Образование прошедшего времени группы Indefinite

(The Past Indefinite Tense)

Утвердительная форма Past Indefinite правильных глаголов образуется путем прибавления окончания -ed к основе глагола. Окончание –ed произносится:

а) после звонких согласных, кроме [d] , и гласных звуков – как звук [d]:

to open (открыть) opened [`ɔupənd]
to answer (отвечать) answered [`ansəd]

 

б) после глухих согласных звуков, кроме [t], как звук [t]:

to work (работать) worked [`wə:kt]
to finish (заканчивать) finished [`fınıʃt]

в) после звуков [t] и [d] как [id]:

to last (длиться) lasted [`la:stıd]
to intend (намереваться) intended [ın`tendıd]

 

При образовании соблюдаются следующие правила орфографии:

а) если глагол оканчивается на немую букву –е, то при прибавлении окончания -ed, она выпадает:

to live lived
to revise revised

 

б) глаголы, основа которых заканчивается на –у с предшествующей согласной, меняют –у на -i:

to study studied

 

но если перед –у стоит гласная, то –у сохраняется:

to stay stayed

 

в) глаголы, оканчивающиеся на согласную с предшествующим кратким гласным звуком, удваивают конечную согласную:

to stop stopped

 

Неправильные глаголы образуют Past Indefinite и Participle II (т.е. 2-ю и 3-ю формы) не путем прибавления –ed к основе глагола, а различными другими способами:

to write [`raıt] wrote [`rɔut] written [`rıtn]
to go [`gɔu] went [`went] gone [`gɔn]
to sit [`sıt] sat [`sæt] sat [`sæt]

Вопросительная форма как правильных, так и неправильных глаголов образуется при помощи вспомогательного глагола to do в прошедшем времени, т.е. did и инфинитива смыслового глагола без частицы to, причем вспомогательный глагол ставится перед подлежащим:

Did they work? Работали ли они?
Did they speak? Разговаривали ли они?

Отрицательная форма как правильных, так и неправильных глаголов, образуется при помощи вспомогательного глагола to do в прошедшем времени, т.е. did, отрицательной частицы not , которая ставится после вспомогательного глагола и инфинитива смыслового глагола без частицы to:

I did not work. Я не работал.
He did not speak. Он не говорил.

В разговорной речи часто употребляется сокращенная форма:

did not = didn’t

 

PAST INDEFINITE глагола «TO BE»

 

Утвердительная форма Вопросительная форма Отрицательная форма
I was He was She was Itwas Was I Was he Was she? Was it I was not (wasn’t) He was not (wasn’t) She was not (wasn’t) It was not (wasn’t)
We were You were They were Were we Were you ? Were they We were not (weren’t) You were not (weren’t) They were not (weren’t)

 

УПОТРЕБЛЕНИЕ PAST INDEFINITE

 

The Past Indefinite Tense употребляется для выражения:

а) повторяющегося действия или постоянного признака предмета в прошлом:

He always gave me books to read. Он всегда давал мне почитать книги.
He was a good pupil. Он был хорошим учеником.

б) цепи последовательных действий в прошлом:

I took a book, opened it and began to read. Я взял книгу, открыл ее и начал читать.

в) однократного действия в прошлом:

She took a book from the library yesterday. Вчера она взяла книгу в библиотеке.

 

В предложениях с глаголом в часто употребляются следующие обстоятельства времени:

 

yesterday вчера
the day before yesterday позавчера
last week на прошлой неделе
last month в прошлом месяце
last year в прошлом году
last night вчера вечером
last time в прошлый раз
last в последний раз
two days (months, years) ago два дня (месяца, года) тому назад
in 1995 в 1995 году

EXERCISES

 

I. Put the following verbs in the form of Past Indefinite and divide them into three columns according to the type of the pronunciation of the ending “ed”

to open, to close, to thank, to look, to live, to work, to study, to translate, to walk, to return, to stay, to last, to receive, to finish, to stop, to discuss, to ask, to revise, to repeat, to copy out.

 

II. Put the sentences into negative and interrogative forms

Model: I studied English at school. Did I study English at school? I didn’t study English at school.  

