1.1. Practice: It was empty and now it's filled

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It's time now to practice!

In this section, you will first learn the differences between the forms of the verb be in Simple Past. You will also choose the right conjugation of the verb in this tense. After that, the last activity1 will be about choosing the right tense, either Simple Present or Simple Past. Finally, in the last exercise you will put the words in order to make coherent and syntactically-correct sentences.

You had little knowledge about the Simple Past but not now!

1 As you have learnt, we use the definite article 'the' and 'last' to mean a series of things. In this case, there is no reference to time but to the order of the exercises.

Do it yourself

Read the following sentences and choose the right form of the verb either 'was' or 'were'. Pay attention to the subjects.

  1. My grandparents from France. She born in Nancy and he born in Éply.
  2. I very sure about what film to choose last Saturday night so, eventually... No film!
  3. Where you when your girlfriend at home?
  4. Who the first President in Andalusia (in 1979)?
  5. I don't understand. Bea here 5 minutes ago but now she isn't. Where is she?
  6. Do you want to hear my story? Well, it very boring until her. She a nice change in my life.
  7. My last books in good shape. My intention to sell them but it possible because they very old -some pages were missing!
  8. The concert bad but the guitar horrible. Luckily, my friends with me so it was a lot of fun.

Rafel Escuredo

Imagen de Junta Informa en Wikimedia. Licencia CC

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Do it yourself

Read the sentences below and decide if the right answer is in Simple Present or Simple Past. Then write the right form of the verb. Use contractions when possible.

Federico García Lorca

Imagen de Barquisimeto - Ciudad Crepuscular en Flickr. Licencia CC

  1. Pablo usually active in English class.
  2. Emily in the US last summer but not now.
  3. Beatriz and Juan friends in August, before their classes at IEDA.
  4. My sister and my brother tall and slim.
  5. I at the supermarket at the moment.
  6. In Fuente Vaqueros, on the 5th of June 1898, a future brilliant poet born.
  7. I don't know when but I think the film Solas on2 some years ago.
  8. Ago an expression we use to talk about past time references.
  9. My grandparents 85 and 82 years old. I love them very much.
  10. My father very happy with my sister's decision to leave her dog with him last weekend. I agree with him -it her responsibility not his!

2 to be on = it refers to a film, when it is available at the cinema and you can go and see it.

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Look at the following words. They are scrambled (not in order). Put them in order to make coherent complete sentences. When you finish, click on the button below to check your answers.

  1. Pozoblanco / was / in / teacher / weekend / My / last
  2. a / was / five / Marta / ago / man / years
  3. Pablo, Beatriz and Juan / IEDA / year / not / at / were / last
  4. ? / Marilyn Monroe / American / was
  5. sunny / very cloudy / today / was / it / it / but / yesterday / today / is
  6. ? / Celts / the / were / who
  7. ? / British / the / weren't / Beatles
  8. ? / while / how / outside / classroom/ you / in / many / the / were / were / students
  9. Ken's / but / it / fault / my / was / not
  10. ? / was / idea / it / whose

 Celtic crosses

Imagen de Neil Tackaberry en Flickr. Licencia CC