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The past indefinite (simple) tense
V+ed , V (Participle I)
Exercise 1. Comment on the use of the Past Simple in the following sentences. Translate the sentences into Russian.
1. We saw Rose in town a few days ago. 2. I was angry because you were late. 3. Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music. 4. The man entered the room, sat down at the table, ordered some food, and began to read a news- paper. 5. Professor Turner arrived in Washington last week. 6. Did you go out last night? 7. She did not come in time for dinner. 8. When did you speak to the manager? 9. How long ago did the train leave? 10. Where did you buy this dictionary? 11. He lived in London from 1970 to 1973. Then he moved to Manchester. 12. I saw that you came in just now. 13. When Mr. Dance was a student, he rode his bike to classes. 14. Were you pleased with the present? 15. She was alone at home when the earthquake began. 16. She passed her exa- minations because she studied hard.
Exercise 2. There was a robbery in London at 10 o’clock last night. A police inspecter is interviewing Eddie Cooper about the robbery.
Complete the conversation. Use was and were .
Inspector: ... you in London last night, Cooper?
Cooper: Yes, I ... .
Inspector: Where ... you at 10 o’clock last night?
Cooper: At 10 o’clock? I ... in a pub called The Bell.
Inspector: And what about your friends Jack Callaghan and Frankie Dobbs? ... they in the pub with you?
Cooper: No, they ... not, Inspector.
Inspector: Where .. they, then?
Cooper: I don’t know where they ... , but they ... not with me.
Inspector: ... you on your own in The Bell?
Cooper: No, I ... not. My girlfriend Diana ... with me.
Inspector: And ... she with you all evening?
Cooper: Yes, she ... .
Exercise 3. Complete the sentences using was, were, wasn’t, weren’t .
A thief stole an expensive car from a garage on Main Street last Sunday at 5:00. Mr. and Mrs. Jones ... in a reataurant next to the garage. Charlie Green ... across the street in a bar.
According to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, the thief ... tall and thin. His hair ... brown and curly. According to Charlie Green, the thief ... young and handsome. His clothes ... expensive.
The police are looking for the thief today. They’re talking to Frank Harris. He’s a tall, thin young man with brown, curly hair.
Police: ... you on Main Street last Sunday at 5:00?
Frank: No, I ... . I ... at home with my wife.
Police: Are you sure?
Frank: Of course I am.
Police: That’s strange. Your wife says she ... at home all evening, but you ... there.
Frank: I ... ?!
Police: No, you ... .
Frank: Oh, I forgot. Last Sunday at 5:00O I ... with my friend Tom.
Police: Where ... you and your friend?
Frank: We ... here at the police station.
Police: Why ... you at the police station?
Frank: We ... here because at 4:00 last Sunday a thief stole my friend Tom’s car!
Exercise 4. Complete the sentences using the verb to be in the correct form: present or past, possitive ot negative.
1. ... Steven Spielberg a film maker? - Yes, he ... . 2. ... Dallas in Arizona? - No, it ... . It ... in Texas. 3. ... John at school yesterday? - No, he ... . He ... ill. 4. ... Madonna English? - No, she ... American. 5. Where ... you and Lois last night? I called you but you ... at home. - We ... at the theatre. 6. The Rocky Mountains .. in Mexico. They ... in the United States and Canada. 7. When we ... young, we ... energetic. Now we ... always tired. 8. Where ... the first Olympic Games? - They ... in Greece. 9. ... Pablo Picasso French? - No, he ... . He ... Spanish. 10. When Mr. and Mrs. Smith got married, they ... poor. Now they ... rich. 11. ... Marie and Pierre Curie American? - No, they ... . 12. Louise ... always afraid to be alone in the house. 13. Helen called her friend Patty, but Patty ... home. She ... at the movies. 14. ... Richard on time for the plane? - No, he ... . He ... late. 15. ... your new neighbours noisy or quiet? 16. ... Barbara married or single? 17. Jane didn’t eat anything at breakfast. She ... hungry. 18. This car ... fantastic and ... not very expensive. 19. Before we painted the living room, it ... ugly. Now it ... beautiful. 20. Why ... Jane and Betty upset? - They ... upset because the weather ... good and they can’t go for a walk.
Exercise 5. Complete the following sentences according to the model.
1. Henry usually takes He didn’t take He took the subway.
the bus. the bus yesterday.
2. Julie usually buys She ..... candy She ... cookies.
candy. yesterday.
3. Mr. and Mrs. Smith They ... jogging They ... swimming.
usually go jogging. yesterday.
4. Sara usually writes to She ... to her She ... to her father.
her mother. mother yesterday.
5. Peter and George usu- They ... at 7.00 They ... at 9.00.
ally get up at 7.00. yesterday.
6. I usually have dinner I ... dinner at 6.00 I ... dinner at 8.00.
at 6.00 . yesterday.
7. Paul usually reads He ... a novel He ... poetry.
novels. yesterday.
8. George and Paul usu- They ... their home- They ... their homework
ally do their homework work at 4.00 yes- after dinner.
at 4.00 . terday.
9. Charlie usually eats He ... at home He ... at a Chinese
at home. yesterday. restaurant.
10. I usually drink tea. I ... tea yesterday. I ... coffee.
11. Walter usually sits He ... next to John He ... next to Nancy.
next to John. yesterday.
12. David and Barbara They ... popular They ... old songs.
usually sing popular songs yesterday.
songs.
13. Janes usually takes She ... a shower She ... a bath.
a shower. yesterday.
14. We usually go to a We ... to a movie We ... to a concert.
movie on Sunday. yesterday.
15. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson They ... Mexican They ... French coffee.
usually buy Mexican coffee yesterday.
coffee.
16. Jim usually has lunch He ... lunch with his He ... lunch with his
with his brother. brother yesterday. boss.
Exercise 6. Make the following sentences a) negative and b) interrogative.
Model: 1. We began to work early yesterday.
a) We did not begin to work early yesterday.
b) Did we begin to work early yesterday?