The Past Indefinite is used to denote:

1. Complete actions or events which happened at a definite moment in the past: She called me an hour ago.

2. repeated actions in the past: He used to go/went to school on foot.

3. past actions which happened one after the other: She sealed the letter, put a stamp on it and posted it.

4. actions which happened at a definite past time although the time is not mentioned. This action is not connected with the present: Shakespeare wrote a lot of plays.

The following time expressions can be used with the Past Indefinite: yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week, (how long) ago, then, the other day, just now, when, in 1999, etc.

Exercises

1. Explain the use of the Past Indefinite forms. Translate into Russian. Start like this:

Model: I met him in the morning. (The verb to meet is used in its Past Indefinite Tense form to denote an action which happened at a definite moment in the past.)

1. I saw your brother in the library yesterday.

2. I invited Margaret to the party.

3. Some days ago my mother fell down and broke her arm.

4. We often wrote tests at our English lessons at school.

5. We sent the telegram on Tuesday.

6. I told Peter the news yesterday.

7. I got on the 6 o’clock train and got to the office on time.

8. I met a lot of people at the party.

9. John brought his tape-recorder to the party.

10. He ate and drank too much.

11. I heard a very sweet melody yesterday.

12. I read an interesting article this morning.

2. Put the verbs in the following sentences into the Past Indefinite tense form

(A)

1. I go to work by bus.

2. I meet her on Tuesdays.

3. He always wears black.

4. I make cakes every week.

5. She gets up at 6.30.

6. He understands me.

7. He shuts the shop at 6.

8. She speaks slowly.

9. He leaves the house at 9.

10. I read a chapter every night.

11. You eat too much.

12. I see him every day.

(B)

1. Tom sings in the choir.

2. Who knows the answer?

3. I think I know it.

4. He takes the dog out twice a day.

5. I dream every night.

6. He often feels ill.

7. I know what he wants.

8. I usually pay him 5$.

9. His dog often bites me.

10. It smells odd.

11. It costs 30$.

12. My back hurts.

3. Transform into negative and interrogative forms.

(A)

1. She saw your brother.

2. We heard a terrible noise.

3. He slept till 10.00.

4. He looked at the picture.

5. They drank all the wine.

6. They set out early enough.

7. She thought about it.

8. The police caught the thief.

9. He hid the letter.

10. She found her watch.

11. His nose bled.

12. My mother chose this hotel.

13. She lent you enough money.

14. Keiko taught Japanese.

15. Tom hurt his foot.

(B)

1. He broke his arm.

2. His wife came at 8.00.

3. He lost his wallet.

4. His son wrote a novel.

5. They flew to New York.

6. Ann drew you a map.

7. Tom laid the table.

8. Mr Pitt fell downstairs.

9. She lost her way.

10. He forbade her to leave.

11. I sent it to the laundry.

12. Jack kept the money.

13. He rode slowly.

14. They spent it all.

15. She sold the car.