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GRAMMAR

LESSON 23:

Simple Past Tense 3

Goal

I can use simple past tense with negatives.

Grammar Point

Read the grammar point with your tutor.

Use the negative form of simple past tense to say that something was not true.

  • Add not to the simple past tense of be-verbs.

BE-VERB

NEGATIVE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

am

was not

are

were not

is

was not
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ex

I was not happy.

ex

You were not at the party.

ex

He was not a student.

  • Add did not to the dictionary form of do-verbs.

DO-VERB

NEGATIVE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

eat

did not eat

drink

did not drink

go

did not go
swipe to see full chart
ex

I did not eat breakfast.

ex

She did not drink alcohol.

ex

We did not go to work.

  • In casual spoken and written English, not is usually contracted with other words. Please try to use contracted forms throughout this lesson.

FORMAL ENGLISH

CASUAL ENGLISH

was not

wasn’t

were not

weren’t

did not

didn’t
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ex

I wasn’t sleepy.

ex

He wasn’t in the house.

ex

We weren’t angry.

ex

I didn’t drink alcohol.

ex

He didn’t eat a snack.

ex

They didn’t have a party.

Sentence Builder

Build new sentences using the grammar point, the original sentences, and the words in parentheses. The form of some words may need to be changed.
Build new sentences using the grammar point, the original sentences, and the words in parentheses. The form of some words may need to be changed.
ex

I wasn’t tired.

(my children)
   My children weren’t tired.   .

  • We weren’t at the party.

(he)
                            .

  • Eric didn’t study French.

(take the train)
                            .

  • Julia wasn’t happy.

(I)
                            .

  • My friends didn’t eat breakfast.

(we)
                            .

  • They weren’t good.

(it)
                            .

  • He didn’t watch TV last night.

(drink alcohol)
                            .

  • Matt wasn’t at work yesterday.

(you)
                            .

  • I didn’t like the movie.

(he)
                            .

  • They weren’t high school students in 2010.

(we)
                            .

  • My parents weren’t angry.

(I)
                            .

Practice

Make sentences using the grammar point, the words, and the picture clues. The form of some words may need to be changed.

ex

we / like the movie

We didn’t like the movie.
ex

we / like the movie

We didn’t like the movie.

  • I / be angry

  • she / eat breakfast / today

  • it / be good

  • Seth / drink alcohol / last night

  • it / be sunny / this morning

  • I / go to bed early

  • my dog / take a bath / last month

  • he / be at work / yesterday

  • I / study / last night

  • Dana’s joke / be funny

Q&A

Answer the questions using the grammar point and your own information.

  • What did you NOT eat today?

  • Where were you NOT yesterday (ex. at work, in Tokyo)?

  • What sport did you NOT play in high school?

  • What did you NOT do last night (ex. watch TV, read a book)?

  • What did you NOT study in high school (ex. French, art history)?

  • Where were your friends NOT yesterday (ex. at your house, in New York City)?

  • How did you NOT get home yesterday (ex. drive, take the train)?

  • How was the weather NOT this morning (ex. sunny, hot)?

  • When you were a child, what food did you NOT like?

  • Where did you NOT go last year?