The Formation of the Past Indefinite

1.We form the Past Indefinite by adding the ending -ED to the Bare Infinitive of regular verbs.

Infinitives of irregular verbs form the Past Indefinite by:

· changing the root vowel (to sing – sang)

· changing the final consonant (to build – built)

· using the same stem (to cut – cut)

· using a different stem (to be – was/were), etc.

E.g. I wrote the letter yesterday.

She translated the text an hour ago.

Before the ending -ED:

(a) we drop a mute -E;

E.g. to live – lived

to die – died

(b) we change a final -Y preceded by a consonant into -I;

E.g. to study – studied

to carry – carried

BUT a final -Y preceded by a vowel remains unchanged.

E.g. to play – played

to enjoy – enjoyed

(c) we double a final consonant in a stressed syllable:

· in monosyllabic verbs after a short vowel;

· in polysyllabic verbs if it has no diphthong.

In British English we double a final -L after a short (stressed or unstressed) vowel.

(d) we change a final -C into -CK;

E.g. to panic – panicked

to picnic – picnicked

2.In negative sentences we place the negative particle NOT after the auxiliary verb TO DO (did) and before the Infinitive of the main verb. In informal English we use short negative forms.

E.g. I did not/didn’t write the letter yesterday.

She did not/didn’t translate the text an hour ago.

In sentences with the verb TO BE (was/were) used as a predicate or a link verb we place the negative particle NOT after it and do not use any auxiliary verbs. In informal English we use short negative forms.

E.g. He was not/wasn’tat school yesterday.

I was not/wasn’t a student.

They were not/weren’t ready.

3.In interrogative sentences (questions) we place the auxiliary verb TO DO (did) before the subject and the Infinitive of the main verb after the subject.

E.g. Did I write the letter yesterday?

Did she translate the text an hour ago?

In sentences with the verb TO BE (was/were) used as a predicate or a link verb we place this verb before the subject and do not use any auxiliary verbs.

E.g. Was he at school yesterday?

Was I a student?

Were they ready?

4.In negative-interrogative sentences (negative questions) we place the auxiliary verb TO DO (did) before the subject and the negative particle NOT after the subject. In informal English we place short negative forms before the subject.

E.g. Did I not/Didn’t I write the letter yesterday?

Didshe not/Didn’t she translate the text an hour ago?

In sentences with the verb TO BE (was/were) used as a predicate or a link verb we place this verb before the subject and the negative particle NOT after the subject. In informal English we place short negative forms before the subject.

E.g. Was he not/Wasn’t he at school?

Was Inot/Wasn’t I a student?

Werethey not/Weren’t they ready?

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1018