• two cows, one muddy field, and a very special tradition from West Sumatra

More about the basics of past simple => link

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Past Simple – Regular Verbs

Rules:

• Most verbs: add -ed
  play → played
• Verbs ending in -e: add -d
  live → lived
• Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y to i and add -ed
  study → studied
• Short verbs ending in vowel + consonant: double the final consonant and add -ed
  stop → stopped
• List of irregular verbs => LINK

Use:
The past simple is used to talk about finished actions in the past.

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Yesterday, I went to a Pacu Jawi event in West Sumatra. The event took place in a rice field. The farmers had finished the rice harvest, so the field was wet and full of mud and water.

Many people came to watch the event. They stood beside the field and waited for the cows. Some people took photos and videos.

Then two cows came into the field. They ran together through the mud. A jockey stood behind them on a small wooden plough. He held the cows‘ tails and tried to control them.

The cows pulled the plough through the wet field. Sometimes they ran very fast. The jockey moved with them and tried to stay on the plough. He got very wet and dirty.

The cows did not always run straight. Sometimes they moved to the side. The jockey tried to make them go forward. He held their tails and pulled them in the right direction.

Sometimes the jockey bit one of the cows‘ tails. This helped him control the cow. It looked very unusual, and many people watched carefully.

The race was very exciting. The cows ran through the water and mud, and mud flew into the air. The people shouted and cheered. The jockeys worked hard to keep the cows going straight.

At the end of each race, the cows and jockeys left the field. More cows waited for their turn.

I watched several races yesterday. I saw fast cows, wet jockeys, and a lot of mud. I also saw many happy people around the field. It was a very exciting afternoon.

All the best,

Sari

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Infinitive	Past Simple	A1 explanation
be	was / were	to exist or to be in a place or situation
go	went	to move to another place
take	took	to get something and carry it with you
finish	finished	to stop doing something because it is complete
have	had	to own or to get something
stand	stood	to be on your feet
wait	waited	to stay in a place until something happens
come	came	to move to a place where someone is
run	ran	to move quickly on your feet
hold	held	to keep something in your hand
try	tried	to do something to see if you can do it
control	controlled	to make someone or something do what you want
pull	pulled	to move something towards you
move	moved	to go from one place to another
stay	stayed	to remain in one place
get	got	to receive or become something
do	did	to perform an action or activity
make	made	to cause something to happen
bite	bit	to use your teeth on something
help	helped	to make something easier for someone
look	looked	to use your eyes to see something
watch	watched	to look at something for some time
fly	flew	to move through the air
shout	shouted	to speak very loudly
cheer	cheered	to shout because you are happy or excited
work	worked	to do a job or activity
keep	kept	to continue doing something
leave	left	to go away from a place
see	saw	to notice something with your eyes

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Vocabulary:

Word / phrase	A1 explanation
muddy	full of wet mud
an event	something that happens at a special time
a harvest	the time when farmers collect their crops
mud	wet, soft earth
a jockey	a person who rides or controls an animal in a race
a plough	a tool that farmers use to work the soil
a cow’s tail	the long part at the back of a cow
to be unusual	to be different or not normal
carefully	in a way that is safe and with attention
to be exciting	to make you feel very interested and happy
to go straight	to move forward, not to the side
to wait for one’s turn	to wait until it is your time to do something
several races	more than two races
to be exciting	to make you feel very interested and happy

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Match definition and verb:

1. to keep something in your hand
2. to go away from a place
3. to speak very loudly
4. to continue doing something
5. to notice something with your eyes
6. to remain in one place
7. to make something easier for someone
8. to use your teeth on something
9. to move from one place to another
10. to receive or become something
11. to perform an action or activity
12. to move quickly on your feet
13. to make someone or something do what you want
14. to look at something for some time
15. to move to another place

A. stay
B. bite
C. run
D. see
E. shout
F. get
G. go
H. keep
I. help
J. do
K. move
L. hold
M. leave
N. control
O. watch

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Match the verb with the definition

Verbs

A. pull
B. see
C. work
D. come
E. try
F. fly
G. hold
H. get
I. watch
J. be
K. leave
L. help
M. bite
N. run
O. keep
P. move
Q. shout
R. have
S. take
T. stand

Definitions

1. to move quickly on your feet
2. to keep something in your hand
3. to speak very loudly
4. to move something towards you
5. to notice something with your eyes
6. to remain in one place
7. to receive or become something
8. to use your teeth on something
9. to look at something for some time
10. to go away from a place
11. to make something easier for someone
12. to move from one place to another
13. to be on your feet
14. to move through the air
15. to perform an action or activity
16. to move to a place where someone is
17. to do a job or activity
18. to do something to see if you can do it
19. to continue doing something
20. to exist or to be in a place or situation

