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General English · A1

Past simple: negatives and questions

Ask about a finished action and say what did not happen.

What you will learn

  • Use didn’t with the base verb.
  • Make did questions and short answers for any subject.
  • Separate action-verb questions from was/were questions.

O‘tgan ish haqida savolda did, inkorda did not yoki didn’t ishlatiladi. Asosiy fe’l o‘tgan shaklda emas: Did she go? She didn’t go.

For most verbs, make a past negative with did not or didn’t plus the base verb. Make a question with did + subject + base verb. Did is the same for every subject and already shows past time, so do not add ed or use an irregular past form after it. Be is different: use was/were, not did be.

Grammar Tables

On small screens, swipe tables sideways.

From affirmative to negative and question
AffirmativeNegativeQuestion
I worked.I didn’t work.Did you work?
She went.She did not go.Did she go?
They bought bread.They didn’t buy bread.Did they buy bread?
He had lunch.He didn’t have lunch.Did he have lunch?
Short answers
QuestionYesNo
Did you sleep well?Yes, I did.No, I didn’t.
Did she call?Yes, she did.No, she didn’t.
Did they come?Yes, they did.No, they didn’t.
Information questions
PatternExample
question word + did + subject + base verbWhere did you stay?
question word + did + subject + base verbWhat did he buy?
be: question word + was/were + subjectWhere were you?
who is the subject: past verb, no didWho called you?

Examples

Negative

I didn’t hear the phone.

Telefonni eshitmadim.

Question and short answer

Did you finish the book? Yes, I did.

Kitobni tugatdingizmi? Ha.

Place question

Where did they have dinner? At home.

Ular qayerda kechki ovqat yedi? Uyda.

Correcting information

She didn’t take the bus. She walked.

U avtobusga chiqmadi. Piyoda bordi.

Subject question

Who opened the window? My brother did.

Derazani kim ochdi? Akam.

Common Mistakes

Avoid: Did she went home?

Use: Did she go home?

After did, use base go, not went.

Avoid: He didn’t watched TV.

Use: He didn’t watch TV.

Didn’t already marks the past; use watch without ed.

Avoid: Does he came yesterday?

Use: Did he come yesterday?

Use did, not does, for this past question.

Avoid: Did they tired?

Use: Were they tired?

Tired is an adjective here; use past be, not did.

Practice & Feedback

Practise freely. Scores stay on this page only and reset when you leave or reload. Feedback appears after checking each exercise.

1 · Keep the base verb

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. Did you ___ breakfast?
2. She didn’t ___ the answer.
3. ___ he call you last night?
4. We didn’t ___ a taxi.
5. Did they ___ the film?
6. I ___ see him yesterday. (negative)
7. Where did she ___ her bag?
8. Did you ___ your homework?
9. He didn’t ___ a ticket.
10. What did they ___ for lunch?

Answer every question to check this exercise.

2 · Complete questions and replies

Type only the missing word or words. Read the clue carefully.

1. ___ you visit the museum yesterday? (past helper)
2. Did she arrive? Yes, she ___.
3. Did they stay? No, they ___. (contraction)
4. We did not ___ the door. (open)
5. What time did he ___ home? (get)
6. She didn’t ___ the letter. (write)
7. ___ they at home yesterday? (be: past)
8. Who ___ this cake yesterday? (make; who is the subject)
9. Who did you ___ at the party? (see)
10. I ___ watch TV last night. (full negative helper / to‘liq shakl)

Answer every question to check this exercise.

3 · Ask about yesterday

Choose the answer that fits the meaning and grammar.

1. Choose a correct question / To‘g‘ri savol.
2. Choose a correct negative / To‘g‘ri inkor.
3. Did your mother drive? Give a positive answer / Tasdiq javob.
4. Ask about a past state / O‘tgan holatni so‘rang.
5. Ask about a completed action / Tugagan ishni so‘rang.
6. Change She went out to a negative / Inkor qiling.
7. Ask who performed the action / Ishni kim bajarganini so‘rang.
8. Did you like the meal? Give a negative answer / Inkor javob.
9. Choose a correct question / To‘g‘ri savol.
10. Choose a correct negative / To‘g‘ri inkor.

Answer every question to check this exercise.

Review

  • Did/didn’t + base verb, including irregular verbs.
  • Past be keeps was/were, not did be.
  • Ask a friend two questions about yesterday and answer in short forms.
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