About This Lesson
In this listening exercise, we'll practice understanding how people talk about their activities using the Past Simple tense. You'll learn useful vocabulary for describing what people did in the evening and practice using regular and irregular verbs in the past tense.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand authentic English conversations about past activities
- Learn vocabulary for talking about evening activities and events
- Practice Past Simple tense with regular and irregular verbs
Pre-Listening Task
Listening Task
A = Anya Ai = Aimee An = Annika J = Jim L = Lara S = Seosamh
What did or didn't you do last night?
L: Well, last night we , we to Oxford and to the Harry Potter Studios. And so, yeah, we didn't for dinner or anything, we just our own lunch and, yeah, a little .
A: Last night I home, studied, and I didn't .
J: Last night my wife and I to a restaurant, but we didn't , we a taxi.
S: Last night I from Manchester down to London, I down. When I London I very tired so I didn't TV, I didn't see a film. I just home and went to bed.
An: I a book and I didn't go out.
Ai: Yeah, I skateboarding last night. I a new and I didn't , so it really well.
| Activity | Who? |
|---|---|
| Went to Harry Potter Studios and had a road trip | |
| Stayed home and studied | |
| Walked to a restaurant but took taxi back | |
| Drove from Manchester to London and went straight to bed | |
| Read a book at home | |
| Went skateboarding and learned a new trick |
Post-Listening Task
Grammar Focus: Past Simple Tense
Notice how the speakers use the Past Simple tense to talk about completed actions in the past. Pay attention to both regular verbs (packed, walked, travelled) and irregular verbs (went, had, took, drove, was, read).
Examples from the interview:
- "We went to Oxford" (irregular verb)
- "I stayed at home" (regular verb)
- "We didn't go out" (negative form)
- "I drove down" (irregular verb)
- "I learned a new trick" (regular verb)
