The past simple

EXERCISE № 219. Write the past forms of the following verbs, then read them aloud.

Try, die, admit, work, shape, marry, invite, invent, refer, paint, stir, flow, wash, live, publish, place, touch, stop, equip, decide, open, dress, treat, plan, follow, want, intend, paste, hate, study, describe, change, toss.

EXERCISE № 220. Explain the use of the Past Simple in the following sentences:

1. I ran into them in St. Barts last year.	a single action in the past cut off from the present.
2. They sat and thought for a long time.	a durative action in the past period of time which is already over.
3. She completely forgot to buy some chocolate on the way home.	a past state. the place implies the time.
4. He wore glasses then.	permanent actions in the past.
5. I straightened my tie and went downstairs to the drawing-room.	a succession of past actions in the narration
6. She woke up early when he worked on the farm.	repeated, habitual actions in the past.
7. She was afraid for Wendy afraid for what would happen if Shane didn't come back.	a future action viewed from the past in a conditional clause.

EXERCISE № 221. Agree with the statement and give the correct information.

Model: You didn't learn French, did you? – No, I didn't. I learnt Chinese.

1. You didn't take care of your little sister, did you? (niece)	No, I didn't. I took care of my little niece.
2. You didn't swim in the hotel swimming pool, did you? (sea)	No, I didn't. I swam in the sea.
3. You didn't know he was coming, did you? (on holiday).	No, I didn't. I knew he was on holiday.
4. You didn't meet Sally at the station, did you? (on the way home)	No, I didn't. I met her on the way home.
5. You didn't ride a horse, did you? (bicycle)	No, I didn't. I rode a bicycle.
6. He didn't tell a lie, did he? (the truth)	No, he didn't. He told the truth.
7. She didn't find the money, did she? (purse)	No, she didn't. She found the purse.
8. They didn't read a newspaper, did they? (magazine)	No, they didn't. They read a magazine.
9. You didn't drink all the juice, did you? (half a bottle)	No, I didn't. I drank half a bottle.
10. You didn't make tea, did you? (coffee)	No, I didn't. I made coffee.

EXERCISE № 222. Pretend that you didn't hear the last word and ask questions to the last part of each sentence.

Model: I caught a cold in October. - When did you catch a cold?

1. She taught English at school.	Where did she teach English?
2. She dealt with it efficiently.	How did she deal with it?
3. He let her go.	What did he let her do?
4. The boys fought for a couple of minutes.	How long did the boys fight?
5. It cost me a fortune.	What/how much did it cost you?
6. She bought a new dress the other day.	When did she buy a new dress?
7. We chose the last option.	What option did you choose?
8. He grew strawberries for his grandchildren.	Who did he grow strawberries for?
9. I saw him walking with a pretty girl.	Who did you see him walking with?
10. I forgot to tell you about that incident.	What did you forget to tell me about?
11. He took the exam on Tuesday.	When did he take the exam?
12. He found fault with his little sister.	Who did he find fault with?
13. She laid the table for dinner.	What did she lay the table for? Why …?
14. They left the suitcases in the compartment.	Where did they leave the suitcases?
15. She spread the rumours in the office.	Where did she spread the rumours?
16. I grew up in the country.	Where did you grow?

EXERCISE № 223. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form in the Past Simple.

1. I (oversleep) and (miss) my train;

2. (slip) on the sidewalk in the pouring rain;

3. (sprain) my ankle, (skin) my knees;

4. (break) my glasses, (lose) my keys;

5. (get) stuck in the elevator: it wouldn't go,

6. (kick) it twice and (stub) my toe;

7. (buy) a pen that wouldn't write;

8. (take) back and (have) a fight;

9. (come) home angry, (lock) the door;

10. (crawl) into bed, couldn't take any more.

EXERCISE № 224. Ask questions using the verbs from the exercise above. Find out if this has ever happened in your friend's life. Then ask him/her for details using the verb in the Past Simple.

Model: Have you ever overslept? When did it happen? Why did you oversleep? Were you late?

