M. Micallef Form 1 Grammar

THEPASTSIMPLETENSE The past simple tense of most English verbs (regular verbs) is formed by adding "-ed"/"-d" to their base form. (If the verb ends in "-e", we add "-d" to form the past simple.)

This tense is used to describe actions and situations that happened in the past. These actions and situations were started and finished in the past. The sentence often contains an adverb or adverb phrase of time, such as yesterday, the other day, last night, last week, three days ago, a few minutes ago, in (year), from (year) to (year), etc. Here are some examples -

1. We arrived at 9:00 o'clock this morning. 2. Yesterday I went to the supermarket. 3. The teacher went to the desk. 4. He didn't hear the telephone last night. 5. Susan bought her little sister a doll last week. 6. We came here in 1980. 7. I worked at Johnson & Co. from 1990 to 1995. 8. My brother lived in London for six years. (he doesn't live there anymore)

POSITIVE FORM Regular verbs: base form + "-ed" or "-d": work + "-ed" = worked live + "-d" = lived I/you/he/she/it/we/they worked I/you/he/she/it/we/they lived

NEGATIVE FORM I you DID + NOT he/she/it /DIDN'T/ we + WORK they

M. Micallef Form 1 Grammar

1. He didn't work yesterday. 2. She did not see him last night. QUESTION FORM I you DID he/she/it WORK? we they 1. Did he work yesterday? 2. Did she see him last night?

If it is the verb "to be" we use was/were before the subject: 1. Was he at the office the other day?

2. Were they in class this morning?

QUESTIONS AND SHORT ANSWERS 1. Did you go to the cinema last night? 2. Yes, I did. 3. No, I didn't. 1. Did he speak with Kate yesterday? 2. Yes, he did. 3. No, he didn't.

There are also some verbs called irregular verbs that have special spelling. (See list of irregular verbs on your Upstream St. Bk. Page 141 ) IRREGULAR VERBS HAVE TO BE STUDIED!!

1. She caught the bus to school.

2. John hurt himself yesterday afternoon.