Past tense

Sophie has just returned home from what turned out to be a nightmare work trip up north.

Sophie: I'm so happy to be home!

Dan: I guess... Tell us what happened.

Sophie: Well, on Thursday afternoon I saw the weather forecast on TV at the hotel and they said there was a big storm coming.

Dan: Yes, we were talking then.

Sophie: Right. So I immediately took a taxi to the airport. I wanted to leave before the storm hit.

Ana: Good idea. Did you get to the airport well?

Sophie: Yes, I came, but hundreds of other people had the same idea. The storm came faster than anyone expected, so there were no flights! The road to the airport was completely flooded, so no one could return to the city. We're stuck at the airport!

Dan: Did you think it would last this long?

Sophie: Not at all. We all thought that one night...maybe two...

Ana: Did you have enough food?

Sophie: I bought some food on the first day, but on the third day it wasn't very good. For my birthday, I had a bag of chips and a two-day-old sandwich for lunch.

Dan: Poor mom.

Ana: What about airport ladies' rooms? Were you able to take a shower?

Sophie: No! The water pipes froze, so there was no water after the first day. It was unpleasant!

Dan: This is disgusting!

Sophie: Don't worry. I'm clean now!

Ana: So what did you do all day at the airport?

Sophie: I met very nice people! We talked, read, played board games. When they found out it was my birthday, one of them gave me his last chocolate bar!

Ana: Oh, nice!

Sophie: It was a strange feeling to be without an Internet connection, without a telephone line. It was terrible that I couldn't call you two! We are all so used to being constantly connected. It was complicated. I know you think I'm on vacation when I'm working, but it's not always easy, you know!

Dan and Ana: Happy birthday mom!

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The most important verbs are old and irregular and need to be memorized.

There are also many simple everyday verbs that explain reality in the past, as in the examples.

I took a taxi to the airport.

Then we talked (we talk → we talked)

One person gave me his last chocolate bar. (he gives → he gave)

I understand what you mean. I did, you did, he did, she did, he did, we did, they did!

Right! And all the negatives are formed as "I did not." The patterns are very similar: we didn't, you didn't, they didn't, she didn't.

What did you do all day at the airport?

Did you have enough food?

We didn't think you'd be home in time for your birthday.

Okay, you're right, it's not that bad.

Past forms of "I was", "he was", "she was", "it was", "you were", "we were", and "they were".

It was terrible that I couldn't call you two!

There was no food. I was so hungry!

We are stuck at the airport.

Present - past

I- I was

He starts - he started

he brings - he brought

He builds - he built

they buy - they bought

we catch - we caught

I choose - I chose

we go - we went

stand - stood

He cuts - he cut

I do it - I did it

I win - I won

I write - I wrote

I wear - I wore

you draw - you drew

I drink - I drank

I ride - I rode

I eat - I ate

I fall - I fell

I feel - I felt

I fight - I fought

I find - I found