp. He (go neg) ..................... to the movies with his neighbor because he (have) .......................... a lot of work.
Marty (be) ................... also very busy last week. She (get up) .................... every day, (clean) ................. the house and (do) ....................... errands. She also (take) ........................ Jeff to the dentist. She (do - not) ......................... anything on the weekend. Her friend Beth (be) ................... in LA. She (call) ........................... Marty, but she (not - visit) ........................ her.
MAKING QUESTIONS:
EX: DID Ron find an apartment?
Yes, he did. / No, he didn’t.
Ask questions beginning with ‘Did’
1. __________________________________? Yes, she did. She called her aunt yesterday.
2. __________________________________? Yes, I did. I went to two department stores.
3. __________________________________? No, I didn’t. I wasn’t hungry.
4. __________________________________? No, he didn’t. It rained all day.
5. __________________________________? No, they didn’t. They had the day off.
6. __________________________________? Yes, we did. We were home all day.
7. __________________________________? Yes, I did. I made a reservation for Monday.
8. __________________________________? No, I didn’t do anything special.
WRITE QUESTIONS WITH THE WORDS IN PARENTHESES, THEN LOOK AT JANET'S DIARY AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
SATURDAY "A winter retreat" - What a terrible movie
SUNDAY Dinner at Bella Roma w/ Mary -
Great food but awful service.
1- (what/Janet/do/last/Saturday night)
A: _____________________________________________?
B: _____________________________________________.
2- (How / she / like it)
A: _____________________________________________?
B: _____________________________________________.
3- (Where / she / have dinner / Sunday night)
A: _____________________________________________?
B: _____________________________________________.
4- (What / she / think of / the restaurant)
A: _____________________________________________?
B: _____________________________________________.
5- (Who / go / to dinner / with)
A: _____________________________________________?
B: _____________________________________________.
COMPLETE THIS DIALOGUE WITH THE CORRECT FORM
Yesterday Mr Brown wasn't feeling very well. He (not go) _____________ to the pet shop. So he (ask) _____________ Pat and Peter some questions.
Mr Brown: ________ you (clean) __________ the cages in the morning?
Pat: Yes, I _________. I (clean) ________ them and Peter (help)
___________ me.
Mr Brown: Peter, ________ you (telephone) ____________ the customers?
Peter: No, I _________. I __________ (not have) enough time.
I (type) ___________ some letters for other customers and
then (post) ____________ them.
Mr Brown: Pat, _________ you (feed) ___________ the animals?
Pat: Yes, I _________. I (give) __________ the birds some seeds.
The dogs (eat) ___________ all the dog food.
Read this newspaper account of a robbery at Fairway Grocery. Then fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb, choosing verbs from the list below. Some verbs are used more than once.
BE ENTER HAVE LEAVE MAKE ROB TAKE DRIVE HAPPEN HURT LOCK PUT SAY WAIT
Man Robs Fairway Grocery of $ 1,000
A man in his late twenties _______________ Fairway Grocery at 350 Topeka Drive last night around 8:50, just ten minutes before closing. He _______________ until the last customer _______________ the store and then _______________ all the employees in a back room. Unaware of what was happening, the general manager, Susan Edwards, _______________ the store at this point. The robber immediately _______________ his hand over her mouth and _______________ out a gun. “It _______________ so fast”, she _______________ later. “I _______________ time to scream.” He then emptied five cash registers of $ 1,000 and _______________ away in a late-model sports car. “I am glad he _______________ me,” Edwards _______________ . She added that the gunman _______________ about six feet tall and _______________ dark brown hair. A nearby gas station mechanic _______________ the car _______________ a left turn on Ventura Boulevard. Anyone with information should call 931-2800 immediately.
2- ANOTHER POET
Complete the biography of the American poet, Robert Frost. Use the simple past tense form of the verbs in the boxes.
APPEAR BE HAVE LIVE MOVE SPEND
Robert Frost, one of the most important American poets, _______________ from 1874 to 1963. He _______________ originally from California, but he _______________ most of his life in New England. At first, Frost _______________ much success with his poetry. In 1912 he and his family _______________ to England for a few years. Soon, several of his poems _______________ in print.
