C.P.E.M.

N° 46
4to Año

Past simple: WAS / WERE

Signal words Simple Past:

ago, an hour ago, one minute ago, in 2011 ..., in 1999 ..., last month, last week, last year, last weekend, last
summer, yesterday, at 5 o'clock

A. Choose the correct verb.

Charles Darwin [was - were] When Albert Einstein [was - were] young, his
born on February 12, 1809. parents worried about him. Einstein's parents [was
He [was - were] a British - were] concerned that Albert was "slow." Albert
naturalist who became [was - were] a terrible student who didn't want to
famous for his theories of attend classes regularly and take exams.
evolution and natural selection. In South America, Einstein's best-known work, the
Darwin found that fossils of extinct animals [was - theory of relativity,
were] similar to modern species. Many people [was [was - were] published in
- were] strongly opposed to the idea of [Link], the
evolution because it conflicted with their religious theory of relativity [was - were]
beliefs. Throughout his life, Darwin [was - were] a used to create the atomic bomb
reserved, thorough, hardworking scholar.

B. Complete with was/ wasn’t/ were/ weren’t

1. I _____________________ in Canberra last spring and this year I____________________ in Rome.

2. We _____________________ at school last Saturday and this Sunday we __________________ at home.
3. Tina _________________ at home yesterday, she _____________________ at work.
4. You _______________ very busy on Friday, __________________ you busy today?
5. Jessica and Kimberly _______________ late for school yesterday, in fact, they _____________ always late.
6. We __________________ students in 1990, now we __________________ teachers.
7. He __________________ in a hurry because there ___________________ a lot of traffic.
8. Last night you _________________ angry because your girlfriend ___________________ at home.
9. My father __________________ at work yesterday because he __________________ on vacation.
10. Trixi and Felix _________________my cats, they died 5 years ago.
11. Susan and Betty __________________ good friends when they _____________________ at school.
12. They _______________ good at sports but they _______________ good at maths 2 years ago.
13. They like travelling, they _________________ in London this week?
14. It ____________________ Sunday today, yesterday it __________________ Saturday.
15. I ____________________ at home, I __________________ at the gym with some friends.
16. We ____________________ with friends yesterday, we ____________________ alone.
17. I ____________________ late yesterday.
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18. He ____________________ at home yesterday, he ____________________ at school.

19. My grandfather ____________________ a teacher.

20 ____________________ the weather fine yesterday?

21. He ____________________ ill last night.

22. We ____________________ interested in the movie, it was boring.

23. I ____________________ in Canada last summer holiday. My sister ____________________ with me.

We _________________ in Montreal. She _________________ very happy. I ______________ happy, too.

C. Write the questions for these answers:

1.______________________________________? He was born in 1916.

2.______________________________________? It was sunny and hot.
3.______________________________________? She was bad tempered and grumpy.
4.______________________________________? I was with my sister.
5.______________________________________? They were at the beach last summer.
6.______________________________________? The party was great, I was really happy.
7. _____________________________________? She was happy because it was her birthday.
8. _____________________________________? My best friend was Andy.
9. _____________________________________? Her birthday party was last summer.
10. ____________________________________? John Lennon was from Liverpool.

D. Put the verb "to be" into the simple present or the simple past:
I ………………………………….. an engineer. Last year I ………………………………….. a student in Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. I ………………………………….. in love with a beautiful girl at that time. We
………………………………….. friends. Now, I live in New York and I ………………………………….. married to her.
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A) Complete the man’s statement with the verbs in the correct tense:

1. Last night I ……………… (go) to my favorite restaurant in West Street. I …………………….(leave) the

restaurant at about 11 o’clock. It …………….. (be) a warm evening and I……………….. (decide) to walk along the

beach. Suddenly, I ………………… (hear) a noise. I ……………….. (turn) and ………………(see) three boys aged about

eighteen. One boy ……………… (come) up to me and……………….. (ask) me the time. When I ………………. (look)

down at my watch, he ……………… (hit) me and I ……………… (fall) to the ground. Another boy………………. (take)

my wallet. I ……………….. (shout) for help. Then they………………(run) away.

2. Father: Alice, what are you doing (you / do)?

Alice: I ………………………………………………… (clean) the house. I usually ………………………………………………… (do) my

homework but today I ………………………………………………….. (not / go) to school.

