Many students foreign language The problem arises with how to ask the right questions. But, in fact, it is simpler than it seems at first glance. - This simple formula past tense in English language. In this article we will look at how to construct questions in the past simple, give examples and try to figure out all the incomprehensible points.
First, let's remember the marker words that are characteristic of this grammatical tense. These are words such as yesterday, the day before yesterday, last year, last week, and so on. First, let's look at a few examples.
Examples of questions in the Past Simple:
Did you play the piano yesterday? Where did you go last week?
That is, we ask about concrete actions that were committed in the past and are not related to the present moment. This is precisely what this grammatical tense differs from other past tense forms that exist in modern English. Here we are talking about actions that took place once and have already ended, since they have nothing to do with reality. Therefore, this tense is actively used in fairy tales, stories, and essays when we talk about something that happened a long time ago.
How is the Past Simple question formed?
The past simple interrogative form is formed according to the following scheme. We take the auxiliary and semantic verb in the infinitive form (i.e. in the initial form), add if necessary question word. The assistant is placed at the beginning of the sentence, and only after it comes the semantic verb. Let's see how this happens with an example:
We have a sentence: She ate a lemon pie - she ate lemon pie.
Based this proposal Let's ask the question in the past tense. Don't forget about our interrogative assistant, which is moved to the beginning of the sentence. We get the following construction:
Did she eat a lemon pie? – did she eat lemon pie?
Both regular and irregular verbs in interrogative sentences remain in the initial tense form because the past tense marker moves to the auxiliary verb did.
Interrogative sentences and their types
Interrogative sentences in past simple There are two types – Past Simple general and Past Simple special questions. These questions are formed according to the same principle, but there are certain differences, although they are insignificant. However, these subtleties need to be known. A general question in the past simple is asked using auxiliary verb. A special question is asked using a helper and question words. Let's look at examples of past simple questions:
General issues:
Did you come home? Did you go for a walk?
Special:
Where did you go? Where did she live? The most common question words are when, where, why, how many, how much, how. We will look at questions with the word who below; this is a special case.
We looked at the basic rules for composing general and special questions in the past simple. Now let's talk about how to ask a question to the subject.
How to pose a question to the subject?
A question to a subject in English is created by using the word who, without an auxiliary verb. For example: Who played hockey? In this case, the sign of the past tense remains with semantic verb, and we don't need a helping verb. For example: Who flew to Australia last year? Who skied last winter? We take the verb in the second form, for regular verbs it ends with ed, and for irregular verbs it is in a special form (see table irregular verbs). As for the incorrect ones, it is advisable to know the most basic ones by heart, since they are used very often.
As you know, verbs in English are divided into. Since in interrogative sentences the sign of the past tense is carried by an auxiliary verb, the semantic verb will always be in the initial form, with the exception of a question to the subject, as mentioned above. Example with with the correct verb– Did you play football last week? Example with an irregular verb – Did she go to Madrid last year?
Thus, constructing interrogative sentences in the past simple is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to remember the basic rules and clearly understand the algorithm; everything else is a matter of technique and work.
Past Simple interrogative sentences How are interrogative sentences in the simple past (Past Simple or Past Indefinite)? If you are already familiar with the Past Simple tense
- found out that they exist;
- learned to define Past Simple by;
- you know in the simple past tense.
you have a question: a how to construct interrogative sentences in the past tense? Let's consider when there is a main verb in a sentence. EAT, MAKE, DO, etc., which carry meaning (semantic verb) Walk, wash, eat, do, drink, sleep, etc. If there is no verb -
There are several rules:
- We need an auxiliary verb.We know in the present tense - Present Simple- we had the verb “do”, and it remains in the past tense. But since our verbs were in the past tense form (stay ed, went) then we ending -ed We'll take it away from the verbs and give it to the auxiliary verb do. DO+ed=DID
- The auxiliary verb in a question sentence comes at the beginning of the sentence. We do not translate the auxiliary verb. Did do you buy some bread? — Did you buy bread?
- After the auxiliary verb comes the subject (Who). It is usually expressed by a pronoun (I, you, we, they, etc.) or a noun (the subject who performed the action) - brother, Anna, my friends, etc. Those. is any word that answers a question WHODid your brother go to Moscow? — Your brother went to Moscow?
