THE PAST TENSE

THE PAST TENSE OF REGULAR VERBS


Use the past tense form of the verb in parentheses in each sentence.

1. We (finish) the work yesterday. We finished the work yesterday.

2.- Frank (borrow) some money from his friend last night.

3.- I (like) that movie about President Wilson´s life.

4.- That company (hire) twenty new workers last year.

5.- Mr. Harris (explain) the lesson to us very carefully.

6.- The students (study) those two lessons yesterday.

7.- Everyone (enjoy) the party very much last night.

8.- The driver (stop) the bus very quickly.

9.- The clerk (count) the money two or three times.

10.- My friend (help) me with my homework this afternoon.

11.- Mr. Berg (describe) his trip to us after class yesterday.

12.- My sister (stay) in Europe for two and a half months.

13.- All of the students (copy) the assignment carefully.

14.- The secretary (omit) two or three names from the list.

QUESTIONS IN THE PAST TENSE

Change the following statements to questions. Study the first two examples carefully.

1 They finished the work. Did they finish the work?

2 They were in their office. Were they in their office?

3 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson visited their friends in Detroit.

4 The teacher told the students the answer to the question.

5 That movie about Wilson’s life was interesting.

6 Mr. Harris explained the meaning of the word to her.

7 Those men from South America were at the meeting.

8 The students studied carefully for the examination.

9 The Wilsons sold their house at a low price.

10 The last lesson was very difficult for the students.

11. Their friends watched that television program last night.

12 The man read the instructions in the book very carefully.

13 There were many people at the party last Friday night.


NEGATIVES IN THE PAST TENSE

Change the following statements to negatives.

1 He worked very hard.

2 He was at the meeting.

3 The secretary copied the names from the list carefully.

4 Alice ate lunch at the cafeteria with her friends.

5 The students were ready for the examination.

6 Mr. Harris taught at New York University last summer.

7 The teacher noticed the mistake in that sentence.

9 The last two lessons were very difficult for me.

10 The students brought their dictionaries to class yesterday.

11 The director agreed with his assistants on that matter.

12 There were many people in the audience last night.

13 Mr. Johnson prepared that report for Mr. Wilson.

14 Our friends went to the movies with us on Saturday night.