Question 1
A: _____ you finish the book yesterday?
B: No, _____.
In past questions, we use did + verb: Did you finish…? A short answer uses did too: No, I didn't.
Question 2
Yesterday we _____ our primary teacher, Mrs Brown. _____ pleased to see us.
Yesterday tells us it is the past, so we use visited. Mrs Brown is one woman, so we say She was.
Question 3
A: When _____ from university?
B: Last month.
In past questions we use did + the base verb: did you graduate. Not graduated, because after did the verb has no -ed.
Question 4
A: Why _____ Mrs Blue end the lesson early?
B: Because she _____ ill.
End is a normal verb, so the question uses did. She ended the lesson early because she was ill.
Question 5
Today _____ our wedding anniversary. We _____ ten years ago.
Today is now, so we use is. Ten years ago is the past, so we use married.
Question 6
We are sorry for being late. There _____ an accident so the roads _____ closed. We _____ for three hours.
An accident is one thing, so was. The roads are many, so were. It is the past, so waited.
Question 7
Alexander Fleming _____ penicillin in 1928.
In 1928 is the past, so we add -ed: discovered. We discover something that is already in nature, like penicillin; we invent a new machine. Not invented, because Fleming found penicillin; he did not make it.
Question 8
Last night Tim _____ the piano at the party. Everybody _____ it a lot.
Last night is the past, so both verbs end in -ed: played and liked.
Question 9
A: What _____ to do at the weekend?
B: They decided to have a barbecue party.
Past questions use did + the base verb: did your parents decide. Not decided, because after did there is no -ed.
Question 10
My uncle is a firefighter. Last night he _____ a little girl from the huge fire.
Last night is the past, and he did the action himself, so we say rescued. Not was rescued, because he saved the girl; nobody saved him.
Question 11
It _____ yesterday but it _____ heavily.
But shows two different ideas: there was no rain (didn't rain), but there was snow (snowed).
Question 12
Last weekend we _____ to Ankara by train but the train _____ late. It _____ after two hours.
Last weekend is the past: travelled, was (one train), departed. In British English travel doubles the l: travelled.
Question 13
Who _____ for you in front of the door last night?
When Who asks about the person who did the action, we don't use did: Who waited for you? Not did wait, because who is the person doing it.
Question 14
Last summer, we were on holiday in Spain and we _____ in a luxurious hotel.
On holiday we stay in a hotel for a short time. Not lived, because we live in our home for a long time.
Question 15
Frank _____ Sarah into the swimming pool. He _____ a lot but Sarah _____ to shout 'HELP'.
The story is in the past, so all three verbs end in -ed: pushed, laughed, started.
Question 16
Uncle John _____ me with my homework last Friday.
We say help someone with something: He helped me with my homework. Last Friday is the past, so helped.
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