EXERCISE № 225. Describe a day of your life when everything went wrong. Use the verbs from the verse (see Exercise №223).

EXERCISE № 226. Read the poem, open the brackets and put the verbs in the Past Simple form. Then retell the events of the poem. Use linking words and expressions (at first, firstly, soon, suddenly, finally, then, as, until, while, during, after, before, eventually, meanwhile, as soon as, after a while, a few minutes later, immediately, however, as a result, etc.).

Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf

by R.Dahl

As soon as Wolf (begin) to feel

That he would like a decent meal,

He (go) and (knock) on Grandma's door.

When Grandma (open) it, she (see)

The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin,

And Wolfie (say), 'May I come in?'

Poor Grandmamma (be) terrified,

'He's going to eat me up!' she (cry).

And she (be) absolutely right.

He (eat) her up in one big bite.

But Grandmamma (be) small and tough,

And Wolfie (wail),

'That's not enough!

I haven't yet begun to feel

That I have had a decent meal!'

He (run) around the kitchen yelping,

'I've got to have another helping!'

Then (add) with a frightful leer,

'I'm therefore going to wait right here

Till Little Miss Red Riding Hood

Comes home from walking in the wood.'

He quickly (put) on Grandma's clothes.

(Of course he hadn't eaten those.)

He (dress) himself in coat and hat.

He (put) on shoes and after that

He even (brush) and (curl) his hair,

Then (sit) himself in Grandma's chair.

In (come) the little girl in red.

She (stop). She (stare). And then she (say),

' What great big ears you have, Grandma.'

'All the better to hear you with,' the Wolf (reply).

'What great big eyes you have, Grandma,' (say) Little Red Riding Hood.

'All the better to see you with,' the Wolf (reply).

He (sit) there watching her and (smile).

He (think), I'm going to eat this child.

Compared with her old Grandmamma

She's going to taste like caviar.’

Then Little Red Riding Hood (say), 'But Grandma,

what a lovely great big furry coat you have on.'

'That's wrong!' (cry) Wolf. 'Have you forgot

To tell me what BIG TEETH I've got?

Ah well, no matter what you say,

I'm going to eat you anyway.'

The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.

She whips a pistol from her knickers.

She aims it at the creature's head

And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.

A few weeks later, in the wood,

I (come) across Miss Riding Hood.

But what a change! No cloak of red,

No silly hood upon her head.

She (say), 'Hello, and do please note

My lovely furry WOLFSKIN COAT.'

EXERCISE № 227. Some regular and irregular verbs are easily confused. Choose the right verb and/or supply the right form.

1. It was our policy to deal with problems as they (arise/rise). 2. You shouldn't walk on a field that's just been (sew/sow). 3. Rock bands have (rise/raise/rouse) millions for charity. 4. All the mistakes in my essay have been (ring). 5. The motor (spring) into life at the touch of a button! 6. I don't know how we'll ever cure her of (lay/lie). 7. It looks as though the terrorists had been (lay/lie) in wait. 8. You don't have to go round (lay/lie) down the law! 9. We've all (lay/lie) bets on the favourite. 10. I've lost count of the number of times she's (lay/lie) to me. 11. Why have they (lie/lay) quiet for so long? 12. How long is it since you (wind/wound) this clock? 13. How many soldiers were (wind/wound) in the gun battle? 14. How many metres down is the (sink) ship? 15. We'll have to wait till the sun has (rise/raise/rouse). 16. Wait till everyone has (wake up/awake). 17. The business was (find/found) in 1842. 18. Flood water (fly/flow) right through our house! 19. How many trees have you (fall/fell) today? 20. The traitors have been (hang). 21. Meat needs to be (hang) for a few days to become tender.

EXERCISE № 228. Use the Past Simple.

One day when I (to be) in the third form at school, we (to have) to write a story. I (to tell) a true story about my father. Once he (to want) to clean the windows and (to borrow) a ladder. He (to try) to put it against the wall but the end of the ladder (to go) through the window. My teacher (to say) it (to be) a very good story. She (to ask) me to read it aloud to the class and I (to do) it with great pleasure.

