Before you do that text,
do this one first!

How to form the Past Simple

We use the Past Simple for things that happened before now.

1. Positive sentences

Regular verbs:
Add -ed to the verb.

• play → played
• work → worked
• watch → watched
• visit → visited

Example:
I played football yesterday.

Some verbs are irregular. They change form.

• go → went
• see → saw
• eat → ate
• have → had
• come → came

Example:
She went to school yesterday.

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2. Negative sentences

Use:

did not (didn’t) + verb

The verb goes back to its basic form.

• I didn’t play football.
• She didn’t go to school.
• They didn’t eat dinner.

❌ She didn’t went.
✅ She didn’t go.

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3. Questions

Use:

Did + person + basic verb?

• Did you play football?
• Did Anna go home?
• Did they eat dinner?

Short answers:

• Yes, I did.
• No, I didn’t.

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The verb be

am / is → was
are → were

• I was tired.
• He was at home.
• We were happy.
• They were at school.

Negative:

• I wasn’t tired.
• They weren’t at home.

Questions:

• Was he tired?
• Were they at school?

Easy rule to remember

Positive:
I played. / I went.

Negative:
I didn’t play. / I didn’t go.

Question:
Did you play? / Did you go?

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Verbs in text:

Verb	Past simple	A1 definition
to be	was / were	to exist or to say what someone or something is
to have	had	to own or possess something
can	could	to be able to do something
to dress up	dressed up	to wear special clothes for fun
to wear	wore	to have clothes on your body
to want	wanted	to wish to have or do something
to use	used	to do something with a thing
to fly	flew	to move through the air
to help	helped	to do something for someone
to decorate	decorated	to make a place look nice for a special time
to put	put	to move something to a place
to carve	carved	to cut a shape into something
to make	made	to create or produce something
to go	went	to move to another place
to walk	walked	to move on your feet
to knock	knocked	to hit a door to get someone’s attention
to say	said	to speak words
to give	gave	to let someone have something
to see	saw	to look at something with your eyes
to hang	hung	to be fixed or placed above the ground
to look	looked	to seem or appear in a certain way
to jump	jumped	to move up from the ground
to scream	screamed	to make a very loud sound with your voice
to take off	took off	to remove clothes or something from your body
to laugh	laughed	to make a happy sound with your voice

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Fill in, past simple:

It _____ (be) Halloween, October 31. Tom and his sister Anna _____ (be) very happy because they _____ (can) dress up and have fun. They wear a costume every year.

Tom _____ (want) to be a vampire. He _____ (wear) a black mask and black clothes. Anna _____ (want) to be a witch. She _____ (have) a black dress, a witch’s hat, and a broom. In stories, witches _____ (use) magic and _____ (can) fly on a broom.

Their parents _____ (help) them decorate a house. They _____ (put) a picture of a ghost, a monster, a skeleton, and a mummy on the windows. There _____ (be) also a black cat near the door.

In the garden, Tom and Anna _____ (have) a big pumpkin. They _____ (carve) a pumpkin and _____ (make) two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. They _____ (put) a candle inside. Now they _____ (have) a pumpkin lantern, also called a Jack-o‘-lantern.

At seven o’clock, the children _____ (go) trick-or-treating. They _____ (walk) from house to house. At each house, they _____ (knock) on the door and _____ (say), „Trick or treat!“ People _____ (give) them candy and other small treats.

At one house, a man _____ (be) dressed as a wizard. He _____ (make) a funny trick with his hands. At another house, they _____ (see) a bat and a spider. A big spider web _____ (hang) over the door.

Then the children _____ (see) a haunted house. It _____ (look) very scary. Anna _____ (be) afraid, but Tom _____ (want) to go inside.

They _____ (knock) on the door.

Suddenly, a white ghost _____ (jump) out.

Anna _____ (scream).

Then the ghost _____ (take off) his mask and _____ (laugh). It _____ (be) their father!

Tom and Anna _____ (laugh) too. It _____ (be) a great Halloween night.