1. He opened the window before classes.

2. She translated a lot of foreign letters at the office last week.

3. I finished work at five o’clock the day before yesterday.

4. He lived in Minsk four years ago.

5. They returned home in the evening.

6. They discussed many articles from these magazines yesterday.

7. I studied French at school.

8. He was in time for the lecture yesterday.

9. She was at home yesterday evening.

10. They were at the office yesterday morning.

III. Translate the sentences into Russian

1. My friend studied at the Medical Institute three years ago.

2. This article was too difficult to translate it for two hours.

3. I had no time to copy out the text.

4. Sorry, I forgot to post your letter.

5. I didn’t know how to tell him about it.

6. Oh, dear, I didn’t water the flowers.

7. Oh, I forgot to buy the tickets.

8. He lived in Minsk then.

9. His father was a doctor.

10. She finished school in 1998 and entered the institute in 1999.

11. The famous scientist Albert Einstein left Germany in 1933 and moved to the United States. He died in 1955.

12. – Did you see the film on TV last night? – Yes, I did. – Did you like it? – Not very much.

13. – What did you do at the week-end? – I went to the cinema, then I discussed the film with my friends.

14. – What did you do last night? – I went to see my friend and we watched the TV-program.

15. – Did you take notes of the lecture yesterday? – Yes, I did. – Can I copy it? – Certainly.

 

IV. Translate the sentences from closing one of the columns

1. Они были здесь час назад. They were here an hour ago.
2. Она была там в среду. She was there on Wednesday.
3. Она дежурила вчера в поликлинике. She was on duty at the polyclinic yesterday.
4. Он был врачом в 1985 году. He was a doctor in 1985.
5. Я был в кино позавчера. I was at the cinema the day before yesterday.
6. Мы были детьми тогда. We were children then.
7. - Он вовремя пришел на лекцию вчера? – Да. - Was he in time for the lecture yesterday? – Yes.
8. - Вы были дома в понедельник утром? - Нет, я был в Институте. - Were you at home on Monday morning? - No, I was at the Institute.
9. - Вы были в Минске в прошлом месяце? – Нет. - Когда вы были там в последний раз? - В последний раз я был там год назад. - Were you in Minsk last month? - No, I wasn’t. - When were you there last?   - I last was there a year ago.
10. Его не было дома в пятницу, он был в театре. He wasn’t at home on Friday evening, he was at the theatre.
11. - Какая погода была вчера? - Вчера было холодно. - Было ветрено? - Да. - What was the weather like yesterday? - It was cold yesterday. - Was it windy? - Yes, it was.

V. Make the sentences negative

Model: I worked on Sunday. I didn’t work on Sunday.
   

1. I got up early yesterday.

2. My mother made breakfast for me.

3. I left Gomel three days ago.

4. Her husband bought a new house in June.

5. I saw her in the office two hours ago.

6. He liked his new flat.

7. The nurse took my temperature.

8. She got a certificate of health.

9. He passed his competitive entrance examinations successfully.

10. They carried on an experiment on animals last week.

VI. Ask questions to the sentences and then give short answers

Model: He came home at six. - Did he come home at six?

- Yes, he did.

- No, he didn’t.

 

1. I visited my friend in England.

2. He learned French at school.

3. She got a telegram yesterday.

4. We moved to a new flat last month.

5. The conference finished at 5 o’clock.

6. Their working day began at 9 o’clock.

7. He entered the Institute last year.

8. They attended the lectures regularly.

9. We arranged the concert.

 

VII. Finish the sentences using the Past Indefinite tense according to the model

Model: Now he lives in Gomel but a few years ago ___ he lived in Minsk.

 

1. Now he studies English but at school ___.

2. Now he often sleeps in the daytime but he ___ before.

3. Now she knows something about the life of these people but before she came to live here she ___.

4. Now I like classical music but when I was fifteen ___.

5. I am a student now but last year ___.

6. She leaves home at 8 in the morning but when she lived in the country ___.

7. He doesn’t smoke now but only a few months ago ___.

8. She seldom writes to me now but there was time when she ___.

9. We usually watch TV in the evening but last night ___.

10. This year we go to the theatre once a month but last year ___.

 

VIII. Put questions to the underlined words

1. Theyworkedat the hospital then.

2. My sister stayed at her friend’sover the week-end.

3. They lived in that houseten years ago.

4. He decided to enter the Medical Institutelast year.

5. They liked to play footballin fine weather.

6. My friend wrote an interesting articlelast month.

 

IX. Answer the questions using the Past Indefinite tense

A.

1. When did you last play volleyball (chess, football, tennis)?

2. When did you last go to the cinema (theatre, circus)?

3. Did you go to the country for the last weekend or did you stay in town?

4. When did you last see your parents?

5. When did you begin learning English?

B.

1. When did you finish a secondary school?

2. Were you eager to enter the Medical University? Why?

3. Was it difficult to enter the University?

4. What did you hand in to the University before entering it?

5. When did hand in an application for admission to the University?

6. When did you take your competitive entrance examinations?

7. What mark did you get in Chemistry (Physics, Biology, written composition) at the competitive entrance exams?

C.

