Употребление Past Indefinite:

1. Для выражения прошедшего действия с такими обозначениями времени, как yesterday – вчера,the day before yesterday – позавчера, last week – на прошлой неделе, two years ago – два года назад, the other day – на днях, on Monday – в понедельник, in 1995 – в 1995 году, during the war – во время войны.

Например: We went to the cinema the other day. – Мы ходили в кино на днях.

Время совершения действия может быть также выражено придаточным предложением.

Например: He called when I was at the University. – Он заходил, когда я был в университете.

Время совершения действия может, однако, и не быть указано в предложении, а подразумеваться.

Например: I hardly recognized him. – Я едва его узнал (подразумевается: когда мы встретились).

2. Для выражения ряда прошедших действий, передаваемых в той последовательности, в которой они происходили.

Например: The manager entered the office, sat down at his desk, and began to look through the morning mail. – Менеджер вошёл в офис, сел за стол и рачал просматривать утреннюю почту.

3. Для выражения обычного, повторяющегося прошедшего действия.

Например: Last winter I spent a lot of time in the library. – Прошлой зимой я проводил много времени в библиотеке.

В этом случае вместо Past Indefinite очень часто употребляется также used +инфинитив+to.

Например: Last winter I used to spend a lot of time in the library.

Упражнения для закрепления грамматики:

Exercise 1. Перепишите текст в прошедшем неопределённом времени.

On Tuesday I get up at half past six. I go to the bathroom and wash my hands and face and clean my teeth. Then I dress, go to the kitchen and cook breakfast for my family At half past seven my son gets up and has breakfast. I have breakfast with my son. My son eats a sandwich and drinks a cup of tea. I don’t drink tea. I drink coffee. After breakfast n\my son leaves home for school. I don’t leave home with my son. On Tuesday I don’t work in the morning. I work in the afternoon. In the evening I am at home. My husband and my son are at home, too. We rest in the evening. My son watches TV, my husband reads newspapers and I do some work about the house. At about eleven o’clock we go to bed.

Exercise 2. Раскройте скобки и употребите глагол в прошедшем неопределённом времени.

1. Children (to go) to the cinema after school yesterday.

2. When I studied at school, I (to learn) French.

3. My parents (to be) busy on Sunday.

4. It often (to rain) in June.

5. I (to get) an excellent mark for a dictation at the previous lesson.

6. We (to meet) at college on Monday.

7. Last week we (to have) a test.

8. In childhood I (to play) the piano very well.

9. Some years ago our friends (to move) into a new flat.

10. Yesterday I (to oversleep) and I (to be) late for the lesson.

Exercise 3. Опровергните следующие высказывания и дайте правильные ответы.

1. The Great Patriotic War began in 1945.

2. You went to school when you were 5 years old.

3. You passed an exam in English yesterday.

4. You bought 5 English books last week.

5. You were born on the 29^th of February.

Exercise 4. Просмотрите список выражений и скажите, что вы делали, а что не делали вчера.

• to play golf;

• to go to college;

• to pass an exam;

• to speak English;

• to watch TV;

• to play the piano;

• to have a talk with the director;

• to be ill;

• to cook dinner;

• to have breakfast;

• to buy a computer;

• to listen to music;

• to have lectures at college;

• to be late for classes.

Exercise 5. Задайте все возможные вопросы к предложениям.

• She bought a new dress yesterday.

• In childhood I had a dog.

• Students were at the party yesterday.

• The boy played in the yard.

• Students had a test last week.

Exercise 6. Задайте вопросы (общие, альтернативные, разделительные и специальные) вашему собеседнику о том, что он делал вчера, на прошлой неделе, в воскресенье, 3 минуты назад, 5 лет назад, когда он был ребёнком.

Exercise 7. Задайте вопросы к предложенным ниже ответам.

1. Yes, I did. I went for a walk yesterday.

2. We met at college.

3. No, I didn’t. I didn’t go to the cinema on Sunday.

4. I came home late at night.

5. He gave her flowers.

6. We got acquainted 10 years ago.

7. Yes, I did. I heard that noise.

8. They read it in the newspaper.

9. My mother did.

10. Because I was ill.

Exercise 8. Дайте краткие и полные положительные и отрицательные ответы на вопросы.

1. Did you finish school last year?

2. Was your friend at college yesterday?

3. Had you many books at home?

4. Did you have lectures yesterday?

5. Did you go to the seaside in summer?

6. Did your parents study English?

Exercise 9. Перепишите предложения, используя used to вместо выделенных слов.

1. When we were at school, we often performed plays at our school parties.

2. We always went to the theatre on Sundays last year.

3. They were great friends and often traveled together.

4. My Grandmother often repeated this proverb.

5. We usually went bathing in the river every morning in summer.

Exercise 10. Раскройте скобки, употребляя глаголы в Present или Past Indefinite.

1. His sister (to study) English every day. Yesterday She also (to study) English.

2. On Sunday I (to go) to bed at 9 p.m. because I (to have) a headache. Though usually (not to go) to sleep early.

3. My mother always (to take) a bus to get to work, but yesterday she (not to take) a bus. Yesterday she ( to take) a taxi because she (to oversleep) and she (not to want) to be late.

4. You (to wear) your polka-dot dress to work? – Yes, I … . I (to wear) it yesterday.

5. Tom (not to have) breakfast yesterday because he (to get up) late. But usually he always (to eat) breakfast.

6. Who (to ring) you up an hour ago?

7. It (to take) you long to get to the University yesterday? - Yesterday it (to take) me 40 minutes because I (to get) into a traffic-jam. But usually I (not to spend) much time for it. Usually it (to take) me 15 minutes.