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Lesson 34
A1
Core
60 min

Past Questions

Ask about the past with 'did'.

Make past simple questions and short answers with 'did' and 'didn't'.

  1. A0/A1
    Beginner
  2. A1/A2
    Elementary
  3. A2/B1
    Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+
    Intermediate
  5. B2
    Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1
    Advanced
  7. C2
    Proficiency

Look & say · Step 1

5 min

Get ready

discussion
Yesterday

Did you have breakfast today?

activity
Last week

Did you watch a film last week?

reflection
Travel

Did you go anywhere interesting last year?

Words to learn · Step 2

8 min

New words today

Open in Vocabulary Bank

yesterday

The day before today

"I worked yesterday."

last night

The evening before today

"Did you sleep well last night?"

last week

The previous week

"We met last week."

last weekend

Saturday & Sunday before today

"What did you do last weekend?"

last month

The previous month

"I started last month."

last year

The previous year

"I travelled last year."

ago

Time before now

"I called you 10 minutes ago."

this morning

Earlier today (morning)

"Did you have coffee this morning?"

Did you…?

Past simple question

"Did you eat?"

didn't

did not

"I didn't go out."

Yes, I did.

Positive short answer

"Did you sleep well? Yes, I did."

No, I didn't.

Negative short answer

"Did you call him? No, I didn't."

Activate · Personalise · Recycle

Use these words now

Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.

last weekend

"For me, last weekend is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

last month

"For me, last month is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

didn't

"For me, didn't is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.

Matching
Match the question with the answer.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check.
Categorise
Group the time expressions.
Answer all items, then check.

Sounds & saying · Step 3

5 min

Did you /dɪdʒə/

In fast speech 'Did you' sounds like /dɪdʒə/ ('didja'). Don't worry — speak clearly when you start.

  • • Did you go?
  • • Did you eat?
  • • Did you see it?
  • • Did you have fun?
  • • What did you do?

Language focus · Step 4

10 min

Did + subject + base verb

Open in Grammar Bank

Quick rule

Did + subject + base verb

Make past questions with 'Did' + person + verb (basic form, NO -ed, NO past form).

When to use it
  • For negatives use didn't + base verb.
See it in action
1

Did you go to school yesterday?

2

Did she eat breakfast? — Yes, she did. / No, she didn't.

3

Where did you go last weekend?

4

I didn't see the film.

5

He didn't have lunch.

Question 1.___ you go to the party?

Question 2.Did she ___ pizza?

Question 3.He ___ come to class.

Question 4.Where ___ they go?

Answer all items, then check.
Conversation Builder
Build it. Hear it. Say it.

Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.

1
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
2
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
3
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
4
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

Quick check 1.After 'did' use the verb in…

Quick check 2.Short answer: 'Did you see it?' — Yes, I ___.

Answer all items, then check.

Reading · Step 5

7 min

A police interview

Detective: 'Where were you yesterday evening?' 🕵️ Mr Brown: 'I was at home.' Detective: 'Did you go out at all?' Mr Brown: 'No, I didn't. I watched TV and ate dinner.' 🍝 Detective: 'Did anyone visit you?' Mr Brown: 'Yes, my neighbour did. She came at 8 p.m. and stayed for one hour.' Detective: 'What did you do after she left?' Mr Brown: 'I read a book 📖 and went to bed at 11.' 🛌

Question 1.Where was Mr Brown yesterday evening?

Question 2.Did he go out?

Question 3.Who visited him?

Answer all items, then check.
True / False
Is each sentence True or False?

Q1.Mr Brown went out yesterday.

Q2.His neighbour stayed for one hour.

Answer all items, then check.

Listening · Step 6

10 min

Catching up

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Mia

Hi Sam! Did you have a nice weekend?

Sam

Yes, I did. I went to a concert.

Mia

Cool! Who did you go with?

Sam

I went with my brother. Did you do anything?

Mia

Not much. I didn't go out. I watched two films and slept a lot.

Sam

Did you like the films?

Mia

I loved one and I didn't like the other!

Question 1.What did Sam do?

Question 2.Who did Sam go with?

Question 3.Did Mia go out?

Answer all items, then check.
Tick what you hear
Tick the past questions you hear.
Answer all items, then check.

Practice · Step 7

8 min

Choose the word

Question 1.___ you watch the match?

Question 2.I ___ go to the party.

Question 3.Where ___ she go?

Question 4.Did he ___ his keys?

Answer all items, then check.
Type a short answer
Write 1–3 words

Q1.Yes short answer (past) = Yes, I ___

Q2.No short answer (past) = No, I ___

Answer all items, then check.

Survival English · Step 8

4 min

Speaking — small talk

Task

Ask your partner 5 past questions about last weekend.

Strategy

Start with 'Did you…?' (yes/no) then move to Wh- ('Where / What / Who / When did you…?').

Example

Did you go out? — Where did you go? — Who did you go with? — What did you eat? — Did you have fun?

Writing · Step 9

5 min

Write a little

Your task

Write 6 past questions to ask a friend about last weekend (mix Yes/No and Wh- questions).

Show model answer

1) Did you go out on Saturday? 2) Where did you go? 3) Who did you go with? 4) What did you eat? 5) Did you have fun? 6) When did you come home?

Speaking · Step 10

12 min

Talk together

Pairs: interview your partner about last weekend. Ask 6 past questions and report back.

Useful phrases

  • • Did you ___?
  • • Where / What / Who / When did you ___?
  • • Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
  • • Really? Tell me more.
  • • That sounds great!
Dialogue completion
Complete with the right question.
  • A
    _______________
  • B
    Yes, I did. Thanks!
  • A
    _______________
  • B
    I went to my grandma's house.
  • A
    _______________
  • B
    Yes, I really did!
Answer all items, then check.

Homework · Step 11

Take-home

Practice at home

writing

Write 8 past questions about your partner's week.

speaking

Record short Yes/No past questions for 5 different topics.

vocab

Review past forms of 10 irregular verbs.

Recap · Step 12

3 min

What you learned

  • ❓ You can ask 'Did you…?' questions.
  • 🚫 You can use 'didn't' for negatives.
  • 🗣️ You can do small talk about the past.
  • ✍️ You can interview a partner about their weekend.
Back to CourseNext: Talking About the Weekend