Father: Where’s your mum?

Alice: She ……………………………………………..… (make) a cake. She usually ………………………………..………….. (go) to

the market but today my friends …………………………. (come).

3. Sarah Star is a singer. She sings (sing) and …………………………………………….. (dance) on TV. She

……………………………………… (drive) a red Mercedes. At the moment she is with Nick Pear. They

……………………………………….. (eat) in a restaurant. Sarah ……………………………………….. (drink) a cocktail and

Nick ……………………………………….. (talk) to the waiter.

4. Ann is a doctor. She …………………………………….. (work) in a hospital but today she ………………………………(stay)

at home. Now she ………………………………………….. (cook) dinner. Her friends ……………………………………..(visit) her

today. It …………………. (be) her birthday.

B) Read the text about Paul´s holiday and answer

Last year I went on holiday to Mar del Plata. I drove to the sea with my friend. On the first day we

looked at the beautiful buildings and ate in a restaurant. The next day was very hot so we drove to the

sea. We left our clothes in the car and sunbathed and swam all day. At six o’clock we walked to our car,

but the car wasn´t there. We decided to go to the Police Station. The police were nice and we slept in

the police station.

1. Where did Paul and his friend go on holiday?

2. How did they go?

3. What was the weather like the second day? What did they do?

4. What happened to the car?

5. Were the policemen kind to them?

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C) Complete these sentences in the PAST TENSE, using the correct verb:

* play * enjoy * watch * listen * talk * phone * stop * walk * travel * like * stay

Example: I watched the late film on TV last night.

1. We really ………………….. the concert last night. It was great!

2. She ………………… with friends in Brighton last summer.

3. Italy ………………… very well in the last World Cup.

4. Her parents ………………….. by train from Shanghai to Moscow.

5. I ………………….. you four times last night but you were out.

6. We …………………. along the beach yesterday. It was lovely.

7. She …………………. the film but she didn’t like the music.

8. The men ………………….. work at exactly one o’clock.

9. I ……………………. to the new Sting album yesterday. It’s great.

10. They ………………… to us about their trip to Madagaskar. It was very interesting.

D) Complete the conversation with WAS / WASN’T / WERE / WEREN’T.

A: Where were you last night? I phoned you but you …………… at home.

B: I …………..out with friends. We ……………. at the Bluenote Cafe.

A: …………… Julia there?

B: No, she …………… . Why?

A: Oh, I just wondered.

B: She ………….out with Nick. They ……………at the Oasis. I think.

A: No, they …………… .

B: How do you know?

A: Because I …………….. there!

E) Make negative sentences (x) or questions (?) using the PAST TENSE:

Example: he / stay (x) in a hotel

He didn’t stay in a hotel.

you / learn (?) speak Italian when you were in Italy.

Did you learn to speak Italian when you were in Italy?

1. she / like (x) the film

2. I / use / (x) the school computer yesterday

3. they / arrive (?) home late yesterday

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4. you / ask (?) her for Caroline’s address

5. he / enjoy (x) the concert in the park

6. we / talk (x) about school at all

F) Read the text. Write the questions below about Tamsin’s holiday:

Last September Tamsin went to Bali. She went by plane and stayed in a big hotel. It was very hot, so she

swam every day. In the evenings she went to different restaurants, the food was very good. She met

some nice people and every night she danced with them at the disco. She was happy because she wasn’t

alone.

Example: A: Where did she go? B: Bali.

1. A: …………………………………………………………………… B: Last September.

2. A: …………………………………………………………………… B: By plane.

3. A: …………………………………………………………………… B: In a big hotel.

5. A: …………………………………………………………………… B: It was very hot.

6. A: …………………………………………………………………… B: She swam.

7. A: …………………………………………………………………… B: It was very good.

8. A: …………………………………………………………………… B: Some nice people.

G) Match the questions with the answers:

1. When did you learn to drive a car? a. By bus.

2. What did you watch on television b. The news last night?

3. What did you do last weekend? c. 6th September.

4. Who were you with at 4pm today? d. On Saturday I played

tennis and on Sunday I slept.