1. When were you at the polyclinic last?

2. What diseases did you suffer in your childhood?

3. What diseases were you ill with last year?

4. Where did you usually go first when you came to the polyclinic?

5. What did the registering clerk on duty ask you?

6. How long did the medical examination take you?

7. What did the doctor do during the examination?

8. What did the nurse do?

9. What analysis did the doctor make?

10. How long did you keep the thermometer in your armpit?

11. What did the medical examination reveal?

12. What did your X-ray examination reveal?

 

X. Put the verbs into the Past Indefinite tense

1. Last year my friend (to be eager) to be admitted into the Medical University.

2. When my sister (to study) at school she (to be) greatly interested in Chemistry.

3. Yesterday we all (to be present) at an interesting lecture in Anatomy.

4. My brother (to be admitted) into the Medical University a year ago.

5. Last year she (to graduate) from the Medical University and (to become) a doctor.

6. Some findings of their experiments (to be) very interesting.

7. His research work (to help) him to fight against diseases.

8. Professor Smirnov (to deliver) lectures every morning last week.

9. Yesterday the students of our group (to take notes) of the lecture in Anatomy.

10. He (to graduate) from the University last year.

11. They (to pass) their examinations in January successfully.

12. All the students of our group (to take) an active part in the discussion of some findings of this experiment.

XI. Change the tense of the sentences from Present Indefinite into Past Indefinite and make all the other necessary changes

1. All the students of our group cope with their studies.

2. Our students take an active part in the University social life.

3. He arranges everything for admission to the University.

4. My fellow student goes home for his winter vacation in January.

5. I hand in an application for admission to the Medical University.

6. I usually have my dinner at our University canteen.

7. Our district doctor usually treats me for the grippe with penicillin.

8. During our practical classes we receive much knowledge of medicine.

9. We carry on interesting experiments at the University laboratories which have all the necessary equipment.

10. Education is free of change for most of the students.

XII. Put the verb given in brackets in the proper tense: Present Indefinite, Present Continuous or Past Indefinite.

A.

1. Who usually (to do) homework in this room? – The students (to do).

2. Who (to do) his homework there now? – I (not to know).

3. I (to live) near my office last year. I always (to walk) there.

4. How well your friend (to speak) English? – He (to speak) English badly.

5. What language he (to learn) now? – He (to learn) German.

6. How long your class usually (to last)? – It usually (to last) two hours.

7. How long your class (to last) on Wednesday morning? – It (to last) only an hour.

8. Who you (to discuss) this question with last night? – I (to discuss) it with my friends.

9. Who you usually (to go) home with? – I (to go) home with my friends.

10. How well he usually (to know) his lessons?

11. I (not to work) at this office three years ago.

12. You (to work) there now?

13. How long you (to stay) in Minsk last month? – I (to stay) there five days.

14. How long you (to be going) to stay in the country? – I (to be going) to stay there two weeks.

B.

1. Yesterday (to be) my day off. I usually (to wake up) early on my day off, but sometimes I (not to get up) at once. I (to get up) at eight o’clock yesterday.

2. When you (to have) breakfast yesterday? – I (to have) breakfast at nine in the morning.

3. We usually (to stay) in the country over the week-end, but the weather (to be) bad and we (not to be going) to the country tomorrow.

4. When you last (to go) to the theatre? – Two weeks ago.

5. I usually (to go) to bed at eleven o’clock. Yesterday my friends (to come) to see me, and I (to go) to bed at one o’clock.

6. She (not to be) at home now. She (to play) tennis.

7. When your son (to go) to college? – He (to go) to college last year.

C.

1. My friend (to like) playing chess. He (to spend) a lot of time on it. Yesterday he (to play) chess in the evening and only (to get) home at 9.

2. We (to spend) Sunday in the country. We (to go) there early in the morning and (to get) back to town late in the evening.

3. We (to decide) to ask our friends for dinner tomorrow. After dinner we (to be going) to Central Park.

4. What we (to have) for breakfast today? – We (to have) tea with cakes.

5. My friend (to live) in the country and he (to like) it very much. His house (to be) a long way from his office. He (to go) to town every morning. He (to be) always in time for work.

6. I (not to want) to go to the cinema tonight. My wife and I (to be going) for a walk.

7. Your friend (to play) chess well? I (to be going) to have a game of chess with him.

8. When the meeting (to finish)? – It (to finish) at four.

9. I (to get) home late yesterday evening and (to go) to bed at once.

10. He (to spend) a lot of money on books. I often (to ask) him for books to read.

XIII. Read and translate the text