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Answer key:
1–N, 2–G, 3–Q, 4–A, 5–B, 6–O,
7–H, 8–M, 9–I, 10–K, 11–L, 12–P, 13–T,
14–F, 15–R, 16–D, 17–C, 18–E, 19–O, 20–J

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Fill in, words below:

jockey – cheered – finished – bit – watch – races – took – cows –
tails – turn – plough – mud – flew – yesterday –
carefully – field – rice – wet –
forward – full of

1. Sari went to a cow racing event _____.
2. The event took place in a _____ field.
3. The farmers had _____ the rice harvest.
4. The field was wet and _____ mud and water.
5. Many people came to ____ the event.
6. Some people _____ photos and videos.
7. Two cows came into the_____.
8. The cows ran together through the _____
9. A _____ stood behind the cows.
10. He held the cows‘ _____.
11. The cows pulled the _____ through the wet field.
12. The jockey got very _____ and dirty.
13. Sometimes the _____went to the side.
14. The jockey tried to make them go _____.
15. Sometimes the jockey _____ one of the cows‘ tails.
16. Many people watched _____.
17. Mud _____ into the air.
18. The people shouted and _____.
19. More cows waited for their_____.
20. Sari saw several _____ yesterday.

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Correct version:

Sari went to a cow racing event yesterday.

The event took place in a rice field.

The farmers had finished the rice harvest.

The field was wet and full of mud and water.

Many people came to watch the event.

Some people took photos and videos.

Two cows came into the field.

The cows ran together through the mud.

A jockey stood behind the cows.

He held the cows‘ tails.

The cows pulled the plough through the wet field.

The jockey got very wet and dirty.

Sometimes the cows went to the side.

The jockey tried to make them go forward.

Sometimes the jockey bit one of the cows‘ tails.

Many people watched carefully.

Mud flew into the air.

The people shouted and cheered.

More cows waited for their turn.

Sari saw several races yesterday.

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Full in the correct form of the verb in past simple:

Yesterday, Sari _____ (go) to a cow race event in West Sumatra. The event _____ (be) in a wet rice field. The farmers _____ (finish) the rice harvest, so the field _____ (be) full of mud and water.

Many people _____ (come) to watch. Some people _____ (take) photos and videos. Then two cows _____ (come) into the field. They _____ (run) through the mud and _____ (pull) a small wooden plough. A jockey _____ (stand) behind them and _____ (hold) their tails.

The cows _____ (do) not always _____ (go) straight. Sometimes they _____ (go) to the side. The jockey _____ (try) to make them _____ (go) forward. He _____ (get) very wet and dirty. Sometimes he _____ (bite) one cow’s tail to _____ (help) control it.

The race _____ (be) very exciting. The cows _____ (run) through the mud and water, and mud _____ (fly) into the air. The people _____ (shout) and _____ (cheer). After each race, the cows and jockeys _____ (leave) the field. More cows _____ (wait) for their turn.

Sari _____ (see) several races. She _____ (see) fast cows, wet jockeys, and a lot of mud. She also _____ (see) many happy people. It _____ (be) an exciting afternoon.

———————————————

Correct version:

Yesterday, Sari went to a cow race event in West Sumatra. The event was in a wet rice field. The farmers had finished the rice harvest, so the field was full of mud and water.

Many people came to watch. Some people took photos and videos. Then two cows came into the field. They ran through the mud and pulled a small wooden plough. A jockey stood behind them and held their tails.

The cows did not always go straight. Sometimes they went to the side. The jockey tried to make them go forward. He got very wet and dirty. Sometimes he bit one cow’s tail to help control it.

The race was very exciting. The cows ran through the mud and water, and mud flew into the air. The people shouted and cheered. After each race, the cows and jockeys left the field. More cows waited for their turn.

Sari saw several races. She saw fast cows, wet jockeys, and a lot of mud. She also saw many happy people. It was an exciting afternoon.

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Short answers in past simple:

Question	Short Answer (Yes/Positive)	Short Answer (No/Negative)
Did she check reservations?	Yes, she did.	No, she didn’t.
Did she give keys to guests?	Yes, she did.	No, she didn’t.
Did she talk to many guests?	Yes, she did.	No, she didn’t.
Was she happy?	Yes, she was.	No, she wasn’t.
Were the guests satisfied?	Yes, they were.	No, they weren’t.

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Give short answers:

Did Sari go to a Pacu Jawi event yesterday?

YOU WRITE:
Yes, she did.

Was the jockey behind the cows?

Did the cows walk slowly through the mud?

Were there two cows in the field?

Did some people take photos and videos?

Was the race boring?

Did the jockey get very wet and dirty?

Were many people at the event?