5. When was the beginning of term? e. January.

6. How did you come to class? f. Three years ago.

7. What did you eat for breakfast this g. John.

morning?

8. What was the month before last? h. Toast and coffee.

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SIMPLE PRESENT, PRESENT CONTINUOUS and SIMPLE PAST

A) Read about Lucian and Estelle and write the questions:

Lucian and Estelle are from London, but they live in Madrid. They work for Opel, the car factory.
Lucian and Estelle like swimming and cooking. They don’t have a car. They don’t like driving!

1. live / they / do / London? Do they live in London?

2. Madrid / do / live / they? ………………………………………………………
3. Ferrari / they / work / do? ……………………………………………………………………………
4. work / Renault / do / they? …………………………………………………………………………………
5. swimming / like / cooking / they / do? …………………………………………………………………
6. swimming / they / like / traveling / do? …………………………………………………………………
7. like / do / driving / they ? …………………………………………………………………

B) What does Ellie ask Carsten? Put the words in order to make questions:
Example: Ellie: Sunday time What do get you up on?
What time do you get up on Sunday?
Carsten: Ten o’clock.
Ellie: you breakfast What do have for?
……………………………………..…………………………………………………………….
Carsten: Coffee, cheese and bread.
Ellie: morning you in do the What do?
…………………………………………………..……………………………………………….
Carsten: I play football in the park.
Ellie: do lunch When have you?
………………………………………………………..………………………………………….
Carsten: At two o’clock.
Ellie: with Who lunch you do have?
……………………………………………………………..……………………………………..
Carsten: My parents.
Ellie: you afternoon What do do in the?
………………………………………………………………..……………………………………
Carsten: I watch football on TV.

C) Complete the sentences by writing the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1. I ………………….. (phone) you four times last night but you were out.
2. Jane Smith …………………………………… (be) a good secretary. She ……………………………
(go) to the office every day in the morning and she …………………………………………. (stay) there
till twelve o'clock. In the afternoon she ……………………………………………. (not go) to work. She
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usually ………………………………….. (walk)in the park with her children. After dinner her husband
…………………………………………………. (wash) the dishes and she
……………………………………….. (help) the children with their homework. Then she
……………………………………………. (read) a book or they …………………………… (talk) about their
day's work. They ………………………………… (not go) late to bed because they always
……………………………. (get up) very early.
3. We really …………………………….... (enjoy) the concert last night. It was great!
4. He usually ………………………………………….. (go) to work by bus but today he
...………………. (go) by train.
5. We ……………………….. (walk) along the beach yesterday. It was lovely.
6. She ……………………………. (like) the film but she didn’t like the music.
7. She ………………………………..… (stay)with friends in Brighton last summer.
8. Italy ……………………………… (play) very well in the last World Cup.
9. I ……………………………………… (listen) to the new Sting album yesterday. It’s great.
10. They ………………… (talk) to us about their trip to Madagascar. It was very interesting.
11. Mary and Peter often ……………………………………. (stay) at home but tonight they
………………………………….. (go out).
12. Paul usually ………………………………………. (do) his homework in the evening but this
evening he ………………………………………..(play) with some friends.
13. I ……………………………………………. (read) a book every week but this week I
…………………………………………. (work) hard in the office.
14. Last year I ……………………………… (spend) my holiday in Ireland. It ………………………(be)
great.
15. Last summer holidays I (travel) ……………………… (travel) around by car with two friends and
we ………………………… (visit) lots of interesting places. In the evenings we usually (go)
……………………………… to a pub. One night we even (learn) ……………………………… some Irish
dances. We (be) ………………………… very lucky with the weather. It (not / rain)
……………………………… a lot. But we (see) ……………………… some beautiful rainbows.
16. Where (spend / you) ……………………………… your last holiday?
17. (You / come) ……………………………………………………. tonight?
18. (He / eat) ……………………………………………………. rice every day?
19. I ……………………………………………………………. (work) at the moment.
20. (He / come) ……………………………………………….. to London often?
21. (You / come) _________________________________ to the cinema later?
22. He (not / play) _________________________________ golf now.
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Tense Revision Exercises

