2.1. Paco didn't like the spicy food (past negative)

Caso práctico

Paco tasted the Indian food for lunch. It was delicious but he didn't take into account the spiciness of the food he ordered. It was really hot, so he didn't finish it. He was drinking water and soft drinks for the rest of the day! There were some foreigners having lunch next to him in the park and they didn't eat all their food either because it was also too spicy. He looked up the magic word in a dictionary for the next time: mild.
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Notice the uses of the Simple Past in the negative form.
We are sure you can remember this and deduce its use.

Importante

NEGATIVE FORM OF THE SIMPLE PAST

In the negative form we need to use the auxiliary did + not (didn’t). Remember that when we use the auxiliary we put the verb in the INFINITIVE form and didn't is the unique form for all the personal pronouns.

The auxiliary didn't is used for regular and irregular verbs.

The auxiliary didn’t is used in the negative form with verbs that are not to be or some modal verbs like must, can, .... Then, we can state that these verbs (to be and some modals (ex. can) do not use didn't:

I went to school yesterday > I didn't go to school yesterday

Paco visited London all day > Paco didn't visit London all day

Short forms in negative sentences in the Simple Past are used quite often, either with regular or irregular verbs:

regular verbs irregular verbs

I didn't play football.

He didn't study too much for the exam.

I didn't go to the supermarket.

He didn't meet him at the airport.

Exceptions:

He wasn't very fast.

She couldn't ride on a bike.

Ejercicio Resuelto

Write the negative form of the verbs in bold into the correct gaps.You can use long or short contracted forms of the auxiliary.
Be careful! There is a trap: a verb doesn't take the auxiliary verb "didn't" in the negative form. Find it.
Example: Paco wrote a letter to his family. - Paco ______________ a letter to his family.

Answer: Paco did not write (or didn't write) a letter to his family.
1) He played handball. - He handball.
2) Sonia waited in the kitchen. - Sonia in the kitchen.
3) I made the beds. - I the beds.
4) They cleaned the classroom. - They the classroom.
5) She asked a lot of questions. - She a lot of questions.
6) The friends got new computers. - The friends new computers.
7) I was in Madrid last weekend. - I in Madrid last weekend.
8) You built a house. - You a house.
9) Alex bought a new guitar. - Alex a new guitar.
10) We went shopping. - We shopping.

Comprueba lo aprendido

Rewrite the reading activity from section 1 into the Simple Past negative forms. It doesn't make too much sense but it is useful for your practice.

Paco (ARRIVE) in London two hours ago. He (TRAVEL) from Madrid Barajas to London Heathrow. He (WAIT) for his luggage at the airport and then he (TAKE)the tube to the town centre, where he hadn't previously made a reservation. When he arrived at the hotel, Paco (BE) a bit excited, so that he (LEAVE) his things there and (GO OUT) for a walk along the streets of London.

London (SEEM) an incredible city for Paco. He (OBSERVE) with attention everything and everywhere around him. But Paco was extremely tired. Now it is midnight in London. Finally, he (GO) to bed some time ago.

 

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Curiosidad

TAKE AWAY FOOD: A WIDESPREAD HABIT IN BRITAIN

Take-out (in North American English), carry-out (in U.S. and Scottish English), take-away (in England, Australia, Hong Kong and Ireland) or parcel (in Indian English), is food purchased at a restaurant but eaten elsewhere. The restaurant may or may not provide table service. In the United States and Canada, food ordered this way (especially in fast food) is ordered to go, and in the United Kingdom it is ordered to take away or sometimes to eat out, as opposed to eating in.

In some cases, there are facilities for customers to order food by telephone, fax, or over the Internet, to be collected or delivered. This trend is thought to be on the rise as many small businesses take to the Web to promote their take-outs.

Food that is delivered by a restaurant to a customer (often called delivery) is also sometimes called take-out. Establishments that sell take-out exclusively without providing table service are called take-out restaurants or take-aways.

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Certain types of food that are normally served in sit-down restaurants are commonly available as take-out. Pizza is one example: some pizzerias and chains have no tables, and supply for take-out and delivery only. Another classic take-out food is Western-styled Chinese food. In the past few decades, as immigrants from more and more Asian countries emigrate to the West, more and more types of cuisine are available: Japanese, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. In the UK, Indian food is also a popular form of take-away as well as kebabs from the Middle East.

Some businesses have taken a cue from the ever increasing popularity in takeout, and have created franchises to deliver food from restaurants which do not themselves deliver.

Adapted from Wikipedia.

Para saber más

About the Simple Past negative forms in both Spanish and English.
Exercises on Simple Past negative sentences.