Unit

Unit Exercises 5
5 Past simple (I did) 5.1 Read what Laura says about a typical working day:
I usually get up at 7 o’clock and have a big breakfast. I walk to work, which
A Study this example: takes me about half an hour. I start work at 8.45. I never have lunch. I finish
work at 5 o’clock. I’m always tired when I get home. I usually cook a meal
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian
in the evening. I don’t usually go out. I go to bed at about 11 o’clock, and I
musician and composer. He lived from 1756 to always sleep well.
1791. He started composing at the age of five
and wrote more than 600 pieces of music. LAURA
He was only 35 years old when he died.
lived/started/wrote/was/died are all past simple Yesterday was a typical working day for Laura. Write what she did or didn’t do yesterday.
1 She got up at 7 o’clock.  7 she finished work at 5 o’clock.
2 She had a big breakfast.  8 she was tired when she got home.
3 She walked to work .  9 she cooked a meal yesterday evening.
4 It took her half an hour to get to work. 10 she didn’t go out yesterday evening.
B Very often the past simple ends in -ed (regular verbs): 5 She started work at 8.45. 11 she went to bed at 11 o’clock.
I work in a travel agency now. Before that I worked in a department store. 6 she didn’t have lunch. 12 she slept well last night.
They invited us to their party, but we decided not to go.
The police stopped me on my way home last night. 5.2 Complete the sentences using the following verbs in the correct form:
Laura passed her exam because she studied very hard. buy catch cost fall hurt sell spend teach throw write
For spelling (stopped, studied etc.), see Appendix 6. 1 Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
But many verbs are irregular. The past simple does not end in -ed. For example: 2 ‘How did you learn to drive?’ ‘My father taught me.’
write → wrote Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music. 3 We couldn’t afford to keep our car, so we sold it.
see → saw We saw Alice in town a few days ago. 4 Dave fell down the stairs this morning and hurt his leg.
go → went I went to the cinema three times last week. 5 Joe threw the ball to Sue, who caught it.
shut → shut It was cold, so I shut the window. 6 Kate spent a lot of money yesterday. She bought a dress which
For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1. cost £100.

5.3 You ask James about his holiday in the US. Write your questions.
C In questions and negative sentences we use did/didn’t + infinitive (enjoy/see/go etc.): 1 YOU: Where did you go ?
I enjoyed you enjoy? I enjoy JAMES: To the US. We went on a trip from San Francisco to Denver.
she saw did she see? she didn’t see 2 YOU: How ? By car?
they went they go? they go JAMES: Yes, we hired a car in San Francisco.
3 YOU: It’s a long way to drive. How long ?
I enjoyed the party a lot. Did you enjoy it?
How many people did they invite to the wedding? JAMES: Two weeks. We stopped at a lot of places along the way.
I didn’t buy anything because I didn’t have any money. 4 YOU: Where ? In hotels?
‘Did you go out?’ ‘No, I didn’t.’ JAMES: Yes, small hotels or motels.
5 YOU: good?
Sometimes do is the main verb in the sentence (did you do?, I didn’t do):
JAMES: Yes, but it was very hot – sometimes too hot.
What did you do at the weekend? (not What did you at the weekend?)
I didn’t do anything. (not I didn’t anything) 6 YOU: the Grand Canyon?
JAMES: Of course. It was wonderful.

D The past of be (am/is/are) is was/were: 5.4 Complete the sentences. Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.
I/he/she/it was/wasn’t was I/he/she/it? 1 It was warm, so I took off my coat. (take)
we/you/they were/weren’t were we/you/they? 2 The film wasn’t very good. I didn’t enjoy it much. (enjoy)
3 I knew Sarah was busy, so I her. (disturb)
I was annoyed because they were late. 4 We were very tired, so we the party early. (leave)
Was the weather good when you were on holiday? 5 It was hard carrying the bags. They really heavy. (be)
They weren’t able to come because they were so busy.
6 The bed was very uncomfortable. I well. (sleep)
I wasn’t hungry, so I didn’t eat anything.
Did you go out last night or were you too tired? 7 This watch wasn’t expensive. It much. (cost)
8 The window was open and a bird into the room. (fly)
9 I was in a hurry, so I time to call you. (have)
10 I didn’t like the hotel. The room very clean. (be)