- After the subject there is a semantic verb.This is a verb that shows what action the subject (person) performed in the past. He jumped, ran, drove a car, spent money, and so on. —Where did he meet his wife?- Where is he met your wife?
- The semantic verb is in the infinitive without the particle to. All endings are removed or turned into an auxiliary verb. If the verb is irregular, it will be inserted initial form of this verb. Let's take verbs say And play. (talk and play). Say is an irregular verb, and its form is Past Simple - said - spoke. Play is a regular verb and its past tense form is played. Let's construct affirmative sentences:
- He said that he was ill - He said he was sick. Interrogative sentence: What did he say? (Special question) – What did he say? - set the initial form - say
- He played football yesterday — He played football yesterday. Interrogative sentence: Did he play football yesterday? (General question) — Did he play football yesterday? Since there is “did”, then the initial form must be - play
The scheme is simple: General question: Did + who+ verb in beginning f. + everything else. +?
Did you go to the Zoo yesterday?
— Did you go to the zoo yesterday?
Special question: question word (What, Where, When, How many, How much, How, Who, Whom, Why)+did+who+verb in the beginning. f. + everything else. +? Why did your brother choose that book? — Why did your brother choose this book?
Separated question: Statement + comma+ didn’t + who? His mother gave you this book, didn’t she? — His mother gave you this book, didn’t she? (It was his mother who gave you this book, right?) Negation + comma + did+ who? You didn't invite Mary, did you? “You didn’t invite Mary, did you?”
Greetings, my dear reader.
If you don't know how to correctly ask something in English, then you're in for a big problems! Just kidding, of course. After all, this is what this blog is for, and today I want to help you understand the composition of interrogative sentences, bring comprehensive examples general questions in English and their answers. In addition, I’ll tell you about the rules.
By the way, after studying this topic, do not forget to master it practical part: And .
What is this anyway?
This is a structure that only requires an answer "Yes" or "No". Typically, such a proposal does not require an additional response. But, if desired, Additional information it is quite possible to give.
Note that the general question will look completely different in different !
Let's look at the first example:
Are you reading a book now? - Yes, I am.
Are you reading a book now? - Yes.
The structure of an interrogative sentence is usually formed as follows:
- The sentence starts with auxiliary verb (are, is,was, were, do, does, has, have, had, did, etc.)
- Then comes subject(actor).
- After which follows main verb.
- It is followed by the rest of the sentence: additions, circumstances of time, place etc.
Do you believe in aliens?- Yes, I do.
Do you believe in aliens? - Yes.
The answer always consists of the word “yes” or “no”, followed by a repetition of the subject and an auxiliary verb related to the subject.
Have you seen Laura recently? - Yes(answer), I have(auxiliary).
Have you seen Laura recently? - Yes, I saw.
How to ask about the present tense
We use general questions most often, and at any time. In grade 2, the description of current actions is most used. They usually start with do, does, is, are, has or have.
Do you have any interesting books to read?- Yes, I do. I bought several last week.
Do you have any interesting books read? - Yes, I have. OnlastweekIboughtsome.
Does she go to this school? - No, she doesn’t.
Does she go to this school? - No.
Are are you free tomorrow morning? - No, I am not. I am going to visit my doctor.
Are you free tomorrow morning? - No, I'm not free. I'm going to see my doctor.
Is he going to college this year? - Yes, he is.
Is he going to college this year? - Yes, he's going to.
Have you visited the exhibition already? - No, I haven’t. But I am going to do it next week.
Have you already been to the exhibition? - No. I was not. But I'm going to go next week.
Has he done the task yet? - No, he hasn’t. It wasn't very simple.
Has he already completed the task? - No, I didn’t. It wasn't very simple.
How to ask about the past tense
In grades 3 and 4, students begin to use descriptions of the past. The questions usually start with did, was,were or had .
Did you do what I asked you to?- Yes, I did. I called them as soon as you asked me to.
Did you do what I asked? - Yes I did. I called them as soon as you asked.
Was she at home when you called? -No, she wasn’t. She went out with her sister.
Was she at home when you called? - No, she wasn't there. She went for a walk with her sister.
Were are they on holiday in July? - Yes, they were. They went for holiday to Spain.
Were they on vacation in July? - Yes. They went on holiday to Spain.
Had you taken the key, before you set off to school? - No, I hadn’t. I remembered, that I had forgotten them.
