Reviewing the Simple Past Tense
Prof. Myrna MonllorEnglish 031
The Verb BE
The forms of BE in the past are was and were.BE never follows
the rules.
For example:She was a student.They were hungry.
To change was or were to the negative, just add NOT to the verb: wasn’t, weren’t.
To form the question, use be at the beginning of the sentence: Was she a student?Were they hungry?
You never use did with the verb BE
The Simple Past of Other VerbsMost verbs in English are regular verbs. They are easy. Just add –d or –ed to the
verb.
In English , there are regular and irregular verbs.
The doctor examined the patient.
Irregular verbs have to be memorized.
The pitcher threw the ball.
To Form the Negative or the Question
They met at the reunion.
They didn’t meet at the reunion.
Did they meet at the reunion?
Use Did to form the negative or the question
Notice that the verb changes to the simple or base form when you use did.
ExerciseThink
Bake
Buy
Mop
Draw
Graduated
Save
Sleep
Sweep
Swim
BE
Give
Pronunciation of Regular Verbs
Pronunciation PracticeAcceptedAdmittedAlertedArrestedApplaudedAttemptedAttractedCalculatedDependedEducatedHatedIrritatedInvitedIncludedInjectedInventedPermittedReportedTested
AnsweredAgreedArguedArrivedComparedCarriedCriedBoredBurnedCopiedDreamedFriedExplainedLovedNamedSharedTriedSmelledSuffered
PushedTalkedWalkedStoppedMatchedJokedKickedFaxedPhotographedDressedCoachedBrushedCheckedGuessedParkedPracticedRelaxedThankedUsed