10 Past simple and past continuous ➜ Unit 6 Past simple and present perfect ➜ Units 12–14 11
 Unit
Unit Exercises 6
6 Past continuous (I was doing) 6.1 Complete the sentences. Choose from:
was looking was wearing wasn’t listening weren’t looking
A Study this example situation:
was snowing was working were sitting were you going
Yesterday Karen and Joe played tennis. They started at 1 Today Helen is wearing a skirt. Yesterday she was wearing trousers.
‘What did he say?’ ‘I don’t know. I wasn’t listening
10 o’clock and finished at 11.30.
2 .’
So, at 10.30 they were playing tennis.
3 We were sitting at the back of the theatre. We couldn’t hear very well.
they were playing = 4 This time last year Steve was working on a farm.
they were in the middle of playing, they had not finished
5 They didn’t see me. They weren’t looking in my direction.
was/were + -ing is the past continuous: 6 The weather was bad. It was very cold and it was snowing .
he/she/it was playing 7 I saw you in your car. Where were you going ?
doing 8 I saw Kate a few minutes ago. She was looking for you.
we/you/they were working etc. 6.2 Which goes with which?

1 When I got to the cafe a when she was living in Rome. 1 f

I was doing something = I was in the middle of doing it at a certain time. The action or situation started 2 We fell asleep b she was working in a clothes shop. 2
B
before this time, but had not finished: 3 Amy learnt Italian c when I was driving home. 3
4 Tom didn’t come out with us d but nobody was watching it. 4
I started doing I was doing I finished doing 5 The car began to make a strange noise e while we were watching a film. 5
6 The TV was on f my friends were waiting for me. 6
past past now 7 When I first met Jessica g because he wasn’t feeling well. 7
This time last year I was living in Hong Kong.
6.3 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
What were you doing at 10 o’clock last night?
I waved to Helen, but she wasn’t looking. 1 2

C Compare I was doing (past continuous) and I did (past simple):

I was doing (= in the middle of an action) I did (= complete action) SUE
We were walking home when I met We walked home after the party last I saw (see) Sue in town yesterday, but I (cycle) home yesterday
Dan. (in the middle of walking home) night. (= all the way, completely) she  (not/see) me. when a man (step) out into the
Kate was watching TV when we Kate watched TV a lot when she was ill She (look) the other way. road in front of me.
arrived. last year. I (go) quite fast, but luckily
I (manage) to stop in time,
and I (not/hit) him.
D You can say that something happened (past simple) in the middle of something else (past continuous):
Matt phoned while we were having dinner. 6.4 Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.
It was raining when I got up. 1 Jenny was waiting (wait) for me when I arrived (arrive).
I saw you in the park yesterday. You were sitting on the grass and reading a book.
2 ‘What (you / do) at this time yesterday?’ ‘I was asleep.’
I hurt my back while I was working in the garden.
3 ‘ (you / go) out last night?’ ‘No, I was too tired.’
But we use the past simple to say that one thing happened after another: 4 How fast (you / drive) when the accident (happen)?
I was walking along the road when I saw Dan. So I stopped, and we talked for a while. 5 Sam (take) a picture of me while I (not / look).
Compare: 6 We were in a very difficult position. We (not / know) what to do, so we
(do) nothing.
When Karen arrived, we were having When Karen arrived, we had dinner.
7 I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last (see) him, he
dinner. (= we had already started before (= Karen arrived, and then we had
she arrived) dinner) (try) to find a job.
8 I (walk) along the street when suddenly I (hear)
something behind me. Somebody (follow) me. I was scared and I
E Some verbs (for example, know and want) are not normally used in continuous forms (is + -ing, (start) to run.
was + -ing etc.). See Unit 4A for a list of these verbs. 9 When I was young, I (want) to be a pilot. Later I
We were good friends. We knew each other well. (not we were knowing) (change) my mind.
I was enjoying the party, but Chris wanted to go home. (not was wanting)
10 Last night I (drop) a plate when I (do) the washing up.
Fortunately it (not / break).
12 Past simple (I did) ➜ Unit 5 ➜ Additional exercise 1 (page 302) 13
 Unit
Unit Exercises 18
18 used to (do) 18.1 Complete the sentences with used to + a suitable verb.
1 Nicola used to travel a lot, but she doesn’t go away much these days.
A Study this example situation: 2 Sophie a motorbike, but last year she sold it and bought a car.
3 Our friends moved to Spain a few years ago. They in Paris.
a few years ago Nicola doesn’t travel much these days. 4 Jackie my best friend, but we aren’t friends any more.
She prefers to stay at home. 5 I rarely eat ice cream now, but I it when I was a child.
But she used to travel a lot. 6 It only takes me about 40 minutes to get to work now that the new road is open.
She used to go away two or three times a year. It more than an hour.
She used to travel a lot = she travelled often in the past, but 7 There a hotel near the airport, but it closed a long time ago.
she doesn’t do this any more. 8 I in a factory. It wasn’t my favourite job.

