Past Tense By Gabriela Ulloa Use The past tense is used to express actions that were finished at a specific moment in the past. Example: John checked out a book from the library last week. Leslie worked out at the gym early this morning Time Expressions To refer to a specific moment in the past, these are some of the commonly used expressions: last week yesterday (three days) ago, the day before yesterday When I was (younger) In (1977) Note: the expressions in parenthesis mean that they change. 1
Form There are two forms to make the past of verbs: Regular verbs: Add ed at the end of the verb. Example: I play the piano. I played the piano. He climbs trees. He climbed trees. and Irregular verbs: are ONLY irregular in affirmative/positive sentences Example; The Past Tense of GO is WENT (it doesn t end in ed so it s considered irregular) I go to the beach. I went to the beach. The Past Tense of EAT is ATE (in some cases it doesn t change) For Example You didn t eat my cake (didn t shows that we are talking in the past tense) You ate my cake. The best way to learn the difference is by memorizing the forms of the verbs. 2
Negative To make negative statements, use the auxiliary did + the adverb not, making did not. In informal speaking and writing the words did not are usually contracted into didn t. Use didn t for all the persons. Yes / No Questions To make a yes/no question, use the auxiliary did at the beginning of the yes/no question and change the verb to its present form. End your question with a question mark. Examples: He played the guitar yesterday evening. Did he play the guitar yesterday evening? Short Answers for Yes/No Questions The answer to Yes /No Questions is usually an affirmative or a negative short answer. Examples: Did they go to the movies last night? Affirmative: Yes, they did. Negative: No, they didn t. Notice that in short answers you use the auxiliary did or didn t. The auxiliary substitutes the whole idea of going to the movies last night. 3
Information Questions To make an information question, place the information word at the beginning of the yes / no question. Example: He played the guitar at the pub yesterday evening. Did he play the guitar yesterday evening? What did he play? The guitar Where did he play? At the pub. When did he play the guitar. Yesterday evening. Question form In the question form, the question word who asks for the doer. Do not use did if the question asks for the doer of the action. Example John played the guitar for Mary. Who played the guitar for Mary? John did. Whom did John play the guitar for? For Mary. Exercise In the following five slides you will find some exercises. Decide the letter of the word(s) or phrase that best completes the answer. 4
1. to the concert last night? A) Who did Brenda go B) Who went C) Did go D) Did he E) They go 1. to the concert last night? A) Who did Brenda go B) Who went C) Did go D) Did he E) They go B is the right answer. A) is wrong because who go needs the preposition with. C) is wrong because there is no subject. D) is wrong because there is no verb. E) is wrong because it does not have the question construction, and does not have the auxiliary corresponding to past tense (last night): 2. A: for the airport? B: A few minutes ago. A) When did they left B) When they left C) What time did they leave D) Did they leave E) What time they left 5
2. A: for the airport? B: A few minutes ago. A) When did they left B) When they left C) What time did they leave D) Did they leave E) What time they left C) Is the best answer. A) is wrong because the verb is in the past form and it should be in the present form. B) is wrong because there is no auxiliary. D) is wrong because the it is a yes/no question, but the answer is for an information question. E) is wrong because there is no auxiliary. 3. A: How long ago did you finish high school? B: A) three years ago. B) since 1997 ago C) for a decade D) next summer E) two years. 3. A: How long ago did you finish high school? B: A) three years ago. B) since 1997 ago C) for a decade D) next summer E) two years. A) Is the best answers. The question asks for a specific time, and A) shows a specific time: three years ago. B) The combination since and ago is never a good combination. C) is wrong because it talks about duration: for. D) is clearly a reference to the future. E) is wrong because it does not have the adverb ago. 6
4. A: his promise? B: No, not at all. He honored his word. A) Did she tore B) Did she tear C) Did they break D) Did he breaks E) Did he break 4. A: his promise? B: No, not at all. He honored his word. A) Did she tore B) Did she tear C) Did they break D) Did he breaks E) Did he break A) And B) are wrong for several reasons, but mainly because one never tears a promise. People break promises. C) is wrong because of the wrong use of the subject. The answer uses He honored his word, thus, the subject should be he. D) is wrong because it include the form of the verb only used in present tense, third person singular breaks. E) is the best answer. 5. A: What did the welder do? B:. A) He join the two pieces of metal. B) He put the two pieces of metal together. C) He didn t did what he was asked to do. D) He fixes metal pipes E) Did he did anything worthwhile? 7
5. A: What did the welder do? B:. A) He join the two pieces of metal. B) He put the two pieces of metal together. C) He didn t did what he was asked to do. D) He fixes metal pipes E) Did he did anything worthwhile? A) Is wrong because of the form of the verb. It should be joined. B is the best answer. C) is wrong because of the use of the auxiliary didn t and the past form of the verb did. D) is wrong because it is an answer in the present when it should be in the past. E) is wrong because of the combination of the auxiliary Did and the main verb did in past. 8