A. Read the following letter and write the verbs in the correct tense

Dear Mary
How are you? I (1) ………………………………… (receive) your letter last week. Thank you for the recipe
for the cake I (2) ………………………………… (ask) for. I made it last week and it (3) ………………………
(be) very nice. Now, I (4) ……………………………….. (have) a new job in a supermarket in the city centre.
I go there every day at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and (5) ………………………………. (work) there till 10
o'clock in the evening. I am very happy because my sister (6) ……………………………. (work) there too
so we travel to and from work together. I (7) ……………………………. (get) my first wages last week
and I went shopping immediately! I (8) …………………………… (buy) a new stereo for my bedroom. It
is gold and black and (9) ……………………………. (look) very nice. My brother (10)
…………………………… (come) to stay with me for a few days next week. He (11) ………………………….
(arrive) on Saturday so I am going to collect him from the station. After I collect him, we are going to
that Mexican restaurant near the park. (12) ……………………………….. (you/want?) to come with us?
You can (13) ……………………………. (call) me to tell me if you want to come or not. John told me that
you (14) …………………………….. (pass) your Spanish exam last month. Congratulations. (15)
………………………….. (be?) difficult? You know that I (16) ………………………………. (be) terrible at
languages but you are better. (17) ……………………………………. (you/go?) to visit Spain for your next
holiday so you can practice it?

Please write to me soon with all your news, Mary.

All the best,
Sara.

B. Read and answer

Mr. Benson is a journalist from Seattle. He is married to Jennifer and they have three children. They
have two boys, Peter and Don, and a daughter, Alice.
Mr. Benson is 47 years old. He has short black hair and he has a beard. Jennifer has large glasses and
she has long blonde hair. Peter is 15. He has short black hair, like his father. He is tall. His brother,
Don, has fair hair and is not very tall. He is 13 years old. Their sister, Alice, is 17. She has beautiful
long black hair. She has a new car - she is very happy.
The Benson family have a Labrador dog, Benji. They have a small apartment in Seattle.

1. What is Mr. Benson's job?

2. Do they have a cat?
3. Does Alice have a car?
4. What color is Peter's hair?
5. How old are the sons?
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6. Does Jennifer have glasses?
7. How many children do they have?
8. What's the name of the daughter?
9. Is Jennifer's hair black?
10. Where do they live?

C. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of each verb.

return go have dream leave have arrive say take ask read go read
go buy not take read take swim leave be watch go drink
Tom got up very early yesterday morning and …………………….. a bath. Then, he ………………………
down to the kitchen and ………………………… two pieces of toast and ………………………. a glass of
milk. Tom works in the local hospital and, yesterday he ………………………… the house at about 8
o'clock.
He …………………………. the number ten bus and he ………………………. at work at 8.30. He
……………………………. 'good morning' to his secretary, Maura, and then he ……………………. all the
letters that were on his table. Then, he …………………………. Maura for a cup of coffee and he
…………………………. four very important letters.
At one o'clock, Tom ……………………………. for lunch in a cafe and ……………………… his newspaper.
He …………………………… to the office at two o'clock and ………………………… at six. He
……………………………….. the bus because a friend …………………………….. him in the car.
In the evening, he ……………………….. in the local swimming pool and ……………………… shopping
in the local supermarket where he ………………………….. a lot of food. He ………………………………..
very tired in the evening so he ……………………………….. television. He …………………………. to bed
at 11 o'clock and he ………………………………….. about winning the lottery.

Read this short paragraph about Charlie. Then answer the questions and answers below.
Yesterday was a terrible day for Charlie Parker. He was a very sad man. He got up at 8a.m.
because his alarm clock was broken. So he didn't have a big breakfast and he was very hungry. He
couldn't find his Rolls Royce car so he rode to work on his bicycle in the rain. His boss was very angry
with him so he had lunch alone in the post office. He was very busy yesterday so he finished work at
6.30p.m. His wife went to the cinema with his boss so Charlie had dinner alone too! He didn't want to
watch TV and he went to bed at 10p.m.

1. Was Charlie Parker happy yesterday?

2. What time did he get up yesterday?
3. Did he get to work yesterday?
4. Who did he have lunch with yesterday
5. Where did he have lunch yesterday?
6. What time did he finish work yesterday?
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7. Did have dinner with his wife yesterday?
8. Did he watch TV yesterday?