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