Past simple – Cambridge Satchel Company (A2-B1/a135)

Objectives

Learn how to form and use the past simple tense

  1. Listen to a short history of the Cambridge Satchel Company. Note some of the information.
  2. Read the script and listen again. Notice how the past simple is used and regular verbs pronounced.
  3. Review key points for forming the past simple and key expressions using regular and irregular verbs.
  4. Listen to and then repeat the key expressions.
  5. Test your understanding by doing the quiz.

Script

In 2008, Julie Deane sat at her kitchen table and wrote a list of ten ways to raise money for her children’s education.

Halfway down the list she noted ‘selling traditional leather satchels’ – the bags her children longed for because they were worn by the characters in the Harry Potter films. With a budget of just £600 the Cambridge Satchel Company was born.

Julie started small and asked a leather supplier in Hull to make just eight conventional brown satchels. At the same time, she read as many books as possible and taught herself how to run a business.

Word of the bags spread quickly and as more and more celebrities bought them, Julie began to experiment with different colours.

Julie was determined to keep the production in the UK and opened a factory in Leicestershire. Within just a few years, the company employed 90 people, had a turnover of £12 million and received orders from around the globe.

In April 2013, Julie collected the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of the company’s substantial growth in exports. The idea born at the kitchen table was now truly an international success.

Key points

The past simple is used to talk about completed actions in the past.  We usually know ‘when’ the action happened.  ‘When’ is either mentioned or clear from the context.

  • We moved here in May 2017.
  • Napoleon died on St. Helena.

1. Past simple ‘to be’ – positive 

  • I / He / She / It was here yesterday.
  • We / You / They were here yesterday.

2. Past simple ‘to be’ – negative 

  • I / He / She / It wasn’t (= was not) here yesterday.
  • We / You / They weren’t (= were not) here yesterday.

3. Past simple ‘to be’ – questions 

  • Was I / he / she / it here yesterday?
  • Were you / we / they here yesterday?

4. Past simple – regular verbs 

  • I / You / He / She / It / We / They worked yesterday.
  • I / You / He / She / It / We / They didn’t (= did not) work yesterday.
  • Did I / you / he / she / it / we / they work yesterday?

5. Past simple – irregular verbs

  • I / You / He / She / It / We / They felt cold yesterday.
  • I / You / He / She / It / We / They didn’t (= did not) feel cold yesterday.
  • Did I / you / he / she / it / we / they feel cold yesterday?

Pronunciation of -ed – depends on the sound at the end of the infinitive:

/d/: ending with sounds of – b, g, j, l, m, n, ng, v, z
I cancelled the order a few days ago.
They complained about the delay.

/t/: ending with sounds of – c, f, k, p, s, ch, sh, x
We discussed the budget last week.
I booked the restaurant yesterday.

/Id/: ending with sounds of – d, t
We accepted their proposal.
We decided to give them the contract.

Key expressions

Past simple ‘to be’

    1. I was on holiday last week.
    2. She wasn’t on holiday last week.
    3. Was he on holiday last week?
    4. We were late for the meeting.
    5. They weren’t late for the meeting.
    6. Were you late for the meeting?

Past simple – regular verbs

    1. We cancelled the order last Wednesday.
    2. They didn’t cancel the order last Wednesday.
    3. Did you cancel the order last Wednesday?
    4. He walked to work this morning.
    5. I didn’t walk to work this morning.
    6. Did she walk to work this morning?
    7. She started the business in 2008.
    8. They didn’t start a business in 2008.
    9. Did he start a business in 2008?

Past simple – irregular verbs

    1. We gave them the order last Wednesday.
    2. They didn’t give us the order last Wednesday.
    3. Did you give then the order last Wednesday?
    4. He drove to work this morning.
    5. I didn’t drive to work this morning.
    6. Did she drive to work this morning?
    7. She began the business in 2008.
    8. They didn’t begin a business in 2008.
    9. Did he begin a business in 2008?

Quiz

1. He ________ an e-mail to his manager.
2. In the beginning, our company ________ many employees.
3. He ________ his business to a competitor.
4. Her son ________ in 1995.
5. They ________ themselves how to use the software.
6. I ________ the report yesterday.
7. She ________ notes during yesterday's meeting.
8. He ________in the office last week.
9. She ________ to me about it yesterday.
10. Why ________ you late for lunch?

 

Resources

Overview
Class activity
Answers