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Correct version:

It was Halloween, October 31, 2025. Tom and his sister Anna were very happy because they could dress up and have fun. They wear a costume every year.

Tom wanted to be a vampire. He wore a black mask and black clothes. Anna wanted to be a witch. She had a black dress, a witch’s hat, and a broom. In stories, witches used magic and could fly on a broom.

Their parents helped them decorate a house. They put a picture of a ghost, a monster, a skeleton, and a mummy on the windows. There was also a black cat near the door.

In the garden, Tom and Anna had a big pumpkin. They carved a pumpkin and made two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. They put a candle inside. Now they had a pumpkin lantern, also called a Jack-o‘-lantern.

At seven o’clock, the children went trick-or-treating. They walked from house to house. At each house, they knocked on the door and said, „Trick or treat!“ People gave them candy and other small treats.

At one house, a man was dressed as a wizard. He made a funny trick with his hands. At another house, they saw a bat and a spider. A big spider web hung over the door.

Then the children saw a haunted house. It looked very scary. Anna was afraid, but Tom wanted to go inside.

They knocked on the door.

Suddenly, a white ghost jumped out.

Anna screamed.

Then the ghost took off his mask and laughed. It was their father!

Tom and Anna laughed too. It was a great Halloween night.

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True or false

1. Tom wanted to be a vampire.
2. The children went trick-or-treating at eight o’clock.
3. Anna had a black dress and a witch’s hat.
4. Their parents decorated the house without the children.
5. A candle was inside the pumpkin lantern.
6. The children walked from house to house.
7. Tom was afraid when the ghost appeared.
8. A man dressed as a wizard made a trick with his hands.
9. People gave the children fruit at the houses.
10. A big spider web hung over one of the doors.
11. Halloween was on October 31.
12. Anna wanted to be a monster.
13. The children saw a bat and a spider.
14. The children used three candles inside the pumpkin.
15. Anna screamed when the ghost jumped out.
16. Tom and Anna travelled from house to house by car.
17. The ghost was their father.
18. Tom wanted to stay outside the haunted house.
19. The children made a pumpkin lantern.
20. Tom and Anna were unhappy at the end of the night.

_________________________

False:2,4,7,9,12,14,16,18,20

_________________________
Correct version:

1. Tom wanted to be a vampire.
2. The children went trick-or-treating at eight o’clock. True is: The children went trick-or-treating at seven o’clock.
3. Anna had a black dress and a witch’s hat.
4. Their parents decorated the house without the children. True is: Their parents helped the children decorate a house.
5. A candle was inside the pumpkin lantern.
6. The children walked from house to house.
7. Tom was afraid when the ghost appeared. True is: Anna was afraid when the ghost appeared.
8. A man dressed as a wizard made a trick with his hands.
9. People gave the children fruit at the houses. True is: People gave the children candy and other small treats.
10. A big spider web hung over one of the doors.
11. Halloween was on October 31.
12. Anna wanted to be a monster. True is: Anna wanted to be a witch.
13. The children saw a bat and a spider.
14. The children used three candles inside the pumpkin. True is: The children put one candle inside the pumpkin.
15. Anna screamed when the ghost jumped out.
16. Tom and Anna travelled from house to house by car. True is: Tom and Anna walked from house to house.
17. The ghost was their father.
18. Tom wanted to stay outside the haunted house. True is: Tom wanted to go inside the haunted house.
19. The children made a pumpkin lantern.
20. Tom and Anna were unhappy at the end of the night. True is: Tom and Anna laughed and had a great Halloween night.