Did the jockey hold the cows‘ legs?

Was the event in a dry rice field?

Did the cows run through the mud?

Were the cows always going straight?

Did Sari see only one race?

Was the field full of sand and water?

Did the jockey hold the cows‘ tails?

Were there three cows in the field?

Did Sari go to a Pacu Jawi event in North Sumatra?

Was the jockey in front of the cows?

Did the jockey stay clean and dry?

Did the cows always go straight?

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Correct answers:

Did Sari go to a Pacu Jawi event yesterday? — Yes, she did.
Was the jockey behind the cows? — Yes, he was.
Did the cows walk slowly through the mud? — No, they didn’t.
Were there two cows in the field? — Yes, there were.
Did some people take photos and videos? — Yes, they did.
Was the race boring? — No, it wasn’t.
Did the jockey get very wet and dirty? — Yes, he did.
Were many people at the event? — Yes, there were.
Did the jockey hold the cows‘ legs? — No, he didn’t.
Was the event in a dry rice field? — No, it wasn’t.
Did the cows run through the mud? — Yes, they did.
Were the cows always going straight? — No, they weren’t.
Did Sari see only one race? — No, she didn’t.
Was the field full of sand and water? — No, it wasn’t.
Did the jockey hold the cows‘ tails? — Yes, he did.
Were there three cows in the field? — No, there weren’t.
Did Sari go to a Pacu Jawi event in North Sumatra? — No, she didn’t.
Was the jockey in front of the cows? — No, he wasn’t.
Did the jockey stay clean and dry? — No, he didn’t.
Did the cows always go straight? — No, they didn’t.

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Answer as shown:

1. Sari went to the Pacu Jawi event two days ago.
   
   YOU WRITE:
   No, she didn’t. She went to the Pacu Jawi event yesterday.
   
2. The event took place in a dry rice field.
3. The farmers had not finished the rice harvest.
4. Only a few people came to watch the event.
5. The cows walked slowly through the field.
6. The jockey stood in front of the cows.
7. The jockey stayed clean and dry.
8. The cows always went straight.
9. The people were quiet during the race.
10. Sari saw only one race.

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Correct version:

Sari went to the Pacu Jawi event two days ago. No, she didn’t. She went to the Pacu Jawi event yesterday.

The event took place in a dry rice field. No, it didn’t. It took place in a wet rice field.

The farmers had not finished the rice harvest. No, they hadn’t. They had finished the rice harvest.

Only a few people came to watch the event. No, they didn’t. Many people came to watch the event.

The cows walked slowly through the field. No, they didn’t. They ran through the field.

The jockey stood in front of the cows. No, he didn’t. He stood behind the cows.

The jockey stayed clean and dry. No, he didn’t. He got very wet and dirty.

The cows always went straight. No, they didn’t. Sometimes they went to the side.

The people were quiet during the race. No, they weren’t. They shouted and cheered.

Sari saw only one race. No, she didn’t. She saw several races.

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Match the questions and answers

Questions

1. Where did you go yesterday?
2. Where was the event?
3. Why was the field full of mud and water?
4. Were many people there?
5. What did some people do?
6. What happened then?
7. How did the cows move?
8. Where did the jockey stand?
9. What did he hold?
10. Did the cows always go straight?
11. What did the jockey try to do?
12. Did he get wet and dirty?
13. What did he sometimes bite?
14. Was the race exciting?

Answers

A. He held the cows‘ tails.
B. Yes, he became very wet and dirty.
C. They took photos and videos.
D. No, sometimes they moved to the side.
E. It took place in a wet rice field.
F. He sometimes bit one cow’s tail.
G. Two cows came into the field.
H. Yes, it was very exciting.
I. They ran through the mud and pulled a small wooden plough.
J. I travelled to a Pacu Jawi event in West Sumatra.
K. The farmers had finished the rice harvest.
L. He tried to make them go forward.
M. Yes, many people came to watch the event.
N. He stood behind the cows.

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Answer key:
1–J, 2–E, 3–K, 4–M, 5–C, 6–G,
7–I, 8–N, 9–A, 10–D, 11–L,
12–B, 13–F, 14–H

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Correct dialogue:

Interviewer: Where did you go yesterday?
Sari: I travelled to a Pacu Jawi event in West Sumatra.

Interviewer: Where was the event?
Sari: It took place in a wet rice field.

Interviewer: Why was the field full of mud and water?
Sari: The farmers had finished the rice harvest.

Interviewer: Were many people there?
Sari: Yes, many people came to watch the event.

Interviewer: What did some people do?
Sari: They took photos and videos.

Interviewer: What happened then?
Sari: Two cows came into the field.

Interviewer: How did the cows move?
Sari: They ran through the mud and pulled a small wooden plough.