Three years later my brother (to be) in the third form. He (to write) the same story about our father and the ladder. He (to have) to read it aloud too.

EXERCISE № 229. Render the story in the Past Simple.

James wants to have adventures and see the world but there seems little hope at present. Every day he goes to the Public Library and brings home books about boys who go whale hunting or fly round the world in home-made airplanes or who are wrecked on a deserted island, live for a year on fruit and return home on a raft bringing with them treasures they find on the island. However, nothing happens to James. He gets up, eats, goes to school, is good or bad, hopes for adventures, reads more books from the Public Library, comes back home, goes to bed, and gets up and begins all over again, still nothing happens. No strange-looking men speak mysteriously to him in deserted streets, no old women die and leave him a hundred pounds. Life is so dull!

EXERCISE № 230. Practise the following dialogue.

Model: I have never seen a penny. (in London) – I saw it when I was in London last year.

• see a pony / in the zoo

• eat oysters / at my brother's wedding

• take pills / ill

• send a postcard / on holiday

• buy jewellery / for Mum

• travel alone / before get married

EXERCISE № 231. Match the two halves of these sentences.

1. My little brother started school	a. all day.
2. The Prime Minister hasn't been abroad.	b. when he was six.
3. I caught a cold	c. in the 19thcentury.
4. My father has been asleep in bed	d. since January.
5. The Red Cross started	e. several minutes ago.
6. The dentist has asked us to wait	f. when we went out in the rain.
7. The last bus left	g. for a few minutes.

EXERCISE № 232. Choose the correct form of the verbs.

1. My sister has been/ was interested in medicine ever since she has been/ was a child.

2. How long have you studied / did you study before you have qualified / qualified?

3. Where have you first met / did you first meet your husband?

4. Is this the first time you've tasted / you tasted pasta?

5. We have wanted /wanted to go to the theatre last night, but there haven't been / weren't any seats.

6. Oh, dear. What can we do? I'm sure something dreadful has happened / happened; we've been waiting / we waited over an hour and he hasn't phoned / hasn't been phoning yet.

7. We have posted / posted the parcel three weeks ago. If you still haven't received / didn't receive it, please inform us immediately.

EXERCISE № 233. Complete the conversation with the verbs on the left in the Past Indefinite or the Present Perfect.

1) do	- ….. you …. your homework yet?
2) do	- Yes, Mum. I …. it when I got home from school.
3) tell	- That's what you ….. me yesterday!
4) not believe	- It was true! You just …. me!
5) finish	- Are you sure you ….. everything before you put the TV on ?
6) come	- Yes, Mum. … Dad …. home from work?
7) arrive	- Yes. He …. just …. . Why?
8) say	- Well, a few days ago he … he would test my French vocabulary with me.
9) not have	We … a French vocabulary test for about a month, but we've got one tomorrow.
10) not have	- … your class … vocabulary test on Monday?
	- Yes, Mum. But that was for German. French is tomorrow.

EXERCISE № 234. Fill in the gaps with the Present Perfect Simple or the Past Simple

1. He (forget) ___ his French since he (leave) ___ Paris. 2. Years ago he (be) as poor as a church mouse, and (not know) ___ how to live. He (become) ___ very rich now. 3. Maggie (be) ___ in Germany for almost a year now. I (go) ____ to visit her last month and I have to say I (be) ___ very impressed. She (master) ____ German perfectly! 4. I (not play) ____ much football since I (sprain) ___ my ankle. 5. George (arrive) ___ late to work again this morning. He (be) ___ late at least five times this month. The manager (speak) ____ to him about it yesterday but he obviously (pay no attention). 6. He is a man who (live) ____ a remarkable life. 7. How is Jack? When you (see) ____ him? - I (not meet) him for ages. 8. You (do) ___ the shopping? - On, I (forget) ____ to take the list. 9. I (have) ___‒ my teddy bear since my parents (give) ____ it to me. 10. I (live) ___ in London for several years and now I miss it a lot.