Did you pick up your keys before heading to school? - No, I didn’t take it. I remembered that I had forgotten them.
How to ask about the future tense
But in 5th grade you can somehow cope with the future. Therefore, in the future tense, all questions begin mainly with will .
Will you meet me at the station on Friday?- Yes, I will. I will be there on time.
Will you meet me at the station on Friday? - Yes, I’ll meet you. I'll be there on time.
Sometimes a question may not begin with an auxiliary verb at all, but, for example, with modal verb can, could, may etc.
—Could you pass me salt and pepper, please?
- Could you pass me the salt and pepper, please?
Well, are you now confident in your knowledge? Forming questions in English is the basis that you will need in your further study of the language. And I am ready to help you with this. Subscribe to my blog newsletter and regularly update your knowledge with useful information.
Until we meet again, my dears.
Past Simple (Past Indefinite) is formed by converting the semantic verb into the past tense form. If the action is expressed by a regular verb, then the ending -ed is added to its first form. If an irregular verb is used, then the second form of the irregular verb from the table of irregular verbs is used. If the desired verb it’s not there – that means it’s correct and you can add an ending to it -ed. The past tense form of the verb is the same for all persons singular and plural(except for the verb to be).
- She worked abroad– She worked abroad.
- My uncle lived here.- My uncle lived here.
- Harry wrote a lot of books.– Harry wrote many books.
- She was angry yesterday.– Yesterday she was angry.
- We were young and reckless.– We were young and careless.
Was– used when the subject is expressed by a noun or pronoun in singular (I, he, she, it).
Were– when talking about many people or things ( we, they) or with a pronoun you(you, you, polite you).
- Ann was cleaning the house while Mark was washing their car.– Ann was cleaning the house when Mark was washing their car.
- Kate was drawing and Paul was doing his hometask.- Kate was drawing, and Paul was doing his homework.
Time markers
Past Simple used if the question “ when did it happen?"You can give a clear but not precise time answer. If the moment in time when the action took place is not known, then this is the time of the Perfect group. If the exact, specific moment at which the action was performed is known, then this is Past Continuous.
- yesterday - yesterday
- the day before yesterday - the day before yesterday
- just now - just now
- the other day – the other day
- last week - last week
- last month - last month
- last year - last year
- last decade - in the last decade
- last century - in the last century
- an hour ago - an hour ago
- three hours ago – three hours ago
- two weeks ago – two weeks ago
- in 1992 – in 1992
- at 6 o"clock - at 6 o'clock
Greetings, my dear readers.
Many of my students at the very beginning of their studies hate learning tenses with a fierce hatred. And all because at school we are not taught structured rules, we are not given sufficient quantity exercises for training.
But to prevent this from happening to you, I want to devote this lesson to a very important topic: rules and Past examples Simple! Today we will have a detailed explanation, how to form and how to use Time Past Simple is correct.
Let `s start!
Icons used in this article:
V (Verb) — English verb in the first form
V2 (Verb2)- English verb in the second form
How is the past simple formed?
For affirmative proposals this time is formed as follows:
Subject + V2.
In the picture above you can see examples of such sentences. Let's look at some more examples:
I decided to go.- I decided to go.
She moved to Moscow in 1995.- She moved to Moscow in 1995.
They looked at me!- They looked at me!
But be careful! If you remember, there is , and in the Past Simple tense, the words from this table will use the form from the second column.
For example:
I went to the bank yesterday.(the verb to go goes into the second form - went). - I went to the bank yesterday.
Lily broke my vase last week!— Lily broke my vase last week!
The forms of the verb to be deserve special attention in this tense: in the past tense they turn into was (for he, she, it) and were (for you, we, they).
I was at the library last weekend.- I was in the library last week.
We were happy together!- We were happy together!
To form negative sentence, you will have to follow the following scheme:
Subject + did not + V
I didn't do it.- I did not do it.
I didn't see her.-I haven't seen her.
She didn't say her name.- She didn't say her name.
This will be especially relevant for 4th grade students, because they are usually just starting to study this topic and practice will be extremely necessary for them.
And if you want to be the first to receive all the most delicious and useful information, then subscribe to my blog newsletter and constantly develop your English. Remember that it is better to devote 5 minutes a day to the language than an hour or two but once a week.
