A Negative Sentences
Use did not or didn't to say that something did not happen in the past. When you use didn't, the main verb always stays in its base form. Do not use the past tense form of the main verb after didn't.
- I didn't finish my homework last night.
- She didn't go to school yesterday.
- They didn't watch the movie.
- We didn't visit our grandparents last weekend.
- He didn't buy a new phone.
Tip:
After didn't, always use the
base form of the verb.
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She didn't eat breakfast.
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They didn't arrive on time.
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She didn't ate breakfast.
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They didn't arrived on time.
B Yes/No Questions & Short Answers
To ask a yes/no question in the past simple, place Did before the subject. After the subject, use the base form of the main verb. Use did or didn't in the short answer.
Yes, subject + did.
No, subject + didn't.
-
Did you finish your homework?
Yes, I did. -
Did she call you yesterday?
No, she didn't. -
Did they visit the museum?
Yes, they did. -
Did he buy a new laptop?
No, he didn't. -
Did we have class yesterday?
Yes, we did.
Tip:
When asking questions with Did, always use the
base form of the verb.
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Did she finish her project?
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Did they arrive on time?
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Did she finished her project?
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Did they arrived on time?
C Wh- Questions
Use Wh- questions to ask for specific information about actions and events in the past. Common question words include what, where, when, why, who, and how. Usually, after the question word, use did, followed by the subject and the base form of the main verb.
-
Where did you go last weekend?
I went to Banff. -
When did she finish her project?
She finished it yesterday. -
Why did they leave early?
Because they had another meeting. -
How did he solve the problem?
He asked his teacher for help. -
Who did you meet at the conference?
I met several engineers.
Tip:
After did, always use the
base form of the main verb.
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Where did she go yesterday?
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Why did they leave early?
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Where did she went yesterday?
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Why did they left early?
D Time Expressions in Negatives & Questions
The past simple is often used with time expressions that show when something happened or did not happen. These expressions can also be used in questions to ask about a finished time in the past.
| Time Expression | Negative / Question Example |
|---|---|
| yesterday | She didn't work yesterday. |
| last week / last month / last year | Did you travel anywhere last year? |
| ... ago | They didn't live here two years ago. |
| in + year | Did she graduate in 2023? |
| this morning / this afternoon* | Did you call the doctor this morning? |
*Use the past simple when the time period has already finished.
Tip:
A finished time expression helps show that the
negative statement or question refers to the past.
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We didn't watch a movie last night.
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Did she graduate in 2022?
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We didn't watched a movie last night.
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Did she graduated in 2022?
E Key Points to Remember
Remember these key ideas:
- Use did not or didn't to make past simple negative sentences.
- Use did to make past simple questions.
- After did or didn't, always use the base form of the main verb.
- Do not use an -ed form after did or didn't.
- Do not use an irregular past form such as went, ate, or bought after did or didn't.
- Begin yes/no questions with Did.
- For most Wh- questions, put the question word before did.
- Use time expressions such as yesterday, last week, two days ago, and in 2023 to show a finished time in the past.
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She didn't visit her grandparents yesterday.
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They didn't finish the project on time.
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Did you call your friend?
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Where did he buy the laptop?
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When did they arrive?
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She didn't visited her grandparents yesterday.
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They didn't finished the project on time.
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Did you called your friend?
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Where did he bought the laptop?
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When did they arrived?