18.2 Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.

did
she used to travel she doesn’t 1 Lisa used to have very long hair when she was a child.
didn’t
travel 2 We to watch TV a lot, but we don’t have a TV any more.
to
these days past now 3 Lisa works in a shop now. She a receptionist in a hotel.
use
4 What games you use to play when you were a child?
used
5 I like big cities, but now I prefer the countryside.
used to
I used to do something = I did it often in the past, but not any more: 6 In your last job, how many hours a day did you to work?
B used to be
I used to play tennis a lot, but I don’t play very much now. 7 I don’t travel very much these days, but I used .
used to have
David used to spend a lot of money on clothes. These days he can’t afford it. 8 I used to to run ten kilometres, but I can’t run that far now.
be able
‘Do you go to the cinema much?’ ‘Not now, but I used to.’ (= I used to go) 9 These days I eat more than before. I use to eat as much.
We also use used to … for things that were true, but are not true any more: 18.3 Compare what Karen said ten years ago and what she says today:
This building is now a furniture shop. It used to be a cinema. I haven’t played
I used to think Mark was unfriendly, but now I realise he’s a very nice person. TEN YEARS AGO I play the TODAY the piano for a
I’ve started drinking coffee recently. I never used to like it before. piano. long time.
Lisa used to have very long hair when she was a child. I eat lots of
I travel a lot. cheese now.
I don’t go away
C ‘I used to do something’ is past. There is no present. You cannot say ‘I use to do’. I never much these
To talk about the present, we use the present simple (I do). I’m very My dog died days.
drink tea. two years ago.
lazy.
Compare:
I work very Tea’s great!
past he used to play we used to live there used to be I don’t like
hard these days. I like it now.
cheese. I have a dog.
present he plays we live there is
Now write about how Karen has changed. Use used to / didn’t use to / never used to in the
We used to live in a small village, but now we live in a city. first part of your sentence.
There used to be four cinemas in the town. Now there is only one.
1 She used to travel a lot, but she doesn’t go away much these days.
2 She used but
D The normal question form is did (you) use to … ? : 3 but
Did you use to eat a lot of sweets when you were a child? (= did you do this often?)
4 but
The negative form is didn’t use to … (used not to … is also possible): 5 but
I didn’t use to like him. (or I used not to like him.) 6 but

Compare I used to do and I was doing: 18.4 Write sentences about yourself. Begin I used to … (I used to be/work/like/play etc.)
E
I used to watch TV a lot. (= I watched TV often in the past, but I don’t do this any more) 1 I used to live in a small village, but now I live in a city.
I was watching TV when Rob called. (= I was in the middle of watching TV) 2 I used to play tennis a lot, but I don’t play any more.
3 I used , but
F Do not confuse I used to do and I am used to doing (see Unit 61). The structures and meanings 4 I
are different: 5
I used to live alone. (= I lived alone in the past, but I no longer live alone.)
Now begin with I didn’t use to … .
I am used to living alone. (= I live alone, and it’s not a problem for me because I’ve lived
alone for some time.) 6 I didn’t use to read a lot, but I do now.
7 I didn’t
8
Past continuous (I was doing) ➜ Unit 6 would (= used to) ➜ Unit 36
36 be/get used to (doing something) ➜ Unit 61 ➜ Additional exercise 9 (page 307) 37