BE PUBLISH READ RETURN SAY WIN
In 1915, he _______________ to the United States. There he _______________ hundreds of poems and later _______________ four Pulitzer Prizes for poetry. Frost often _______________ his poems in public. He _______________ a wonderful speaker and helped create a general interest in poetry. He once _______________ that poetry “makes you remember what you didn’t know you knew”.
3- AN INTERVIEW
Complete these questions about Robert Frost. Then answer them. Use the information in exercise 2.
1. When / born?
A: ________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________
2. originally from the United States?
A: ________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________
3. What / write?
A: ________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________
4. successful right away?
A: ________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________
5. Where / first become famous?
A: ________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________
6. How many Pulitzer Prizes / win?
A: ________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________
7. like to speak in public?
A: ________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________
8. When / die?
A: ________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________
4- LIFE CHOICES
This is a part of a student’s journal. There are seven verb mistakes. Find them and correct them.
Today in class we read a poem by Robert Frost. I really enjoy it. It was about a person who choosed between two roads in a forest. Many people thoght the person were Frost. In the end he didn’t took the more common road. He took the one less traveled on. That decision change his life a lot.
Sometimes I feel a little like Frost. Two years ago I decided to come to this country. Did I made the right decision?
FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE VERBS I N THE CORRECT TENSE
The photos in Wednesday’s newspaper (be) _______________ from the Willow Road schoolbook. They (be) _______________ the best Slick could find. Under the photos (be) _______________ the names. Mark Sway. Ricky Sway. The story (tell) _______________ more about Clifford’s death, and (say) _______________ Ricky (be) _______________ in shock at St Peter’s hospital.
The story also (say) _______________ a lot about Mark - how he (call) _______________ 911 but (not - give) _______________ his name, about his fingerprints in the car, and about the FBI wanting to talk to him.
“You’re famous”, said a nurse, giving Mark the newspaper.
“What is it?”, said Mark, suddenly seeing his own face. He (read) _______________ the story slowly. “This is bad”, he thought. “Now the mafia knows where to find me”.
Mark (be) _______________ on his way to the cafe for breakfast. He (give) _______________ the paper back and (walk) to the lift. The door (open) _______________ and he (step) _______________ in. It was empty. It was still early.
At floor number eight the lift (stop) _______________ and a man (get) _______________ in. He (wear) _______________ a white coat and jeans. Mark (not - look) _______________ at him. He (be) _______________ tired of meeting new people.
Simple Past Tense
Write the affirmative or negative past-tense sentences.
1. Carol and Yoko / visit / San Francisco / last week.
2. Carol and Yoko / not visit / Boston / last week.
3. Uncle Bob / watch / a football game / on Thanksgiving.
4. Carol / not watch / a football game / on Thanksgiving.
5. Aunt Valerie / cook / a huge turkey / last Thursday.
6. Carol and Yoko / not cook / a turkey / on Thanksgiving.
7. Carol and Yoko / walk / around Fisherman’s Wharf.
8. On Thanksgiving / not Carol / talk / to Lulu.
9. On the day after Thanksgiving / Carol /not walk / around Berkeley.
10. Pete and Eleonore / not stay late / at Aunt Valerie and Uncle Bob’s house.
11. Uncle Bob / not like / pumpkin curry soup.
12. Eleonore / like / the pumpkin curry soup.
Simple Past Tense: Yes/No Questions
C.2 Write yes/no questions. Use the words in parentheses.
Base Form Past Form eat ate break broke lose lost buy bought make made catch caught teach taught drink drank wear wore
1. A: You’re coughing and sneezing. (catch / a cold) .................................................?
B: Yes, I think I (catch) .................................. a cold.
2. A: He’s wearing a cast on his arm. ( break / his arm) ..................................................?
B: Yes, He did. He (break) ..................................... it last week on his way to work.
3. A: All the cars are wet. (rain / last night) ............................................................?
B: Yes, it (rain) ................................ all night.
4. A: Mr. Brown is teaching grammar this year. (teach / grammar / last year) ............................
.............................................?
