Exercises for Task 4 (English Grammar)
Complete the exercise that are below. Include a presentation to your report.
A. Use the simple past tense of the verbs given in parenthesis.
1. You___arrived ___________ (arrive) to New York last month.
2. My sister__studied____________ (study) Economy at Princeton university.
3. I____phoned__________ (phone) you yesterday, but you weren't home.
4. Last night, we___planned___________ (plan) a surprise party for Elizabeth.
5. Tom, John and I____invited__________ (invite) Alicia to a baseball game.
6. The children___carried___________ (carry) the books to the classroom.
7. We___finished___________ (finish) the exam at 3:30.
8. I_____talked___________ (talk) to Joshua about the new project.
9. I ____learned________________ (learn) how to make couscous yesterday.
10. Jorge ___________drank_________ (drink) too much beer last night.
11. Last year, my family _____traveled_______________ (travel) to Argentina.
12. We _____went_______________ (go) to Nova Scotia in 2008.
13. I _______helped_____________ (help) my brother with his homework
yesterday.
14. I don't want pizza for dinner. I _____ate_______________ (eat) pizza last
night.
15. We _____arrived_______________ (arrive) in Moscow at 9:00 yesterday
morning.
16. Mary called. She ______wanted______________ (want) to tell you about her
vacation.
B. Write a composition about the following topics given below.
1. What did you do last weekend? Last weekend I went to the university and then I went
to look for my mom who was coming from Santo Domingo. On Sunday, I stayed at
home and watched TV.
2. Write a short fairytale. Once upon a time a child in wonderland who wanted to fly, he
went to a witch and asked her to make a spell and the witch did. The kid flew.
3. Describe a major historical event. Back in 1844 Dominican Republic got free from
the Haitian domination. We were independent.
4. Write what you did the last time you were on vacation. The last time I went on
vacation I stayed at home and rest.
C. Put the correct sound to each verb
/t/ /d/ /Id/
Listened X
Waited X
Wanted X
Needed X
Decided X
Answered X
Watched X
Supported X
Washed X
Worked X
D. Explain the rules of the sounds in the simple past for the verbs that are
regular.
Past Tense Pronunciation for Regular Verbs (-ed)
Rule 1: If the verb Rule 2: If the verb Rule 3: If the verb
base ends in a base ends in a base ends in a “t” or
voiceless sound, voiced sound, then “d” sound already,
then the –ed ending the –ed ending then the –ed ending
sounds like “t”. sounds like “d”. sounds like “id” or
“ud”.
It is pronounced as an
The “t” is blended The “d” is blended
extra syllable.
together with the together with the
previous consonant previous consonant
and not pronounced and not pronounced
as an extra syllable. as an extra syllable.
A voiceless sound is A voiced sound
like a whisper. Your means that your
vocal chords don’t vocal chords vibrate.
vibrate.
Voiced consonant
Voiceless sounds:
consonant sounds:
b, v, g, z, j, th, l, m,
p, f, k, s, sh, ch, th n, r
All vowel sounds
are voiced.
Examples of past Examples of past Examples of past
tense verbs where tense verbs where tense verbs where the
the –ed ending the –ed ending –ed ending sounds
sounds like “t” sounds like “d” like “ed”
worked moved started
dropped returned graduated
finished stayed visited
divorced studied separated
stopped married dated
laughed widowed attended
coughed raised
watched engaged
traveled
