Page 62 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

simple past: use / left school in 1990.

We often use the simple past to talk about when things happened.

I left school in 7 990. I didn't see Ann yesterday. What time did you arrive?

A
We use the simple past, not the present perfect [have seen etc) with finished-time expressions.

I saw that film last week. (NOT / have seen that film last-week-)
Did you pay William on Sunday? (NOT Have you paid William-on Sunday?)

Put the beginnings and ends together, using the verbs in the box.

die/ forget learn like read speak stop

0 Shakespeare ................ A birthday on Monday........
1 1.................my girlfriend's B in 1616.
2 That's a really good book. C so 1.................my lessons last week.........
3 When we were children D 1.................it last year........
4 1didn't.................my piano teacher E we always.................French at home.........

5 Where did you................. F to speak Spanish so well?......

Note the word order with ago.
I started this job three years ago. (NOT ... ago three years.) It happened a long time ago.

^ How long ago was your last birthday? Ten days ago? Five weeks ago? Eight months ago?
Write the answer, and complete the other sentences.

1 My last birthday was........................................... 3 Last January.....................................................
2 Last Tuesday was................................................ 4 My third birthday............................................

We often use the simple past for things that happened one after another, for example in stories.
He parked his car, went into the station and bought a ticket. Then he had a cup of coffee and...

^ Grammar in a text. Put simple past verbs into the story.

I - 6: come hear open say not see stand
7-10: give hold notread take
I I - 15: run say not speak turn write

He i .......................outside her door for a long time. Then he 2..........................her footsteps inside the
house. She 3........................the door and 4........................ out. At first she 5.........................him, but then
she 6.......................,'Oh, hello, Harold.'He l ......................... a paper out of his pocket and 8.......................
it to her. She 9........................it in one hand, but io.......................it.'Listen,'he n .............................She
12...................... 'I 13........................you this letter because-'She 14.......................back into the house.

He is...................... and walked slowly down the street.

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example I'm, don't) and full PAST TENSES 47
forms (for example lam, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.