You will be able to use the Past Simple for completed actions, describe past habits with used to, and manage time clauses with after, before and as soon as in workplace contexts.
The Past Simple describes actions or states that finished at a definite time in the past. It is formed with the base verb plus -ed for regular verbs, or irregular forms for common verbs. We use it to tell what happened in a completed period, to report business decisions, or to describe repeated habits in the past.
James received the budget report on Monday morning.
We launched the product, contacted all suppliers, and recruited the new team in three months.
Sarah used to travel to Manchester every week, but she works from home now.
The office was quiet during the summer holiday.
After we signed the contract, the supplier began delivery.
Priya organised the quarterly results meeting last Tuesday.
The team did not complete the report before Friday.
Short form: The team didn't complete the report before Friday.
Did Oliver send the invoice yesterday?
Did Emma not attend the shareholder meeting on Monday?
Short form: Didn't Emma attend the shareholder meeting on Monday?
Common mistake. Do not mix the Past Simple with the Present Perfect when there is a specific time. Say I sent the email at 3pm yesterday, not I have sent the email at 3pm yesterday. Remember that used to refers only to past habits that no longer happen; for habits that still happen, use the Present Simple.
Choose the correct form for each gap. Your answer is marked at once, with the reason.
1.Daniel ___ (negotiate) the contract with the supplier last month.
positive2.The budget ___ (increase) by 15 percent in the previous financial year.
positive3.Aisha ___ (work) in the London office from 2015 to 2019.
positive4.Tom ___ (use) to attend the annual conference every year, but he retired last spring.
positive5.After we ___ (sign) the agreement, the project team began their work immediately.
positive6.The shareholders ___ (receive) their quarterly dividend in July last year.
positive7.Before the meeting ___ (begin), James reviewed all the client feedback.
positive8.The supplier ___ (not / deliver) the goods on time last week.
negative9.We ___ (not / complete) the budget proposal before the end of March.
negative10.Emma ___ (not / attend) the training session yesterday morning.
negative11.The team ___ (not / use) to work at weekends, but the new project requires it.
negative12.Oliver ___ (not / send) the quarterly results report to the shareholders yet.
negative13.___ (you / finish) the presentation slides by noon yesterday?
question14.___ (the budget / increase) significantly in the last financial year?
question15.___ (Priya / work) in the Manchester office two years ago?
question16.___ (the team / recruit) enough staff before the project launched?
question17.___ (Tom / use) to attend the annual budget review meeting?
question18.___ (you / not / complete) the quarterly report before last Friday?
negative question19.___ (Sarah / not / receive) the contract last week?
negative question20.___ (the supplier / not / deliver) the goods on time yesterday?
negative question