Grammar Basics: Unit 12 – The Simple Past Tense Negation, Question Form

To form the negation of simple past, use

did not + V (infinitive form)

“did not” is often contracted to “didn’t”.

Examples:

John washed the car.
==> John did not (didn’t) wash the car.

We walked to school every day.
==> We did not (didn’t) walk to school every day.

Everyone laughed at the clown.
==> Everyone did not (didn’t) laugh at the clown.

The beautician combed her client’s long hair.
==> The beautician did not (didn’t) comb her client’s long hair.

He printed a receipt for me.
==> He did not (didn’t) print a receipt for me.

To form questions with simple past, use

Did S + V (infinitive form)…?

Examples:

John washed the car.
==> Did John wash the car?

We walked to school every day.
==> Did we walk to school every day?

Everyone laughed at the clown.
==> Did everyone laugh at the clown?

The beautician combed her client’s long hair.
==> Did the beautician comb her client’s long hair?

He printed a receipt for me.
==> Did he print a receipt for me?

It is also possible to put the negative form into question form:

Did not (Didn’t) S + V (infinitive form)…?

Examples:

John washed the car.
==> Didn’t John wash the car?

We walked to school every day.
==> Didn’t we walk to school every day?

Everyone laughed at the clown.
==> Didn’t everyone laugh at the clown?

The beautician combed her client’s long hair.
==> Didn’t the beautician comb her client’s long hair?

He printed a receipt for me.
==> Didn’t he print a receipt for me?

Note:

Usually this form (negative simple past question) is used when the person asking the question expects that the action was done. Thus, this form is expecting confirmation: Yes, S did….

Exercises: First, convert all sentences to negative form. Then, convert them to question form. Finally, convert them to negative question form.

Example:

It snowed all day. ==>

It didn’t snow all day.
Did it snow all day?
Didn’t it snow all day?

1. We watched TV for an hour.

2. The cat sat on my lap.

3. She baked a cake for Mary’s birthday.

4. I bought a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks.

5. Lisa wrote a nice thank-you note to her aunt.

6. We flew from Chicago to Seoul.

7. He took several pictures of the Grand Canyon.

8. She changed the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash.

9. The mechanic repaired the car last week.

10. At the campout, we cooked hot dogs for supper.

11. It rained yesterday and ruined our picnic.

12. The teacher graded our tests and handed them back to us.

13. Tom impatiently tapped his foot.

14. Sam watered the plants every morning.

15. We relaxed and listened to music after dinner.

16. Kathleen lied to her mother, and got into trouble.

17. They went to a movie last weekend.

18. I finished reading a good book yesterday.

19. My pencil lead broke, so I sharpened it again.

20. He came late for breakfast.