Lesson 2: Past Simple (Questions & Negatives)

Welcome back! To ask questions about the past or to say you didn't do something, we use the helping verb "Did."

Today, we will learn how to form questions and negative statements in the Past Simple tense. We will also correct a very common translation mistake that many English learners make when using this tense.

Welcome back! When we want to ask someone about a past trip or say what we didn't do over the weekend, we use the Past Simple. Asking questions and saying "no" in the past can be tricky because we have to use the helper word "did". Let's master this so you can have great conversations about past adventures.

warning Common Mistake

Many learners try to put the main verb in the past tense when asking a question (like "Did you went?"). In English, when you use "Did" (for a question) or "Didn't" (for negative), the main action verb must go back to its base, normal form. Say "Did you go?" and "I didn't go."

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Key Action Verbs & Structures

Base Verb

Travel

To go from one place to another, usually over a long distance.

Question: Did you travel to the city by bus?

Negative: No, I didn't travel by bus. I took a taxi.

Base Verb

Visit

To go to see a person or a place of interest.

Question: Did Lisa visit the museum?

Negative: She didn't visit the museum today because it was closed.

Base Verb

Eat

To put food in your mouth, chew it, and swallow it.

Question: Did the guests eat the local food?

Negative: They didn't eat it because it was too spicy.

Base Verb

Buy

To get something by paying money for it.

Question: Did he buy a souvenir at the market?

Negative: He looked around, but he didn't buy anything.

Base Verb

See

To notice or perceive something with your eyes.

Question: Did we see the dolphins on the boat tour?

Negative: Sadly, we didn't see them yesterday.

Base Verb

Enjoy

To take pleasure in an activity or experience.

Question: Did you enjoy the performance?

Negative: I didn't enjoy the seating, but the dancing was beautiful.

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Knowledge Check

hotel_class Hotel Receptionist

A guest is checking out in the morning. How do you politely ask about their sleep?

(Hint: After "Did," the verb must be in its base form.)

map The Apologetic Tour Guide

Your tour group arrived too late and missed the sunset. How do you say this correctly?

(Hint: After "didn't," use the base form of the verb.)

psychology Grammar Check

Fill in the blank: "_____ she buy a ticket to the museum?"

(Hint: We are asking a question about a completed action in the past.)

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Lesson Complete!

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Study Resources

Lesson Summary & Review

Let's review the key concepts covered in the interactive module above to ensure you are ready to talk about the past accurately.

Using "Did" for Questions

To ask a question in the Past Simple tense, we use the helper verb Did at the beginning of the sentence. The formula is:

Did + Subject + Base Verb + Object?

• Did you visit the museum?
• Did they eat dinner?

Using "Didn't" for Negatives

To say that an action did NOT happen in the past, use didn't (did not) before the main verb. The formula is:

Subject + didn't + Base Verb + Object.

• I didn't travel yesterday.
• He didn't buy the shirt.

The Golden Rule

Whenever you use did or didn't, the main verb MUST remain in its base form. You never put the main verb in the past tense if "did" is already in the sentence.