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Multiple choice

1. What day was Halloween?
   A) October 31
   B) October 21
   C) November 1
2. What did Tom want to be?
   A) A witch
   B) A vampire
   C) A wizard
3. What did Anna want to be?
   A) A ghost
   B) A mummy
   C) A witch
4. What did Tom wear?
   A) Black clothes
   B) A white mask
   C) A red hat
5. What did Anna have?
   A) A broom
   B) A bat
   C) A spider
6. What did witches use in stories?
   A) Masks
   B) Magic
   C) Candy
7. What did the parents help the children do?
   A) Decorate a house
   B) Make some candy
   C) Build a garden
8. What pictures were on the windows?
   A) Cats and bats
   B) Witches and wizards
   C) Ghosts and monsters
9. What did the children carve?
   A) A mask
   B) A pumpkin
   C) A broom
10. What did they put inside the pumpkin?
    A) A toy
    B) Some candy
    C) A candle
11. When did the children go trick-or-treating?
    A) At seven o’clock
    B) At six o’clock
    C) At eight o’clock
12. What did the children say at the doors?
    A) Happy Halloween!
    B) Trick or treat!
    C) Good evening!
13. What did people give the children?
    A) Books
    B) Money
    C) Candy
14. What was the man at one house dressed as?
    A) A wizard
    B) A ghost
    C) A vampire
15. What did the children see at another house?
    A) A cat and a witch
    B) A bat and a spider
    C) A mummy and a skeleton
16. How did the haunted house look?
    A) Funny
    B) Beautiful
    C) Scary
17. Who was afraid?
    A) Their father
    B) Tom
    C) Anna
18. What jumped out of the haunted house?
    A) A white ghost
    B) A black cat
    C) A big spider
19. Who was the ghost?
    A) A wizard
    B) Their father
    C) A man from the house
20. What did Tom and Anna do at the end?
    A) They went home.
    B) They screamed again.
    C) They laughed.

___________________________

Answer key:
1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 A, 6 B, 7 A, 8 C,
9 B, 10 C, 11 A, 12 B, 13 C, 14 A, 15 B,
16 C, 17 C, 18 A, 19 B, 20 C

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Find the answer in the text

1. When did Halloween take place?
2. What did Tom want to be?
3. How did Tom dress for Halloween?
4. Which clothes did Anna wear?
5. Who helped Tom and Anna decorate the house?
6. What did the children put on the windows?
7. Where did they put the candle?
8. Why did the children walk from house to house?
9. What did they say at each house?
10. Who gave the children candy and treats?
11. How did the man at one house make the children laugh?
12. Which animals did the children see at another house?
13. Where did the big spider web hang?
14. Why was Anna afraid of the haunted house?
15. Who was behind the ghost mask?

_________________________

Correct answers:

1. When did Halloween take place? On October 31.
2. What did Tom want to be? A vampire.
3. How did Tom dress for Halloween? He wore a black mask and black clothes.
4. Which clothes did Anna wear? A black dress and a witch’s hat.
5. Who helped Tom and Anna decorate the house? Their parents.
6. What did the children put on the windows? Pictures of a ghost, a monster, a skeleton, and a mummy.
7. Where did they put the candle? Inside the pumpkin.
8. Why did the children walk from house to house? To go trick-or-treating.
9. What did they say at each house? “Trick or treat!”
10. Who gave the children candy and treats? People at the houses.
11. How did the man at one house entertain the children? He made a funny trick with his hands.
12. Which animals did the children see at another house? A bat and a spider.
13. Where did the big spider web hang? Over the door.
14. Why was Anna afraid of the haunted house? It looked very scary.
15. Who was behind the ghost mask? Their father.

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How to give short answers

Use the verb from the question.

• Did → Yes, he did. / No, he didn’t.
• Was → Yes, he was. / No, he wasn’t.
• Were → Yes, they were. / No, they weren’t.

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Give short answers, as shown below:

1. Tom wanted to be a vampire.
   
   YOU WRITE:
   Yes, he did.
   
2. Anna wore a red dress.
   
   YOU WRITE:
   No, she didn’t.
   
