Past Simple Tense

Short answers:

No, I didn ’t / No, we didn’t

Yes, she did

No, they didn’t

1. Complete these sentences in the past simple:

1. I... at home all weekend 2. She...all night. 3. I... my parents last weekend. 4. He... a lot last night. 5. It... every day last week. 6. The shop....at 5 o’clock. 7. The birds.....away to other countries. 8. He...history at the university. 9. My friends... to stay all weekend. 10. They... in a factory.

2. Change the verbs into the past:

1. He lives here. 2. I don’t like the film. 3. She travels a lot. 4. Do you drive to school? 5. Where do you live? 6. I don’t know. 7. How much does it cost? 8. We love Paris. 9. I write a few letters every day. 10. They come home at eight o’clock.

3. Read and translate these sentences:

1. His elder brother worked in a big factory two years ago. 2. Her younger sister lived in Kiev a few years ago. 3. They watched TV last night. 4. Mary helped us to type the letters yesterday. 5. They got to the department store in the afternoon. 6. They went to see the Browns last night. 7. Peter’s mother taught French to us last year. 8. He did his homework and then went for a walk in Hyde Park. 9. My elder brother was ill last week.10. He did not receive any visitors yesterday.

4. Translate the following sentences into your native language:

1. When did you last see your friend? 2. The day before yesterday the engineers of our office met foreign businessman to discuss business with them. 3. What did you speak to foreign businessmen yesterday? 4. The director of our office received French businessmen the other day. 5. Last year we went to the USA. 6. Did you meet your group- mates yesterday? 7. Few students spoke English very well last lesson.

5. Write the following sentences in the Past tense add necessary adverbial modifies of time:

1. I get up at 7 o’clock. 2. Those economists and engineers have their German lessons on Monday. 3. I see them at the University every day. 4. Who brings you the mail? 5. Their office can sell products to that French firm. 6. Our English lesson begins at half past eight. 7. We buy television sets from the firm. 8. Mr.Volkov usually goes through the mail in the morning.

6. Form from these sentences negative and interrogative sentences:

1. They discussed the terms of delivery with them last week. 2. They received this flat five years ago. 3. She bought this television last Sunday. 4. His son went to the nursery school last year. 5. The director of the factory was at our office yesterday. 6. He spoke at the meeting about it. 7. They came home at a quarter to eleven. 8. I sent her a letter the other day.

7. Answer these questions:

1. Did you get up at 8 o’clock on your last day off? 2. Did you shave in the morning or in the evening yesterday? 3. Did your friend telephone you yesterday? 4. Did your mother come at 6 or 7 o’clock yesterday? 5. When did you begin to work at the office? 6. Where did you live seven years ago? 7. Whom did you meet the other day? 8. When did you last see your friend? 9. Who came to see you the day before yesterday? 10. Which of you did business with British firms last year?

8. Insert these gaps the following words and word combinations in necessary forms and retell the text:

Last Saturday Mr. Johns …in the afternoon. It was spring and it was … outside. … he saw a theatre box-office and … t buy tickets for the Maly Theatre. “A man From Stratford” … on Saturday and on Sunday. But there were no tickets for Sunday performance, there were tickets only for the Saturday performance at the box-office. Mr. Johns … two tickets for Saturday performance. It was already late and he decided to go home. He … his wife and she came to the theatre just in time for …. The performance was …. They … it very much. It … at a quarter past ten. Mr. Johns and his wife … and came home at a quarter to eleven. It was not very late and they had time … the news.

9. Transform these sentences into tag questions and give answers to them:

e.g.: He stayed at home last Sunday.

He stayed at home last Sunday, didn’t he? – Yes, he did.

1. He liked your new picture. 2. John dictated a few letters to the secretary yesterday morning. 3. My younger brother collected foreign stamps last year.4. His mother woke him up at six yesterday morning. 5. They came to see us last night. 6. My brother had a lot of friends at university. 7. Jane was ill last week. 8. He did not watch TV last night. 9. She did not go to school the day before yesterday. 10. He did not know about the textbook.

10. Make up questions according to the example:

e.g.: His brother collected stamps last year. (his sister)

Did his sister collect stamps too?

1. His elder sister worked in a big factory two years ago. (his younger sister) 2. He listened to the latest news last night. (they) 3. His friend lived in London last year. (his friend’s family) 4. We played chess last night. (they) 5. Peter bought some white and brown bread. (John) 6. Nick did his homework after classes. (Bill) 7. Mr. Brown took his children to the Zoo last Sunday. (Mr. Smith) 8. He had lunch at one o’clock. (they) 9. He went shopping yesterday. (Mrs. Brown).10. Peter was ill last week. (Ben)

The verb ''to be'' in the Past Tense

1. Complete the sentences using was or were:

1. He... very tired yesterday. 2. They... not very happy together. 3. You...very angry with me last night. 4. Her doctor... not very helpful. 5. I... in bed all morning. 6. Callum and his brother Josh... here last night. 7. It... a very nice letter. 8. The children... awake early this morning. 9. Mr. Jones... not in the office yesterday. 10. It... very warm in the swimming pool.

2. Complete the story, add was orwere:

e.g.: Was the weather nice? Yes, it was a beautiful day.

1. Where/ James and Wendy? 2. Where/ their children? 3. Other children in the sea? 4. James and Wendy in the sea? 5. James awake? 6. What/ on James’s face? 7. Sunny all day? 8. The holidaymakers wet in the end? 9. Where/ this beach? 10. What/on this table?

4. Put the following into the past tense:

1. It is a nice day. 2. Richard Brown is my friend. 3. We are in a classroom. 4. You are the students in my class. 5. My hotel in Scotland is very nice. 6. He is a very good friend. 7. Some of the people are friendly to him, others are unfriendly. 8. I am very pleased to have your friendship.9. He is not a young man. 10. She is always well- dressed, but quietly, in good taste.

5. Write the following sentences in all persons:

1. I was at the lesson yesterday. 2. I was not at the office at 10 0’clock. 3. I wasn’t well yesterday. 4. Where were you last Saturday? 5. Were you a student last year?

6. Write these sentences in negative and interrogative forms:

1. My son was a pupil last year. 2. I was in Kiev two weeks ago. 3. His friends were at our University yesterday. 4. My daughter was at the nursery-school last Tuesday. 5. Wednesday was his day off last week. 6. Our engineers were in Almaty last week. 7. We were happy to see tem yesterday.

7. Insert gaps the necessary forms of the verb to be in the Past tense:

1. Our students (was, were) at the University yesterday. 2. When (was, were) you a student? 3. Our children (was, were) not at school yesterday. It (was, were) Sunday. 4. Who (was, were) your English teacher at school? – Mrs. Markova (was, were) 5. My friends (was, were) in Kiev three years ago. 6. Where (was, were) Mr. Petrov at 9 o’clock yesterday? 7. My friend (was, were) not ay his office last week. He (was, were) not well. 8. Who (was, were) at the lesson yesterday? They (was, were)