Negations and questions in the Past


↓ You have already met Lea and practiced negations and questions in the present with her. Let’s now practice constructing negations and asking questions in the past using the example of Lea’s parents :

Lea’s parents lived in France a long time ago. They immigrated to New York before Lea’s birth. They came with a very limited knowledge of English. They learned it directly in their new country, but it took a lot of time.

Check yourself quickly to see if you know how to construct affirmative and negative phrases in the past.

The beginning of Lea’s parents’ life in the US : What happened to them twenty five years ago when they arrived:

When Lea’s parents (come) to the US, they (not know) English very well.

When Lea’s parents came to the US, they didn’t English very well. (didn’t = did +not)

When Lea’s parents (speak) English around them, people (not understand) their very heavy and messed-up (=unclear, confusing) French accent.

When Lea’s parents spoke English to someone, people didn’t understand their very heavy and messed-up (=unclear, confusing) French accent.

Their level (progress) very slowly because they (not have) any American friends to help them practice.

Their level progressed very slowly because they didn’t have any American friends to help them practice.

If you want to practice special-past-verbs (aka “irregular verbs”) like “took” or “spoke”, click here

Now ask Lea’s parents some questions to learn more about how they adapted to their new country’s language:

Example: Ask them if they took any language courses to help them progress
The resulting question : “Did you take any language courses?”

Ask them when they first saw real improvements in their level

“When did you see real improvements in your level?”

Ask them how they found their first job

“How did you find your first job?”

Ask them what language they used with their daughter, Lea, born in the US a few years after their arrival

“What language did you use with your daugher?’

One response to “Negations and questions in the Past”

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One response to “Negations and questions in the Past”

  1. Un commentateur WordPress Avatar

    Bonjour, ceci est un commentaire.
    Pour débuter avec la modération, la modification et la suppression de commentaires, veuillez visiter l’écran des Commentaires dans le Tableau de bord.
    Les avatars des personnes qui commentent arrivent depuis Gravatar.

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