3. Tom and Anna were very happy.
4. The pumpkin had two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
5. Tom was afraid of the haunted house.
6. The children went trick-or-treating at seven o’clock.
7. People gave the children candy and small treats.
8. Anna had a broom.
9. The man at one house was dressed as a vampire.
10. A big spider web hung over a door.
11. The children saw a bat and a spider.
12. Tom and Anna went trick-or-treating by car.
13. Anna wanted to be a witch.
14. There was a black cat near the door.
15. The children put a candle inside the pumpkin.
16. Tom wore a white mask.
17. The haunted house looked scary.
18. Anna screamed when the ghost jumped out.
19. Tom and Anna were unhappy at the end of the night.
20. The children went trick-or-treating at six o’clock.
21. The parents put pictures on the windows.
22. Tom wanted to go inside the haunted house.
23. People gave the children toys.
24. The children made a pumpkin lantern.
25. Anna was afraid of the haunted house.
26. The children saw a dog near the haunted house.
27. A man made a funny trick with his hands.
28. The children wore costumes every year.
29. The ghost wore a black hat.
30. Tom and Anna had a great Halloween night.

_____________________________

Correct answers:

1. Tom wanted to be a vampire. Yes, he did.
2. Anna wore a red dress. No, she didn’t.
3. Tom and Anna were very happy. Yes, they were.
4. The pumpkin had two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Yes, it did.
5. Tom was afraid of the haunted house. No, he wasn’t.
6. The children went trick-or-treating at seven o’clock. Yes, they did.
7. People gave the children candy and small treats. Yes, they did.
8. Anna had a broom. Yes, she did.
9. The man at one house was dressed as a vampire. No, he wasn’t.
10. A big spider web hung over a door. Yes, it did.
11. The children saw a bat and a spider. Yes, they did.
12. Tom and Anna went trick-or-treating by car. No, they didn’t.
13. Anna wanted to be a witch. Yes, she did.
14. There was a black cat near the door. Yes, there was.
15. The children put a candle inside the pumpkin. Yes, they did.
16. Tom wore a white mask. No, he didn’t.
17. The haunted house looked scary. Yes, it did.
18. Anna screamed when the ghost jumped out. Yes, she did.
19. Tom and Anna were unhappy at the end of the night. No, they weren’t.
20. The children went trick-or-treating at six o’clock. No, they didn’t.
21. The parents put pictures on the windows. Yes, they did.
22. Tom wanted to go inside the haunted house. Yes, he did.
23. People gave the children toys. No, they didn’t.
24. The children made a pumpkin lantern. Yes, they did.
25. Anna was afraid of the haunted house. Yes, she was.
26. The children saw a dog near the haunted house. No, they didn’t.
27. A man made a funny trick with his hands. Yes, he did.
28. The children wore costumes every year. Yes, they did.
29. The ghost wore a black hat. No, he didn’t.
30. Tom and Anna had a great Halloween night. Yes, they did.

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Answer, as shown:

1. Did Tom want to be a witch?
   
   YOU WRITE:
   No, he didn’t. He wanted to be a vampire.
   
2. Did Anna wear a red dress?
3. Did the children go trick-or-treating at six o’clock?
4. Did Tom wear a white mask?
5. Did people give the children toys?
6. Was the man at one house dressed as a vampire?
7. Was Tom afraid of the haunted house?
8. Did the children travel from house to house by car?
9. Did the children see a dog near the haunted house?
10. Did the ghost wear a black hat?

___________________________

Correct version:

1. Did Tom want to be a witch?
   No, he didn’t. He wanted to be a vampire.
2. Did Anna wear a red dress?
   No, she didn’t. She wore a black dress.
3. Did the children go trick-or-treating at six o’clock?
   No, they didn’t. They went at seven o’clock.
4. Did Tom wear a white mask?
   No, he didn’t. He wore a black mask.
5. Did people give the children toys?
   No, they didn’t. They gave them candy and other small treats.
6. Was the man at one house dressed as a vampire?
   No, he wasn’t. He was dressed as a wizard.
7. Was Tom afraid of the haunted house?
   No, he wasn’t. Anna was afraid of it.
8. Did the children travel from house to house by car?
   No, they didn’t. They walked from house to house.
9. Did the children see a dog near the haunted house?
   No, they didn’t. They saw a bat and a spider.
10. Did the ghost wear a black hat?
    No, he didn’t. He wore a ghost mask.

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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