How things happened!

In this third learning activity of English Dot Works 4, you will learn about simple
past, past continuous, the structure of used to, time words such as always, as, as
quickly as possible, immediately, at the age of, eventually, later, soon, then, until
and some vocabulary related to life changes.

Introductory material

Dear learner,

This material will help you study the topics related to learning activity 3.

You will learn about:

1. Past simple vs. Past simple continuous.

2. Used to.

3. Time words in narrative: always, as, as quickly as possible, immediately,

eventually, later, soon, then, until, and at the age of

4. Vocabulary related to life changes.

Lets begin!
 1. Past simple vs. Past simple continuous

Look at the following picture and the actions people were doing yesterday.

Yesterday at the park

Fuente: SENA

a. A man talked on the phone. e. A child played in the slide.

b. Some children played in the f. A mom strolled around the park

sandbox. with her daughter.

c. A couple read a book. g. A child played with some toy cars.

d. A guy walked his dog. h. A child rode a tricycle.

As you can see, all activities happened in the past. How do you know it? Lets
review the use of simple past.
You should remember that the simple past tense is used to talk about activities that
began and ended in the past.

Past present Future

A. How to use simple past?

To make affirmative, negative or interrogative sentences in simple past, you

should follow the structures shown below.

Affirmative sentences

I studied English at SENA.

Subject Verb in past Complement

Negative sentences

I did not (didnt) study English at SENA.

did not
Verb in base
Subject or Complement
form
didnt

Interrogative sentences

Yes, I did /
Did you study English at SENA?
No, I didnt
Verb in base Short
Did Subject Complement
form answers

You should know something very important about the use of simple past tense,
and it is the use of regular and irregular verbs.

B. Regular verbs

Most verbs are formed in past by simply adding ed at the end of the verb. Those
verbs are called regular verbs.

Examples:
 Simple form Past form
Wash Washed
Call Called
Cook Cooked
Open Opened
Close Closed
Watch Watched
Talk Talked
Paint Painted

Conjugation: There are some rules when adding -ed to a verb.

Rules Examples
For regular verbs that end in e, add d. Hope - hoped
For regular verbs that end in a vowel
other than e, add ed. Echo - echoed

For regular verbs that end in a vowel +

y, add -ed. Play - played

For regular verbs that end in a

consonant+y, change the y to i and add Cry - cried
ed.
For regular verbs that end in a
Plan - planned
consonant + vowel + consonant,
double the final consonant and add ed.
Mix - mixed
Do not double if the consonant is w or x.
For regular verbs that have more than
one syllable and the last syllable is
stressed, double the consonant and add Regret - regretted
ed.
For regular verbs that have more than
one syllable, and the last is not stressed,
do not double the consonant and add
ed. Listen - listened
C. Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs dont follow any of the rules mentioned above.

Some irregular verbs are shown below.

Simple form Past form

Arise Arose
Awake Awakened - awoke
Be Was - were
Begin Began
Bend Bent
Bite Bit
Catch Caught
Drink Drunk
Drive Drove
Fall Fell
Feed Fed
Feel Felt
Fly Flew
Hide Hid
Hit Hit
Hold Held
Keep Kept
Lose Lost
Make Made
Mean Meant
Meet Met
Put Put
Read Read
Ride Rode
Write Wrote
D. Past continuous

Read the following conversation between a man and a woman:

What were you I was watching a

doing last night?
movie when my
I called you but boss called me. We
you didnt answer. talked over an hour.
Sorry!

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

As you can see in the situation, they are referring to some actions that took place
in the past. They are using expressions in past continuous (what were you doing
last night; I was watching a movie) and some in simple past (I called you last
night; my boss called me; we talked over an hour).

E. When is past continuous used?

The past continuous is used in the following cases:

1. To describe a past action over a period of time.

Example:

I was playing
the guitar last
night.

Fuente: SENA
 I was playing the guitar Past

Action started Action finished Now

2. To describe what someone was doing at a specific point in time.

For example:

I was having
What were you
dinner with my
doing yesterday
wife.
evening?

