1.1 Did they realize what was happening?

Icono IDevice Listening activity

As we know now, the Simple Past is one of the most frequently-used tenses in the English language. Listen carefully to this song, This Old Guitar, by John Denver. You will be able to see lots of past simple verbs in it! Pay as much attention as possible, since later, you'll have to answer some questions that appear in it!

 


Beautiful song, isn't it? Answer the following questions that are asked in the video. Watch the video again if necessary paying attention to the information provided at the bottom.

1. What are the three verb forms for gave?

2. If the verb open, opened, opened has two aspect changes, how many aspect changes are seen in the family to which gave belongs?



Remember that to make questions and negative sentences in the Present Simple tense we need the verb to do (except with the verb to be and modal verbs). Now, we know that the past simple of the verb to do is did, and this is the auxiliary verb we need to make questions and negative sentences in the Simple Past. Have a look at the following examples taken from the song paying attention to how the bare infinitives of the sentences change.
 
 
Affirmative sentences Question Short answer
This old guitar taught me to sing a love song
 Did this old guitar teach me to sing a love song?
 Yes, it did / No, it didn't
It opened up her eyes and ears to me
 Did it open up her eyes and ears to me?
 Yes, it did / No, it didn't
It showed me how to laugh and how to cry
 Did it show me how to laugh and how to cry? Yes, it did / No, it didn't
It introduced me to some friends of mine
 Did it introduce me to some friends of mine? Yes, it did / No, it didn't
It brightened up my days
 Did it brighten up my days?
 Yes, it did / No, it didn't
 
 
Affirmative sentences Negative sentences
This old guitar taught me to sing a love song
 This old guitar did not (didn't) teach me to sing a love song
It opened up her eyes and ears to me
 It did not (didn't) open up her eyes and ears to me
It showed me how to laugh and how to cry
 It did not (didn't) show me how to laugh and how to cry
It introduced me to some friends of mine
 It did not (didn't) introduce me to some friends of mine
It brightened up my days
 It did not (didn't) brighten up my days
Icono de iDevice Example activity

Taking that into account, the verb to do is very important in English!

Make questions and negative sentences with the following sentences taken from the song as well. Enjoy the video on the right while doing the exercise. It took place a long time ago!

1. This old guitar gave me my lovely lady.

2. It brought us close together.

3. It broke her heart.

4. It opened up a space for us to be.

5. This old guitar gave me my life, my living.


Icono IDevice Further knowledge
To check the main uses and do more exercises on the Past Simple tense, click here (don't forget to do the six exercises you can find on the right of the site), and you can practice far more with the Past Simple form if you click here!

Icono de iDevice Self-assessment

 

Write questions and negative sentences of the following sentences taken from the story about the tornado the man of the documentary told on TV (use the short form for the negative sentences). Pay attention to the modal verb!!!!

 

1. Our parents ran towards us.

Q: towards us?

N: towards us.

2. They realized what was happening.

Q: what was happening?

N: what was happening.

3. We could see some chairs, blankets and football bags flying. (Pay attention to how some changes to any).

Q: any chairs, blankets and football bags flying?

N: any chairs, blankets and football bags flying.

  

Icono IDevice Important

Remember that we have two ways of making make negative interrogative questions. However, one of them is more frequent and easier than the other. Guess which one is easier from the following examples!

 

Short form
 Long form
Didn't the sports facilities include changing rooms?
 Did the sports facilities not include changing rooms?
Didn't the tornado come closer?
 Did the tornado not come closer?
Didn't the rain stop and the clouds loosen? Did the rain not stop and the clouds loosen?

 

Right, the SHORT FORM is easier, so don't forget to use it whenever you have to make negative interrogative sentences and whatever tense you use!


That's more than enough about the form of questions and negative sentences in the Past Simple tense. Now, go on to next section to study the main uses of this so frequently-used tense!

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