Simple Past Tense By C. Alpízar N. professoralpizar@gmail.com

SIMPLE PAST Affirmative Sentences Negative Sentences Yes/No Questions Wh Questions

Affirmative Statements With the verb BE (was/were) With any other verbs

With the Verb BE I She He was It I was born in San Jose in 1978. My sister (she) was at the library last night. My brother (he) was at the party until 9 p.m. The dog (it) was at the backyard.

With the Verb BE You We were They GO BACK You We They were You were born in San Carlos, weren’t you? My cousin and I (we) were at the library. My brother and my sister (they) were born in 1990.

With any other verbs REGULAR VERBS I learned /d/ English when I was a 13. My girlfriend danced /t/ reggaeton at the party. My parents invited /id/ their friends to a restaurant. IRREGULAR VERBS I ate gallo pinto for breakfast this morning. My sister drank orange juice. My brother read the newspaper. My parents woke up at 9 a.m.

Check the lists of both REGULAR and IRREGULAR verbs in www Check the lists of both REGULAR and IRREGULAR verbs in www.materials4students.wikispaces.com Learn them by heart!

REGULAR VERBS /d/ cry /ai/ = cried /ayd/ play /ey/ = played /eyd/ copy /iy/ = copied /iyd/ call /l/ = called /ld/ dream /m/ = dreamed /md/ clean /n/ = cleaned /nd/ follow /ow/ = followed /owd/ enjoy /oy/ = enjoyed /oyd/ answer /r/ = answered /rd/ love /v/ = loved /vd/ realize /z/ = realized /zd/ GO BACK

REGULAR VERBS /t/ wash /sh/ = washed /sht/ watch /ch/ = watched /cht/ laugh /f/ = laughed /ft/ talk /k/ = talked /kt/ help /p/= helped /pt/ dance /s/ = danced /st/ GO BACK

REGULAR VERBS /id/ /t/ invite /t/ = invited /tid/ want /t/ = wanted /tid/ /d/ need /d/ = needed /did/ avoid /d/ = avoided /did/ GO BACK

Negative Statements With the verb BE (wasn´t/weren´t) With any other verbs (did not or didn´t + verb in present)

With the Verb BE I She was not He (wasn’t) It I wasn´t born in San Jose in 1978. My sister (she) wasn´t at the library last night. My brother (he) wasn´t at the party until 9 p.m. The dog (it) wasn´t at the backyard.

With the Verb BE You We were not They (weren´t) GO BACK You We They were not (weren´t) You weren´t born in San Carlos, were you? My cousin and I (we) weren´t at the library last night. My brother and my sister (they) weren´t born in 1990.

With any other verbs REGULAR VERBS I didn´t learn English when I was in school. My girlfriend didn´t dance reggae at the party. My parents didn´t invite their friends anywhere. IRREGULAR VERBS I didn´t eat gallo pinto for breakfast this morning. My sister didn´t drink orange juice this morning. My brother didn´t read the newspaper today. My parents didn´t wake up at 7 a.m today.

Yes-No Questions With the verb BE (Was…?/Were…?) With any other verbs (Did … + verb in present)

EXAMPLES “Was I late to classes. ” “Yes, you were EXAMPLES “Was I late to classes?” “Yes, you were.” or “No, you weren’t.” “Was my sister at the party last night?” “Yes, she was.” or “No, she wasn´t.” “Was my brother at the beach last week?” “Yes, he was.” or “No, he wasn´t” “Was the dog at the garden?” “Yes, it was.” or “No, it wasn´t.”

GO BACK EXAMPLES “Were you late to the meeting?” “Yes, I was.” or “No, I wasn’t.” (singular) “Were you (you and your cousin) late today?” “Yes, we were.” or “No, we weren´t.” (plural) “Were we early to class?” “Yes, we were.” or “No, we weren´t.” “Were your brother and sister at the party?” “Yes, they were.” or “No, they weren´t”

With any other verbs (Did … + verb in simple present?) Affirmative Answer: Yes, ____ did. Negative Answer: No, _____ didn´t. Did you go to the movies last Sunday? Yes, I did. No, I didn´t. Did your father work at the airport in 1970? Yes, he did. No, he didn´t.

Wh Questions With the verb BE (Wh word + was/were…?) With any other verbs (Wh word + did … + verb in present?)

With the verb BE GO BACK Where were you born? I was born in Costa Rica. Where was your sister last night? She was at the party. Where were your friends yesterday? They were at the bar.

Wh Questions General Question What did you do ________? You can use different verbs to answer this question. What did you do last weekend? I went to the beach; I swam in the ocean; I stayed at a hotel; I ate sea food and I drank soda; I danced at the disco and I slept late.

Wh Questions Verb in present Auxiliary DID Verb in past What did you eat at the party? I ate chifrijo and tortilla chips. The past tense of “eat” is “ate”. Verb in present Auxiliary DID Verb in past