Past Simple Questions

In this lesson, students learn to ask and answer questions about finished past events using did + subject + base verb. The main outcome is an interview activity where students listen carefully, take notes, and report what they learned.

Objectives Question Form Model Interview Listening Practice Interview Task Exit Ticket Homework Materials

SWBAT (Objectives)

Form past simple questions using Did + subject + base verb.
Ask WH- questions (What/Where/When/Who/Why/How) about past events.
Listen for key details (activity, place, time, people) in a short interview.
Conduct a short interview and report a partner’s answers to the class.

Question Form (Past Simple)

Yes/No questions

Did + subject + base verb?
• Did you go out last night?
• Did she work yesterday?

WH- questions

WH- word + did + subject + base verb?
• What did you do on Saturday?
• Where did he go?

Short answers

Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.
I went… / I stayed… / I watched…
Because… / With… / At…

Common mistake to fix

✅ What did you do? (base verb after did)
❌ What did you did? / What did you went?

Model Interview

A: What did you do last weekend?
B: I visited my sister. We watched a movie and cooked dinner.
A: Nice! Where did you go?
B: I went to her apartment near the subway station.
A: What time did you get there?
B: I got there around 6:00.
A: Did you go out after that?
B: No, I didn’t. We stayed home because it rained.

Interview Script (PDF) ▶ Audio (MP3)

Listening (Interview Comprehension)

Task A: Gist (1st listen)

Was the weekend busy or relaxing?
Did they go out?
Was the weather good?

Task B: Details (2nd listen)

Who did B visit?
What 2 activities did they do?
Where was the apartment?
What time did B arrive?

Task C: Question spotting

Students underline the question words they hear: what / where / what time / did. Then they repeat the questions with correct intonation.

Listening Worksheet (PDF) ▶ Listening Pack (MP3)

Controlled Practice (Accuracy)

Practice 1: Fix the question

Correct the mistakes:
• Where did you went? → Where did you go?
• What did she ate? → What did she eat?

Practice 2: Make questions

Turn statements into questions:
• You watched a movie. → What did you watch? / Did you watch a movie?
• He went to the park. → __________________________

Practice 3: Question starters

Complete the interview starters:
• What did you ______ yesterday?
• Where did you ______ ?
• Who did you ______ with?

Practice Worksheet (PDF) Teacher Notes (PDF)

Interview Task (Interaction)

Task: “What did you do?” Interview Grid

Students get an interview grid (6–8 questions).
They interview 3 classmates and take short notes.
They must ask 1 follow-up question each time.
Students report: “Maria went… / She didn’t… / She went with…”

Suggested interview questions

What did you do yesterday?
Where did you go?
Who did you go with?
What did you eat?
What time did you get home?
Did you watch anything?
Did you study English?
Why did you stay home / go out?

Success checklist

Used Did + base verb correctly
Used 2 WH- questions
Asked 1 follow-up question
Wrote clear notes (keywords only)

Interview Grid (PDF)

Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

Write 3 past simple questions (1 yes/no + 2 WH-).
Answer your questions with 1 short sentence each.
Underline the base verb after did in every question.

Exit Ticket (PDF)

Homework

Write: 8 interview questions about last week (use at least 4 WH- questions).
Interview: ask a friend/family member 5 of your questions. Write keyword notes.
Report: write 5 sentences about them: “He/She went… / didn’t… / ate…”

Homework Sheet (PDF) ▶ Shadowing Track (MP3)

Materials & Downloads

Unit 3 Slides — PPTX
Model Interview — PDF · Audio — MP3
Listening Worksheet — PDF · Listening Pack — MP3
Practice Worksheet — PDF
Interview Grid — PDF
Exit Ticket — PDF · Homework — PDF

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