Interviewer: Where did the jockey stand?
Sari: He stood behind the cows.

Interviewer: What did he hold?
Sari: He held the cows‘ tails.

Interviewer: Did the cows always go straight?
Sari: No, sometimes they moved to the side.

Interviewer: What did the jockey try to do?
Sari: He tried to make them go forward.

Interviewer: Did he get wet and dirty?
Sari: Yes, he became very wet and dirty.

Interviewer: What did he sometimes bite?
Sari: He sometimes bit one cow’s tail.

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Basics in past simple:

Personal Pronoun	Verb (Past)	Object
I	ate	apples
You	ate	apples
He	ate	apples
She	ate	apples
It	ate	apples
We	ate	apples
You (plural)	ate	apples
They	ate	apples
I	played	football
You	played	football
He	played	football
She	played	football
It	played	football
We	played	football
You (plural)	played	football
They	played	football

Personal Pronoun	Verb (Past Negative)	Object
I	did not eat	apples
You	did not eat	apples
He	did not eat	apples
She	did not eat	apples
It	did not eat	apples
We	did not eat	apples
You (plural)	did not eat	apples
They	did not eat	apples
I	did not play	football
You	did not play	football
He	did not play	football
She	did not play	football
It	did not play	football
We	did not play	football
You (plural)	did not play	football
They	did not play	football

Did + Pronoun	Verb	Object
Did I	eat	apples?
Did you	eat	apples?
Did he	eat	apples?
Did she	eat	apples?
Did it	eat	apples?
Did we	eat	apples?
Did you	eat	apples?
Did they	eat	apples?
Did I	play	football?
Did you	play	football?
Did he	play	football?
Did she	play	football?
Did it	play	football?
Did we	play	football?
Did you	play	football?
Did they	play	football?

Didn’t + Pronoun	Verb	Object
Didn’t I	eat	apples?
Didn’t you	eat	apples?
Didn’t he	eat	apples?
Didn’t she	eat	apples?
Didn’t it	eat	apples?
Didn’t we	eat	apples?
Didn’t you	eat	apples?
Didn’t they	eat	apples?
Didn’t I	play	football?
Didn’t you	play	football?
Didn’t he	play	football?
Didn’t she	play	football?
Didn’t it	play	football?
Didn’t we	play	football?
Didn’t you	play	football?
Didn’t they	play	football?

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Past simple forms of ‚to be‘:

Person	Past
I	was
You	were
He/She/It	was
We	were
You (pl)	were
They	were

Person	Question
I	Was I …?
You	Were you …?
He/She/It	Was he/she/it …?
We	Were we …?
You (pl)	Were you …?
They	Were they …?

Person	Negative
I	I was not (I wasn’t)
You	You were not (You weren’t)
He/She/It	He/She/It was not (He/She/It wasn’t)
We	We were not (We weren’t)
You (pl)	You were not (You weren’t)
They	They were not (They weren’t)

Person	Negative Question
I	Wasn’t I …?
You	Weren’t you …?
He/She/It	Wasn’t he/she/it …?
We	Weren’t we …?
You (pl)	Weren’t you …?
They	Weren’t they …?

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A Day at a Pacu Jawi Event (A2+/B1)

Yesterday, I went to a Pacu Jawi, or traditional cow racing event, in West Sumatra. It took place in a rice field after the farmers had finished the rice harvest. The field was still wet, with large areas covered in mud and water.

A large crowd had gathered around the field. People stood along the sides, waiting for the next race to begin. Many visitors had their phones ready because they wanted to take photos and videos of the action.

Then two cows entered the field and started running through the mud. Behind them, a jockey stood on a small wooden plough. He held the cows‘ tails and used them to guide the animals while they pulled the plough through the wet field.

At times, the cows ran surprisingly fast. The jockey had to move with them and keep his balance on the plough. Before long, he was completely wet and covered in mud.

The cows did not always follow a straight line. Sometimes they moved towards the side of the field, and the jockey had to work hard to guide them back in the right direction. He held their tails and pulled them to encourage them to keep moving forward.

In some races, the jockey even bit one of the cows‘ tails. This helped him control the animal and keep it moving. It looked very unusual to me, and the spectators watched closely whenever it happened.

The races were exciting from beginning to end. The cows rushed through the muddy water, sending mud into the air. People shouted, laughed and cheered as the jockeys tried to keep the animals moving in the right direction.

After each race, the cows and jockeys left the field, while another pair of cows waited for their turn.

I watched several races during the afternoon. I saw incredibly fast cows, jockeys covered in mud and water, and a large crowd enjoying the event. It was a very unusual experience, and I was happy that I had the chance to see it.

All the best,

Sari

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Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN……………

SMFrockZ@gmx.at