EXERCISE № 235. Make up situations to justify the use of the Past Simple or the Present Perfect.

1. I haven't seen him this morning. I didn't see him this morning.

2. I haven't heard from him for ages. I didn't hear from him for ages.

3. He hasn't turned up. He never turned up.

4. I have met him in the park. I met him in the park.

5. He has written two bestsellers. He wrote two bestsellers.

6. I haven't switched off the light. I didn't switch off the light.

EXERCISE № 236. Use the verbs in the Present/Past Simple or the Present Perfect Simple.

1. … Patty … plans for the weekend yet? (make)

2. I … late for work yesterday because my alarm … (be/not ring)

3. Why …. Scott … his job last week? (quit)

4. The Randalls …. in London anymore. (not live)

5. How many games … the soccer team …, so far? (win)

6. Mr. Tucker always … the paper every morning at breakfast. (read)

7. I … to call you last Sunday, but I completely …. about it. (mean/forget)

8. We … Jim and Sue since they … married. (not see/get)

9. The post office … mail on holiday. (not deliver)

10. … you … to speak German when you … in Bonn? (learn/live)

11. I … never … how electricity …. (understand/work)

12. How often … Janet ...her family? (see)

13. It … for several weeks now. (not rain)

14. … you and Nancy still … a lot of tennis? (play)

15. Mr Kelly … a month ago, and the company … him yet. (retire/not replace)

EXERCISE № 237. Translate from Russian into English.

Мистер Кертис сломал нос. – Когда он его сломал? – Он сломал его в понедельник.	Mr Curtis has broken his nose. – When did he break it? – He broke it on Monday.
С каких это пор ты интересуешься поэзией?	Since when have you been interested in poetry?
Ученые изобрели лекарства от многих болезней в этом веке. Ученые изобрели лекарства от многих болезней в девятнадцатом веке.	Scientists have discovered medicines for many diseases this century. Scientists discovered medicines for many diseases in the 19th century.
Он написал три романа (может быть, напишет еще несколько). Он написал три романа и умер в 1983 году (больше уже не напишет).	He has written three novels. He wrote three novels and died in 1983.
Умер от рака знаменитый художник Джон Кремп. Ему было 50 лет, и он имел двоих детей.	The famous artist John Cramp has died of cancer. He was 50 and had two children.
Когда ты в последний раз видел Анну? – Я не видел ее с мая.	When did you last see Ann?/When was the last time you saw Ann? – I haven’t seen her since May.
Теперь он совсем не курит, так как у него плохое здоровье, а ведь раньше он курил сигарету за сигаретой (be a chain smoker).	Now, he doesn't smoke at all, because his health is poor, but he used to be a chain smoker.
Она, бывало, часами сидела у открытого окна, глядя на лес за холмом.	She would spend hours at the open window, looking at the forest behind the hill.
Где мистер Андерсон? - Он уехал в Гаагу. – А когда он уехал? – Несколько дней тому назад. – А я никогда не был в Нидерландах, хотя хочу уже несколько лет побывать там.	Where is Mr Anderson? – He has gone to the Hague. – When did he leave? – Some days ago. – I have never been to Holland though I have wanted to go there for several years.
Он только что был здесь. И где же он сейчас (for the time beling)?	He was there just now. Where is he for the time being?
Вы видели Тома сегодня? Уже три часа, а я все не могу его найти. Утром я ему 6 раз звонила.	Have you seen Tom today? It is 3 and I still can’t find him. In the morning I rang him up 6 times.
Чем вы занимались до того, как приехали сюда?	What did you do before you came here?
Мы посмотрели фильм, но он нам совершенно не понравился.	We watched the film but we didn’t like it at all.
Она прекрасна, как я себе и представлял ее.	She is just as beautiful as I imagined.
Он гораздо умнее, чем я ожидал.	He is far cleverer than I expected.