past simple (I did)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian musician and composer. He lived from 1756 to 1791. He started composing at the age of five.

Very often the past simple ends in -ed (resular verbs):

• I work in a travel agency now. Before that I worked in a restaurant.
• We invited them to our meeting but they decided not to come.
• She passed her examination because she studied very hard.

But many verbs are irregular. The past simple does not end in -ed. For example:

write -> wrote see -> saw

go -> went shut -> shut

1. In questions and negatives we use did/didn't + infinitive (enjoy/go/see etc.):

I she they

enjoyed saw went

but

did you she they enjoy? see? go?

I she they didn't enjoy see go

• - Did you go out last evening?
  - Yes, I went to the cinema but I didn't enojoy the film much.
• They didn't invite her to the meeting, so she didn't go.

2. Be careful when do is the main verb in the sentence:

• What did you do at the next weekend? (not 'what did you at the next weekend')
• I didn't do anything. (not 'I didn't anything')

3. The past of be (am/is/are) is was/were:

I/he/she/it we/you/they was/wasn't were/weren't

was were I/he/she/it ? we/you/they ?

Note that we do not use did in negatives and questions with was/were:

• I was angry because they were late.
• Did you go out last night or were you too tired?
• They weren't able to come because they were so busy.

QUIZ:

Tom Answer bought (buy) a new house last month.

When Answer did they arrive (they/arrive) last week?

She Answer didn't understand (not/understand) the question yesterday.

Fred Answer took (take) a lot of pictures on his holiday last summer.

What Answer did you get (you/get) for your birthday?

They Answer didn't remember to get the bread this morning!

Alice Answer played (play) tennis this morning.

Where Answer did you go (you/go) last weekend?

I Answer wanted (want) to buy that computer, but it was too expensive.

Why Answer didn't they come (they/not/come)?