Fuente: SENA

Past
I was having dinner with my wife

Yesterday evening

3. To describe an action in progress that was interrupted by other action in the

past. You should use the word when before the simple past.

For example:
 He was making dinner when the telephone rang.

Fuente: SENA

He was making dinner when the telephone rang Past

Action started Action interrupted

4. When two actions are taking place at the same time in the past. You should
use the word while between the two actions.

For example:

I was talking on the phone while I was driving.

Fuente: SENA
 Past
I was talking on the phone
while
I was driving

Now you will learn how to make affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences
in past continuous.

Affirmative sentences

I was reading a book.

Verb be in
Subject Verb in -ing form Complement
past form

More examples:

Verb be in
Subject Verb in -ing form Complement
past form
I was having dinner.
You were washing the dishes.
He was laughing all the time.
She was writing her report.
It was working perfectly.
We were waiting for her.
They were painting a piece of art.

Negative sentences

wasnt
I reading a book.
was not
Verb be in past form Verb in -
Subject Complement
+ negative form ing form

More examples:
 Verb be in past form + Verb in -ing
Subject Complement
negative form form
I wasnt having dinner.
You werent washing the dishes.
He wasnt laughing all the time.
She wasnt writing her report.
It wasnt working perfectly.
We werent waiting for her.
They werent painting a piece of art.

Interrogative sentences

Yes, you
Was I reading a book? were / No,
you werent
Verb be in Verb in -ing Short
Subject Complement
past form form answers

More examples:

Verb in -ing
Verb Subject Complement Short answers
form
Yes, you were /
Was I saying anything wrong ?
No, you werent
dinner with your Yes, I was / No, I
Were you having
family? wasnt
Yes, he was / No,
Was he running in the park ?
he wasnt
Yes, she was /
Was she working last night?
No, she wasnt
Yes, it was / No,
Was it running fast?
it wasnt
Yes, we were /
Were we waiting the right person?
No, we werent
Yes, they were /
Were they rehearsing for the concert?
No, they werent
 2. Used to

Look at the examples about Alexs music career.

Alex used to play the piano for Present

the symphonic orchestra.

Now, he plays the drums

Past in rock band.

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

This situation shows that Alex played the piano for some time in the past, but not
anymore. In the present, he plays the drums.

Uses of used to

The structure used to refers to habits, states or repeated actions that happened
in the past but no longer happens in the present. For examples:

Habits:

He used to drink five cups of coffee every day. Now he drinks just one.

Past Present

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

 States:

Marylyn used to be very shy when she was 18. She is an outgoing person
now.

Past Present

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

Repeated actions:

I used to eat a hamburger at least twice a week. I am on a diet now so I dont

have any.

Past Present

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

Used to is also chosen to talk about something that was true in the past, but it
is not true in the present. Look at the following examples:
 People used to think that the earth was flat. Now, we know it is round.

Past Present

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

People used to smoke in the airplanes. It is forbidden now.

Past Present

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

3. Time words in narrative: always, as, as quickly as possible, immediately,

eventually, later, soon, then, until and at the age of

In this part, you will learn about time words. The purpose of these words is to
provide you with expressions that will improve your communicative performance in
daily situations.

The time words you will learn are:

o Always. o Later.

o As. o Soon.

o As quickly as possible. o Then.

o Immediately. o Until.

o Eventually. o At the age of

A. Use of always

Always is commonly used in English. We use always in the following

situations:

a. To say that something happens on all occasions. For example:

The sun always rises in the west.

Fuente: SENA

b. To say that something happened throughout a long time in the past. For
example:

She always wanted to be a singer.

Fuente: SENA
 c. To say that something is or was repeatedly and annoying. For example:

The kids were always screaming and running around the room.

Fuente: SENA

He is always getting late to work.

Fuente: SENA

Note:
a. Use always before a main verb, except with the verb to be. For example:

We always play tennis on Sunday morning.

The doctor is always concerned about patients health.
b. Always is hardly found at the beginning of a sentence, except with orders.
For example:

Always wash your hands before eating.

B. Use of as

a. We use as to express equality or similarity. For example:

The baby was dressed as a clown.

