The Past Simple tense is formed by adding ed to the infinitive: work-worked.
Verbs ending in eadd donly: love-loved.
The negative of the verbs is formed by adding did not (didn't): I did not (didn't) work.
The interrogative is formed with did + subject + infinitive: did/didn't you work?
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SPELLING NOTES
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Doubled final consonant + ed: admit – admitted, stop – stopped, travel – travelled.
Verbs ending in y following a consonant change the y into i before adding ed: carry – carried, try – tried.
BUTy following a vowel does not change: obey – obeyed.
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Irregular verbs vary considerably in their simple past form: eat – ate, leave – left, see – saw, speak – spoke. These forms must be learned from the list of the irregular verbs.
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USE OF THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE
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The past simple tenseis used for actions completed in the past at a definite time. It is therefore used:
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For a past action when the time is given
| I met him yesterday.
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For a past action when the time is asked about
| When did you meet him?
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When the action took place at a definite time even though this time is not mentioned
| The train was 10 minutes late. I bought this car in Montreal.
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Sometimes the time becomes definite as a result of a question & answer in the present perfect
| Where have you been? – I have been to opera. – Did you enjoy it?
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For an action A)whose time is not given but which occupied a period of time now terminated, or B)occurred at a moment in a period of time now terminated
| A)He worked in that bank for 3 years (but he does not work there now). B)My grandmother once saw Queen Victoria.
Did you ever hear Maria Callas sing?
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For a past habit= a past routine
| He used to play the piano. He always carried an umbrella. They never drink wine.
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In conditional sentences of type 2
Expressions: as if, as though, it is time, if only, wish, would sooner/rather
| If I had a map I would lend it to you.
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For succession of past actions
| When I came, my mother cooked dinner. (приготовила!)
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PROVERBS & SAYINGS
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v Curiosity killed the cat.
v I came. I saw. I conquered.
v Almost never killed the fly.
v It was the list straw that broke the camel's back.
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