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Unit 8.1 · A2 Grammar

Past simple questions and short answers

Form yes/no questions with did plus subject plus the base verb; Answer yes/no questions with did or didn't in a short answer; Put a Wh-question word before did to ask about people, places, times, reasons, manner, quantity, frequency, or distance.

Teacher mode — correct answers are highlighted. Students never see this.
  1. 1. _____ Zoe visit the castle on her trip?

    Multiple Choice20s
    ADid✓
    BWas
    CDoes
    DWere

    💡 A past simple yes/no question with an action verb begins with Did.

  2. 2. The sentence 'Did they went by train?' is correct.

    True / False20s
    True
    False ✓

    💡 After did, use the base form go, not went.

  3. 3. _____ your guests arrive before seven o'clock?

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    Did

    💡 Use Did before the subject in a past simple question.

  4. 4. Did you enjoy the boat trip? - Yes, _____.

    Multiple Choice20s
    AI did✓
    BI enjoyed
    CI was
    DI do

    💡 A positive short answer is Yes + subject + did.

  5. 5. Match each question word to what it asks about.

    Matching30s
    Who→a person
    Where→a place
    Why→a reason
    How often→frequency

    💡 Different Wh-words ask for different kinds of information.

  6. 6. Where _____ your family stay on holiday?

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    did

    💡 A Wh-question in the past uses question word + did + subject + base verb.

  7. 7. Put the words in order to make a past yes/no question.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.Did
    2. 2.your classmates
    3. 3.enjoy
    4. 4.the museum?

    💡 The order is Did + subject + base verb + object.

  8. 8. _____ you leave the party early? - Because I felt ill.

    Multiple Choice20s
    AWhy did✓
    BWhen did
    CHow many did
    DWho did

    💡 Why asks for a reason, and did marks the past question.

  9. 9. 'Yes, she did' is a correct short answer when the question has she as its subject.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 Positive past short answers use subject + did.

  10. 10. Did Max call you yesterday? - No, he _____.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    didn't · did not

    💡 A negative short answer uses didn't after the subject.

  11. 11. What did Lina _____ at the market?

    Multiple Choice20s
    Abuy✓
    Bbought
    Cbuys
    Dbuying

    💡 Use the base verb buy after did.

  12. 12. Match each past question to its answer.

    Matching30s
    Who did you meet?→My cousin Jamal.
    When did the lesson end?→At half past four.
    How far did the boat travel?→About three kilometres.
    How many photos did Sara take?→Twenty-five.

    💡 The answer type must match the information requested by the question word.

  13. 13. _____ did the taxi stop? - Outside the hotel.

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    Where

    💡 Where asks about a place.

  14. 14. 'How many books did he borrow?' has correct past question word order.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 The pattern is How many + noun + did + subject + base verb.

  15. 15. _____ did you cycle? - Ten kilometres.

    Multiple Choice20s
    AHow far✓
    BHow often
    CHow
    DWhy

    💡 How far asks about distance.

  16. 16. Put the words in order to ask what someone ate for lunch.

    Put in Order30s
    1. 1.What
    2. 2.did
    3. 3.you
    4. 4.eat
    5. 5.for lunch?

    💡 A past Wh-question uses Wh-word + did + subject + base verb.

  17. 17. Who _____ your brother invite to the picnic?

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    did

    💡 Here who asks about the object, so use who + did + subject + base verb.

  18. 18. Did the children finish the puzzle? - No, _____.

    Multiple Choice20s
    Athey didn't✓
    Bthey don't
    Cthey weren't
    Dthey not

    💡 A negative past short answer is No + subject + didn't.

  19. 19. In a short answer, we normally say 'Yes, I did' rather than repeat the main verb.

    True / False20s
    True ✓
    False

    💡 Did replaces the main verb in a past simple short answer.

  20. 20. What time _____ the last bus leave?

    Fill the Gap20s
    Accepted
    did

    💡 Put did after the question phrase and before the subject.