Fuente: SENA

b. We use as to talk about the function or role of someone or something. For

example:

I work as a waiter in a five start She worked as a flight

hotel. attendant for three years.

Fuente: SENA Fuente: SENA

The table had candles as decoration.

Fuente: SENA
c. We use as to link a result with a cause. For example:

As I was late for the meeting, I took a taxi.

Fuente: SENA

d. We use as when one event happened while another was in progress. For
example:

I saw Richard as I was running in the park.

Fuente: SENA

e. We use as to make comparisons. For example:

He became a doctor as his father.

Fuente: SENA
 f. We use as to express in the way that. For example:

As I predicted, it is a sunny day.

Fuente: SENA

g. We use as to talk about identical things. For example:

Your car is the same color as mine.

Yours

Mine

Fuente: SENA

C. Use of as quickly as possible

a. We use as quickly as possible to indicate that something is urgent to be

done. For example:

We need to fix the roof as quickly as possible.

Fuente: SENA
D. Use of immediately

a. We use immediately to indicate that something must be done without

waiting or thinking. For example:

He really needs to extinguish that fire immediately.

Fuente: SENA

b. We also use immediately to indicate proximity in distance or time. For

example:

Proximity in distance: Proximity in time:

The bakery is immediately after They traveled to Cartagena

the drugstore. immediately after Christmas.

Fuente: SENA Fuente: SENA

E. Use of eventually

We use eventually to indicate that something finally happened after a long

time of effort or wait. For example:
 I waited for two years this job offer, and eventually they hired me.

Two years

Fuente: SENA

F. Use of later

We use later to indicate that an action will take place in the near future or to
indicate a subsequently action. For example:

a. Near future.
I will see you
later!

Fuente: SENA

b. Subsequently action.

The police was looking for the thief and later he was arrested.

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

G. Use of soon

Soon is used to express actions that will happen or happened in or after a

short time. For example:

Mom will After 10 minutes

be home
soon!

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

Erika soon arrived and we went to the party.

It means Erika didnt take too much time to arrive. She was punctual.

Fuente: SENA

H. Use of then

We use then in the following situations:

a. To express an event at a certain time in the past. For example:

 I wanted to work in Germany but then my husband wanted to stay in
Colombia.

I want to go to I want to stay

Germany. in Colombia.

Fuente: SENA

b. To express an action that will take place after another event. For example:

Let me
finish this report
and then we can
go.

Fuente: SENA

c. To add some more information about something. For example:

This is the newest car then it is the most expensive.

Fuente: SENA
 d. To express a result. For example:

I needed to save time then I traveled by plane.

Fuente: SENA

I. Use of until

a. We use until as a conjunction to express an event up to the event

mentioned. For example:

I was reading until you called me.

Fuente: SENA

b. We use until as a preposition to express an event up to the point in time

mentioned. For example:

We have to work until 9:00 p.m.

Fuente: SENA
 c. Until is also used to express distance. For example:

You should walk until the end of the corner, and then turn left.

Fuente: SENA
J. Use of at the age of

We use this expression to express events that took place at a specific age. For
example:

At the age of sixty, he wrote a novel.

Fuente: SENA

4. Vocabulary related to life changes

Do you think life is unchangeable?

The following images will show you some examples of changes in peoples lives.
Pay attention to the language used.
Growing up
The boy grew up very fast!

My brother just graduated from

Studying University. Now he hast to look
for a job.

My dad is a lawyer; he works for

an insurance company. My mom
Working for a
is a teacher. She works at a high
living
school.

Finding a life Jane and Robert are getting

companion married next December.

Bob and Mary married four years

Having ago. They now have two kids.
children Isla, a two-year old girl and little
Jake, who was recently born.
 After looking for a job for three
Getting
months, Oliver has finally found a
employed
job.

Mariana and Pedro got

married last year.
Getting
However, they were not
married or
getting along well so
divorced
they just divorced.

My dad is 60 this year.

Getting old Hes getting old now.

Eating a lot of fruits and

vegetables and
Staying
avoiding fast food will
healthy
help you stay healthy.

