I did not cook. Did you cook?

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Forming Questions and Negative Sentences in Simple Past Tense

Intermediate

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to ask questions and form negative statements about the past.

Exercise 1

Sentence Practice

Negative sentences

I did not walk to school.
He did not write an email.
You did not dance last night.
They didn’t sleep well.
She didn’t cook lunch.

Questions (interrogative sentences)

Did you walk to school?
Did he write an email?
Did you dance last night?
Did they sleep well?
Did she cook lunch?

Grammar Focus

Past tense negatives

To negate a verb in present tense, we put 'do(es) not' before the verb: I cook. → I do not cook.

To negate a verb in past tense, we put the past tense of 'do not' before the verb: did not + verb.

I did not (didn't) go to work yesterday.
It did not (didn't) rain last month.
We did not (didn't) buy anything last week.

Past tense questions

To form yes-no questions in present tense, we put 'do' before the sentence: You cook. → Do you cook?

To form yes-no questions in past tense, put the past tense of 'do' before the present tense sentence: did + present tense sentence? Raise your intonation at the end of the sentence.

Did you see me?
Did we forget something?

For he/she/it, keep the main verb in its basic (without -s) form:

Did he goes to work yesterday?
Did he go to work yesterday?

Exercise 2

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogues aloud with your tutor.

	Grace Did you enjoy the concert?
	James No, I didn't.

	Zach Did they sleep well last night?
	Sarah No, they didn't.

	Pharmacist Did he see the doctor today?
	Mom No, he didn't.

	Nina Did she like the movie?
	Hannah No, she didn't.

	Teacher Did she read a book yesterday?
	Saya No, she didn't.

Exercise 3

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the negative past tense form of the verb.

We (play) together when we were kids.

I (wait) for him.

They (go) to Japan last year.

My uncle (come) to our house often.

The baby (cry) last night.

She (drink) beer today.

We (take) a taxi home yesterday.

Exercise 4

Sentence Building

Change the following sentences into past tense questions ("Did...?"). The first one is done for you.

Example

The people are jumping. → Did the people jump?