B: No, he didn’t. Last year he (teach) ..................................... reading and writing.
5. A: That’s a very nice suit. (wear / it / last night) ............................................................?
B: No, last night I (wear) .................................... a sports jacket.
6. A: The cookies are gone. (eat / them all / last night) ..............................................................?
B: I (eat) ........................................ some and I gave some to Dan.
7. A: That’s a beautiful basket. (make / it / in school yesterday) ..................................................?
B: No, I (make) .................................. it two days ago.
8. A: Where’s the juice? (drink / it) ....................................................?
B: No, I didn’t. Billy and Bobby (drink) ....................................... it.
9. A: I don’t have the key to my apartment.
B: I (lose / it) ............................................?
A: Yes, I think (lose) ................................. it last night.
10. A: Your jacket looks comfortable. (buy / it / at that department store) ....................................
..................................?
B: No, I (buy).................................. it in a small clothing store.
Simple Past Tense: Wh-Questions
Write questions. Use the words in parentheses
1. A: She did very well on the test. (How long / study) ...............................................................?
B: Not that long. Only an hour.
2. A: Doug isn’t home. (Where / go) ...............................................................?
B: He (go) ............... to Noah’s house. They’re studying together.
3. A: They’re driving a new car. (When / get it) ..................................................?
B: They (get) .................... it last month.
4. A: Did he bring a date to the party?
B: Yes, he did.
A: (Who / bring) .....................................................?
B: He brought Nancy.
5. A: We cooked the turkey for a long time.
B: (How long / cook it) ...................................................?
A: Three hours.
6. A: They traveled to France and Switzerland. They spent a week in France.
B: (How long / stay in Switzerland) .........................................................................?
A: Four days.
7. A: I’m exhausted. My cousin and I had a great tennis game.
B: (How long / play) ........................................................................?
A: Two hours.
8. A: We had three bottles of soda in the refrigerator. (Why / buy more soda) ..............................
........................?
B: I forgot about the soda we (have) .............................
9. A: That ring is beautiful. (When / get it) ..............................................................?
B: My boyfriend (give) .................................. it to me last night.
10. A: Did you have a nice vacation?
B: It was wonderful.
A: (Where / go) ..............................................................?
B: We (go) ............................ to San Francisco.
11. A: (What / see in San Francisco) ..................................................................................?
B: We visited Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf.
1- Write the correct past forms in the news paper reports below. Use the verbs in brackets.
Report 1
Ten-year-old Ann Burns (1 swim) ______________ over forty metres yesterday to rescue her younger brother when he (2 fall) ______________ from a boat in Poole harbour. She (3 catch) ______________ the exhausted boy by the hair and (4 bring) ______________ him safely to the shore. Then, finding that he was unconscious, she (5 revive) ______________ him by giving him the ‘kiss of life’.
Report 2
Dell United (6 win) ______________ their match against Lee Rovers 3-0 last night, and in so doing (7 teach) ______________ Lee a lesson in the art of football. Lee (8 find) ______________ no answer to the skill of Dell, who (9 go) ______________ forward from the moment the whistle (10 blow) ______________. Lee (11 hold on) ______________ till half time, but in the forty seventh minute Smith, the Dell striker, (12 shoot) ______________ from fifty yards to score a fine goal. Smith (13 go on) ______________ to score two more goals and was chosen as man of the match.
Report 3
Police who (14 stop) ______________ a speeding car yesterday after a ten-mile chase (15 discover) ______________ that the driver was Mr. A. Phelps of Newcastle, aged 103. Mr. Phelps (16 learn) ______________ to drive in 1906. “I (17 see) ______________ the car in my mirror”, (18 say) ______________ Mr. Phelps, “but I (19 have) ______________ no idea it was the police. I (20 put) ______________ my foot down and (21 drive) ______________ off quickly down the motorway because I (22 think) ______________ the other car was too close behind me.”
Report 4
During yesterday’s severe storms, lightning (23 strike) ______________ an office building in the centre of York. It (24 start) ______________ a fire which (25 destroy) ______________ the upper floor of the building and (26 cause) ______________ $400,000 worth of damage. It (27 take) ______________ firemen over four hours to put out the fire.
