22 May 2017

THE PAST SIMPLE

Hi there!

Today, we get back to the grammar explanations being the turn of the PAST SIMPLE.

Be aware of the difference between Regular (thay make their past and past participle form by adding -ed to the verb root) and Irregular verbs (there is a list with their past and past participle forms that you should be familiar with).

At the end of this post you will find some practice.

Enjoy!


PAST SIMPLE: USES.

We use the PAST SIMPLE:

- to express an actions finished in the past.
- to series of completed actions in the past.
- together with the PAST CONTINUOUS, the PAST SIMPLE interrupted an action which was in progress in the past.



PAST SIMPLE: STATEMENTS.


I
You
He
She
(It)*
We
You
They


played

bought


football.

the present.
*Not suitable for these examples.

To form statements n the PAST SIMPLE, we have to use the following structure:

             S + V(-ed or 2nd column) +  Complement.

PAST SIMPLE: NEGATIVE.



I
He
She
(It)*
We
You
They



did not
didn’t



play
buy



football.
the present.

*Not suitable for these examples.

To make negative statements we have to add the auxiliary verb "DID" and the negative particle "NOT" followed by the VERB STEM as you can see in this structure:

              S + didn't + V stem + Complement.

The short form of "did not" is "didn't".

PAST SIMPLE: QUESTIONS.







Did

I
He
She
(It)*
We
You
They




play
buy



football?
the present?
*Not suitable for these examples.


To make questions in Past Simple we use the following structure:

             Did + S + V stem + C. + ?


SHORT ANSWERS.

Did you play football yesterday? Yes, I did.
Did they buy the present? No, they didn't.

In the short answers we use the Subject + the auxiliary verb, depending on if the answer is negative or affirmative we use did/didn't.

Take note that we use the Verb stem or infinitive verb without "to" in questions and negative statements.


LET'S PRACTISE!






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