Losing Carla just lost her mom

someone you in a car accident. She is
love really devastated.
 After decades of
dedication and hard
work, grandma has
Retiring finally retired. She is
now at home enjoying
family life with her
grandchildren.

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

What transition are you going through?

Contextualization

Read the following dialogue.

Oh!
This is amazing! Oh really?
I love the song the I didnt have any
pianist was playing. I idea about it.
used to play that song What happened then?
with my rock band a Why didnt you continue
few years ago. playing?
 The same happened to me.
I was working with an airline when
my current employer asked me to
work with him, then my life
Well,
changed. I am traveling all the
I used to have more
time.
free time. I changed
my job and now, I
have too many things
to do.

I am working as a
consultant. I used to work I see.
Where do you I always wanted to be
as an engineer but as you an engineer as my father.
work now? know, the salary was not I think it is an interesting
good. job.

Yes, it is.
When I was little, I
always wanted to be a
singer. I used to sing in
front of a mirror all the
time.
Oh really?
When I was a kid I wanted
to be a musician. Then, at 12, I
studied music for five years;
and eventually, that dream
came true. But things have
changed now.
You are right.
life has changed.
What were you doing
when I called you
yesterday?

I was writing a
report. I am always I understand.
busy you know, as Did I tell you that I
have to go to Paris
I said before, too at the end of the
much work month?
to do.
 Thats great.
You are living soon!
What do you have
to do there? I have to take a
training program.
I will be there until
Christmas.

Thats fantastic.
Ive always wanted to
go to Paris

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

Comprehension

Based on the conversation, choose the option that best completes the sentence or
answers the question.

1. Who likes the song that the pianist was playing at the restaurant?

a. The man.
b. The woman.
c. None.

2. Why did the man stop playing in the rock band?

a. Because he got married.

b. Because he worked in an airline.
c. Because he has too much work.
3. The womans life changed because _________

a. she works in an airline.

b. she is learning how to sing.
c. she is out most of the time.

4. The woman changed her job because _________

a. there was a better offer.

b. she was fired.
c. she wanted to be a pilot.

5. Why did the woman sing in front of a mirror when she was little?

a. Because she studied music.

b. Because she wanted to be a singer.
c. Because she was in a rock band.

6. What was the man doing when the woman called him?

a. He was playing guitar.

b. He was reading a project.
c. He was writing.

7. The woman has to go to Paris because ______________

a. her family is there for Christmas.

b. she has to offer a training program.
c. she has to study there.

8. Based on the last part of the conversation, we can say that _________

a. the man has been to Paris before.

b. the man has never been to Paris.
c. the man is from Paris.

Practice 1

A. Complete the text with the correct verbs in past form. There are some that you
can use more than once.
 got watched met took asked

made rang ate had was

left brushed went spent

This morning my alarm _________ at 5:00 oclock. I _________up fifteen

minutes later. I ______ to the kitchen and I ________ some coffee. Then, I

_______ my teeth and _______ a shower. After that, I _______ dressed and I

_______ ready to go to work. I _______my apartment at 6:30. The traffic

_______ terrible. At work, my boss ________ me to write a report about the

sales during this month. I __________ almost four hours writing it. During lunch, I

________ potatoes and meat. In the afternoon, I ________ a long meeting with

my workmates. After work, I ______ with my girlfriend Sara, and we _________ a

movie. It was a good day!

B. Write past simple or past continuous in the gaps.

1. I _______________ (have a shower)

when my boss ____________ (call).
2. While my grandma __________
(make) some cookies, my mother
______ (sew).

3. The boy ______ (break) the window

when I ______ (sleep).

4. What _______________ (she/ do) last

night when you got home?

5. When you ___________ (open) the

door, the baby ______________
(play).
6. I ______(go) to the doctor because I
________(have) a terrible earache.

7. When the accident happened, we

_________ (drive) home.

8. ________ you ________ (pass) the

final tests at school?

9. The man _________ (sleep) while the

thieves _________ (break) into the
house.
 10. My son ________ (swim) in the pool
when the alarm __________(ring).