2- The news editor got the newspaper reports by telephone. However, the telephone line was very bad. She did not hear a lot of phrases and had to ask for the information to be repeated. Write questions which the editor asked, as in the example.
1. When she did not hear forty metres (after verb 1) she asked:
How far did she swim?
2. When she did not hear to the shore (after verb 4) she asked:
_______________________________________________________________________
3. When she did not hear by giving him the ‘kiss of life’ (after verb 5) she asked:
_______________________________________________________________________
4. When she did not hear till half time (after verb 11) she asked:
_______________________________________________________________________
5. When she did not hear in 1906 (after verb 16) she asked:
_______________________________________________________________________
6. When she did not hear in my mirror (after verb 17) she asked:
_______________________________________________________________________
7. When she did not hear an office building (after verb 23) she asked:
_______________________________________________________________________
8. When she did not hear $ 400,000 worth of damage (after verb 26) she asked:
_______________________________________________________________________
9. When she did not hear over four hours (after verb 27) she asked:
_______________________________________________________________________
HANDOUT 4.A
ROCK AND POP IN THE 60’S
Pop exploded in the 60’s. After Elvis Presley (What?) appeared. In Britain two groups quickly became more popular than all the others. One group was (Which?). They played hard, aggressive rock’n roll. The other group (What?). They came from Liverpool and (Who?) called them The Fav Four. Their real name was The Beatles.
Together The Beatles and The Stones led (What?) of the American charts. Thanks to them pop became Transatlantic.
But what about America itself during the sixties? What was happening there? Well, in Detroit, producer Berry Gordy started a new record label. Stars of this label included Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson Five (including the youngest of the Jackson brothers, Michael).
Finally, there was “hippie” rock. This was the time of “flower power” and (What?) took place. It was also the time when rock festivals (What happened with?). The biggest, in 1969, was on a farm in New York State called “Woodstock”.
HANDOUT 4.B
ROCK AND POP IN THE 60’S
Pop exploded (When?). After Elvis Presley hundreds of new groups and singers appeared. In Britain (Who?) quickly became more popular than all the others. One group was the Rolling Stones. They played (What kind?) rock’n roll. The other group played a mixture of rock and pop. They came from (Where?) and the newspapers called them The Fav Four. Their real name was (What?).
Together The Beatles and The Stones led a British “invasion” of the American charts. Thanks to them pop became Transatlantic.
But what about America itself during the sixties? What was happening there? Well, in Detroit, (Who?) started a new record label. Stars of this label included Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson Five (including the youngest of the Jackson brothers, Michael).
Finally, there was “hippie” rock. People believed in (What?) and protests against the Vietnam War took place. It was also the time when rock festivals became important. The biggest, in 1969, was on a farm in New York State called “Woodstock”.
A group of hill-walkers has arrived back at a youth hostel after getting into difficulties on the hills. The warden of the hostel is finding out what went wrong. Write the correct form of the verbs in italics (statement or question, positive or negative). If the verb is already correct write ‘no change’.
WARDEN: Ah, there you are! I suppose you (get) lost _________________________ in the mist! KEN: No. The mist (not cover) _________________________ our side of the hill. WARDEN: Well, what happened? Why didn’t you get back here before now. It (get) ____________ dark two hours ago. It (be) _________ a short trip. You only (have) ____________to walk eight kilometres. TOMMY: The problem (be) ____________ that we (not take) ____________________ a map with us... WARDEN: What! You (not take) _________________________ a map! Why didn’t you check that before you (leave) _____________________ this morning? LIZ: Actually, we (have) _______________ a map. But it (be) _____________ the wrong one. WARDEN: But even without a map, all you (need) ____________ to do was walk along the valley. Didn’t you take a compass with you? LARRY: Yes, Sebastian (put) ___________ a compass in his pocket this morning. But he (not know) _________________________ how to use it. WARDEN: And where (be) _____________ Sebastian now? KEN: We (not know) __________________. We (leave) ____________________ him behind on the hill while he was trying to use his compass.
TENSES/SIM-PAST.DOC
(WH-) + DID + PERSON + VERB infinitive