The past simple, part 4 of 4

Past Simple Negatives and Questions: Did and Didn't

To make the past negative, use didn't; to ask, use did, with the verb in its base form: I didn't go. Did you go?

A1 · 14 minBefore:Past simple affirmative

The idea

What did and didn't are

Did is the helper verb of the past: it shows up when you make a negative or ask. It carries the past, so the main verb stays in its base form.

It denies something. What you did not do: I didn't see the email.
It asks if it happened. To find out about the past: Did you lock the door?
It gives short answers, with did and without repeating the verb: Did you lock it? No, I didn't.

When to use it

To say what did not happen and to ask someone what they did: Did you go? What did you eat? I didn't see it. These expressions go with it:

Everyday questions

Did you have fun?
How did it go?
What did you say?
When did it happen?

Common negatives

I didn't know.
I didn't mean it.
I didn't have time.
It didn't work.

Did as a main verb (do)

did my homework
did the dishes
did my best

Examples

Something you didn't do
I didn't go to work yesterday.
Something that didn't happen
It didn't rain last weekend.
Asking if it happened
Did you sleep well?
Asking what happened
What did you do on Saturday?
Asking where
Where did they go on vacation?
Short answers
Did you like it? Yes, I did.

How to build it

4 steps

To make it negative, didn't before the verbThe same for everyone: I, she, they.She didn't call.
To ask, Did at the startThen who and the verb:Did she call?
The verb goes back to its base formNo -ed and no irregular form: did already says it is past.I didn't go (no I didn't went)
With what, where, or why, the word goes before didIf who or what is the one doing the action, there is no did: Who called you?Where did you go?

Negative

SubjectWe
didn'tdidn't
base verbsee
complementthe movie.

Question

(What / Where...)Where
diddid
subjectyou
base verbgo
complementlast night
??

Short answer

Yes / NoYes,
subjectwe
did / didn'tdid.

How to pronounce it

did
/dɪd/
A short, relaxed i: /ɪ/.
didn't
/ˈdɪdənt/
Two syllables, stress on the first. The final t is often barely heard.
did you
/ˈdɪdʒu/
In fast speech, did you blends together: /ˈdɪdʒu/ or /ˈdɪdʒə/.

Check

She didn't (blank) the movie. Which word goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with was and were

I wasn't at home.

Was: no did

I didn't go home.

Other verbs: with did

Was and were don't use did: I wasn't at home. Were you tired? Did is for all other verbs.

Was and were

In real life

In casual conversation you also hear the question without did, just with rising intonation: You went to the party? It confirms something you already think. For a real question, use did.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the verb have no -ed after did?

Because the past is marked only once in the sentence. If did already marks it, the main verb stays in its dictionary form: Did she work? She didn't work.

What is the difference between didn't and did not?

They mean the same thing. Didn't is normal in speech and texts; did not is used in formal writing or for emphasis: I did NOT take your phone.

Why doesn't Who called you? use did?

Because there who is the person who called: the question already has the doer, and the verb is in the normal past (called). If you ask about the person someone called, did comes in: Who did you call?

Can did also be the main verb?

Yes: did is the past of do. I did my homework. That is why What did you do? has two: the first one helps and the second one means do.

In short

Negative: didn't + base verb (I didn't go).
Question: Did + subject + base verb (Did you go?).
After did, the verb has no -ed: Did she call?
Short answer with did: Yes, we did. / No, we didn't.

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