Past Simple: Questions and Negatives

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Past Simple

Grammar Explanation/Uitleg and exercises

Past simple rules

Usually add -ed

wanted, started, worked, asked

If the verb/werkwoord ends in -e, add d

use = used

decide = decided

live = lived

Past simple rules

We double letters (just like with Present Continuous)

plan = planned

stop = stopped

travel = travelled

Past simple rules

y

vowel/klinker + y 

stay = stayed

consonant/medeklinker + y

try = tried

 Past Simple negative: to be. 

Put not/n't after was/were. 

Examples:

Karin was at school. --> Karin wasn't at school.

The horses were afraid. --> The horses weren't afraid.

The hotel was dirty. --> The hotel wasn't dirty. 

The drinks were for free. --> The drinks weren't for free. 

Questions - Past Simple: to be

to be = was/were

Start the sentence with was/were

Examples:

She was the star of the week. --> Was she the star of the week?

You were enemies back then. --> Were you enemies back then?

Harold was king. --> Was Harold king? 

The dogs were mean. --> Were the dogs mean?

Past Simple Negative

RULE: 

Subject + DID NOT (DIDN'T) + verb (do, go, take...)

Examples:

He listened to me. --> He did not (didn't) listen to me. 

They took the bus home. --> They didn't take the bus home.

She wrote a song. --> She didn't write a song. 

The kids ran fast. --> The kids didn't run fast. 

Questions in the Past Simple

RULE:

Did + subject + verb (go, see, take...)

Examples:

He heard a noise yesterday. --> Did he hear a noise yesterday.

They played in that film. --> Did they play in that film?

We bought a new caravan. --> Did we buy a new caravan?

Gracie kissed her cat. --> Did Gracie kiss her cat?

-ed

-d

-ied

double letter -ed

-yed

started

wanted

hoped

tried

decided

used

asked

planned

stopped

stayed

fried

carried

travelled

played

enjoyed

Make the sentences negative.

The man is very famous.

Many boys were born in 2000.

My dad read the newspaper this morning.

I had a hamster when I was little.

They were nice to me yesterday.

My mum went shopping with her sister last Saturday.

I was school captain last year.

Make the sentences into questions:

He gave me a present.

The student was mean to the teacher.

They were friends since childhood.

I helped my classmate.

My teacher wrote a book last year.

We sang a song.

The boy asked the girl for help.

Stepping Stones

pages 138 t/m 141