3.

3 QS AND NEG
Asking questions in the past simple. In the previous lecture you learned how to make the regular
past tense of verbs. We add an ed ending, and the pronunciation can change as well as the
spelling. Now that we have that finished, let's look at how to ask questions with the past simple.

[00:00:17] To ask questions in the past simple.

[00:00:18] It's pretty easy! We just put did first, then the subject, and then the verb in the
infinitive. Do not conjugate the verb! Leave it in its base form. I'll show you a couple examples
and then we'll do some together.

[00:00:33] Did you go to school yesterday? Yeah, of course I did.

[00:00:36] Wow you were there when it happened! Did you feel scared?

[00:00:40] QUESTION: What ٠٠٠٠ you do when you found out?

[00:00:45] What did you do when you found out?

[00:00:47] QUESTION: How ٠٠٠٠ your mom arrive so early?

[00:00:52] How did your mom arrive so early

[00:00:55] QUESTION: Who ٠٠٠٠ most of the work?

[00:01:00] Who did most of the work?

[00:01:02] It's pretty easy right? Did never changes, not even depending on the subject. And as
you saw wh- question words, who what where when why and how, all come first.

[00:01:15] So it goes wh question word, if you use one. Then did, and we need did here
absolutely need it. It tells us that we're asking a question. Then it's followed by the subject and
finally the infinitive form of our main verb. Do not conjugate it.

[00:01:33] Past simple negative. We also use did in the past negative, but unlike when asking
questions, it does not come first. Here is the word order for past negative sentences in the
simple.

[00:01:45] First the subject, then did not, or contracted didn't. So in the present we say doesn't
and don't depending on the subject, but in the past we use didn't for every subject. And then
finally our verb. The verb is still in the infinitive, don't conjugate it. Don't change it in any way.

[00:02:06] I'll give you a couple examples now and then we will do a few together.

[00:02:10] I didn't understand your question. Can you please ask again?
[00:02:14] You didn't finish your homework.

[00:02:16] Notice that the verb remains in the infinitive. Our main verb. Don't conjugate it in a
question or in the negative sentence.

[00:02:23] QUESTION: We ٠٠٠٠ go to the mall because of the weather.

[00:02:27] We didn't go to the mall because of the weather.

[00:02:30] QUESTION: He ٠٠٠٠ watch the new episode yet.

[00:02:34] He didn't watch the new episode yet.

[00:02:36] QUESTION: ٠٠٠٠ you meet my brother yet?

[00:02:38] QUESTION: No, I ٠٠٠٠ meet him yet.

[00:02:43] Did you meet my brother yet? No, I didn't meet him yet.

[00:02:47] Native speaker pronunciation. In colloquial, spoken English, there are two popular
ways to pronounce didn't. One is exactly as I have taught you so far. Didn't. Pronounce every
letter clearly.

[00:03:02] This is still very common. But another very common pronunciation is didn't. So the
second -D, the middle D, is silent. This is much more common in spoken, informal English. And
the only time that you want to use this pronunciation. Otherwise say didn't in more formal
situations. What's nice, is that you will probably be more in informal, regular general
conversations.

[00:03:27] So just say didn't. No matter what though, we don't change the spelling. We always
spell it didn-apostrophe-t. I'll give you a few sentences using both and see if you can notice the
difference in pronunciation.

[00:03:42] I didn't do it on time. I didn't do it on time.

[00:03:46] Yeah, I didn't understand either. Yeah, I didn't understand either

[00:03:50] We didn't ask for permission. We didn't ask for permission.

[00:03:54] Responding to questions. As we've already talked about. There are long responses to
questions and short responses. A long response means you basically repeat the entire question
that you were asked. A short response is composed primarily of just the subject and verb. Let's
take a look at the short responses in the positive and then the negative.

[00:04:13] Yes, I did. Yes, we did. Yes, you did. Yes. They did. Yes. He did. Yes. She did. Yes. It did.

[00:04:21] No, I didn't. No we didn't. No you didn't. No they didn't. No he didn't. No she didn't.
No it didn't.
[00:04:30] Now let's compare some of the short and long responses.

[00:04:33] Did you see him?

[00:04:34] Yes, I did. / Yes. I did see him. / Yes. I saw him.

[00:04:38] Did they go to the park?

[00:04:40] Yes, they did. / Yes, they did go to the park. / Yes, they went to the park.

[00:04:45] Did we win the game?

[00:04:46] Yes, we did. / Yes. We did win the game. / Yes. We won the game.