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

C. Match the boxes to make correct sentences.

a. No, I didnt. It was not fun
D.1. There used to be a
theater in front of my for me.
office
b. but he stopped fifteen
years ago.
2. My father used to smoke
c. that life is full of surprises.
3. Ronald used to play the
piano when he was 8
d. hide and seek when we
4. I didnt use to read when I were kids.
was at school
e. but now there is a
5. Did you use to dance shopping mall.
when you were younger?
f. now I love books.
6. My parents used to tell
me
g. now he is a singer.
7. When I was at school
h. some classmates used to
8. My brother and I used to call me Mr. knowing all.
play
i. I want to play guitar.

j. I was taking some

pictures.
 Practice 2

A. Organize the words to make correct sentences.

1.
to best always try I my do

2.
night always She crying during was the
s

3.
always be wanted to cook Elizabeth a

4.
hammer use a Dont the as shoe

5.
used as My a to flight work

attendant mom
 6.
was predicted weather As you the

awful
.

7.
saw as I Helen running in I

was park

B. Complete the sentences with the correct option.

1. You should buy the tickets __________________. It is a great band.

as quickly as possible
eventually
then

2. Marcus arrived very __________ so we didnt waste time.

immediately
soon
later

3. This guy composed the melody of this song __________________ seventy.

at the age of
as quickly as possible
then
 4. We stayed in the hospital ______ three in the morning.
then
soon
until
5. I was at the concert and a beautiful girl was sitting ___________ behind me.
immediately
soon
later
6. Let me feed my pet and _________ we can go.
eventually
then
until

7. He __________ decided to buy a new computer.

eventually
then
until
C. Match the boxes to make correct sentences.

1. He ordered a coffee Sure, give me a call!

2. I called an ambulance three years later in Barranquilla.

Sure, you have to walk until the

3. He wants to continue end of the street and turn right.
working in the company
until someone knocked on the
4. Is it posible to see you door.
later?
immediately after entering the
5. I met Kathy again restaurant.

immediately after the accident.

6. The situation was hard then
because I didnt have a job.
 7. I was sleeping and eventually become a
president.

8. I am looking for a drugstore. He needed to talk to you

Can you tell me where it is? immediately.

D. Match the image with the life change or event.

1. Start working.

2. Getting married.

3. Losing someone you love.

 4. Going to school.

5. Growing up.

6. Getting divorced.

7. From being young to being

old.

Fuente de imgenes: SENA

 Pronunciation practice

Note: This practice must be completed using the multimedia version of the
study material. There you will find the corresponding sound files.

A. Look at the transcription of the following words. Write the words.

Note: The symbol represents the stressed syllable. If the word

has three or more syllables, a secondary stress can also appear.

For example:

morning mathematician

mrn mmtn

Transcription Word Transcription Word

n kmpnjn
miditli smlrt i
sksesfl krswrd
ntendbl sbskwntli
kstw kln

B. Go to the multimedia and listen to the following words. Notice the stress patterns
in the following nouns which are composed by noun + noun or by an adjective +
noun.
 Noun + Noun Adjective + Noun

Flight attendant Long meeting

Now, classify the words on the following list according to their stress pattern.

Word search Toothpaste

Full moon Ice-cream

Software Hot dog

Rock band Police officer

Black eyes Blue jeans

Noun + Noun Adjective + Noun

C. Go to the multimedia and listen to the pronunciation of the following sentences.

Then, say them aloud. Try to imitate the intonation pattern used.

The sun always rises in the west.

The baby was dressed as a clown.
I work as a waiter in a five stars hotel.
We need to fix the roof as quickly as possible.
He really needs to extinguish that fire
immediately.
 I waited for two years this job offer, and
eventually they hired me.
The police was looking for the thief and later
he was arrested.
Erika soon arrived and we went to the party.
I wanted to work in Germany but then my
husband wanted to stay in Colombia.
I was reading until you called me.

Document control

Name Position Dependence Date

Theme expert
Author Asesor English Direccin de
Ricardo
Dot Works - formacin October
Aristizbal
Programa de profesional. 2014
Salinas
bilingismo Direccin General

Luz Clarena Copy editor Centro

Adaptation Arias Lnea de Agroindustrial. October
Gonzlez Produccin Regional Quindo 2014