Past simple – negatives and questions

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  • Exercises: 1 2 3

    Past simple – negatives and questions

    Exercise 1

    Choose the correct past simple forms to complete the sentences below.

    1 Where on holiday last summer?

    2 They until 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

    3 They sure of what to do.

    4 We after midnight.

    5 the present?

    6 Sara the film because she was asleep.

    7 John and Felicity married last year.

    8 She ready for the test.

    9 I the question. Can you repeat it?

    10 when he saw you?


     

    Exercises: 1 2 3

  • Past simple negatives and questions

    We use did and didn’t to make negatives, questions and short answers in past simple.

    Grammar chart outlining the structure of the past simple tense in positive, negative, and question forms, with examples and common mistakes.

    Download full-size image from Pinterest

    Word order in questions

    Remember that the word order in questions is QWASI: (Question Word), Auxiliary (did), Subject, Infinitive.

    Grammar chart demonstrating how to form questions in the past simple tense using 'was/were' with 'be' and 'did' with other verbs.

    Download full-size image from Pinterest

    Infinitive without to

    We use did or didn’t with the bare infinitive of the main verb (= infinitive without to).

    • I didn’t work yesterday. blank
    • I didn’t didn’t worked yesterday. blank
    • Did you go to the concert? blank
    • Did you went to the concert? blank

    Don’t use did in positive sentences

    We use did or didn’t in negatives, questions and short answers, but NOT in positive sentences.

    • We stayed home yesterday. blank
    • We did stay home yesterday. blank
    • I went out last night. blank
    • I did go out last night. blank

    Did or was/were?

    We use did and didn’t (NOT was/wasn’t or were/weren’t) as the auxiliary verb in negatives and questions in past simple.

    • We didn’t eat at 6. blank
    • We weren’t eat at 6. blank
    • Did you do your homework? blank
    • Were you do your homework? blank

    We do NOT use did or didn’t in past simple negatives or questions when the main verb is be.

    • They weren’t happy. blank
    • They didn’t be happy. blank
    • Was he at home? blank
    • Did he be at home? blank

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