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⏱️ 12 Mins • Grammar Workshop

📸 Past Simple: Questions & Negatives

Learn to ask and answer about photos in the past: Did you take photos? I didn't use a flash!

TEACHER

How to guide the class

1. Run this 12-minute quick session in pairs or as solo practice.

2. Check answers together with the answer key at the end.

STUDENT

What to do next

1. First read the four camera rules in the table carefully.

2. Then complete all 12 photography challenges below.

A vintage film camera resting on a wooden studio table beside a sleek tripod, a camera lens, and printed portrait snapsh

Snapshot Setup: Remember to keep the main action verb in its simple base form!

📋

Camera Rules: Past Simple in Action

Yes / No Questions

Did + Subject + Base Verb

To ask a past question we put Did before the person and use the simple base verb. The main verb does not change to the past form. We say Did you see it? and never Did you saw it?.

✓ Did Tara use a tripod?

✓ Did you clean the lens?

Negative Sentences

Subject + didn't + Base Verb

For a negative we use didn't and the base verb. The rule is the same for all persons: I, you, he, she, it, we, they. Avoid changing the main verb to the past form after didn't.

✓ He didn't zoom in on the face.

✓ I didn't press the button.

Short Answers

Yes, S + did. / No, S + didn't.

A short answer repeats only did or didn't. We say Yes, I did or No, I didn't. We do not add the main camera verb at the end.

✓ Did they print the pictures? No, they didn't.

✓ Did she delete the folder? Yes, she did.

Question Words & The Verb Be

Wh- + did ... / Was / Were ... ?

With a question word like Where or Why we put did after it. The verb be is different, so we say Was the light good? and never Did the light be good?.

✓ Where did you take this portrait?

✓ Was the light good?

Remember this camera pattern

"I didn't bring my tripod, so I held the camera and took a snapshot."

Why this works: Use didn't with the base verb bring, but use the simple past held and took for positive actions.

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Photo Studio Practice (12 Challenges)

Level A2

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

Select the one option with the correct past grammar.

1. Which sentence is correct? (verb)

____ Did you press the round button? ____ Did you pressed the round button? ____ You did press the round button?

2. Which sentence is correct? (negative)

____ Mark didn't use a bright flash. ____ Mark didn't used a bright flash. ____ Mark not use a bright flash.

3. Which sentence is correct? (be)

____ Was the photo clear? ____ Did the photo be clear? ____ Did the photo was clear?

Part 2: Rewrite the sentence as a question with Did

Start with Did and change the verb to the base form.

Statement 4 (question)

Alex changed the color filter on the camera.

____ (Type the question here...)

Statement 5 (base)

You saved the snapshot on your phone.

____ (Type the question here...)

Statement 6 (action)

The tourist zoomed in on the bird.

____ (Type the question here...)

Part 3: Fill in the missing word

Type one word into each gap to complete the sentence.

Question 7 (negative)

I wanted to take a selfie but I ____ bring my mini tripod.

Question 8 (short)

"Did you move the pictures to a new folder?" — "Yes, I ____ ."

Question 9 (order)

Why ____ the photographer change the glass lens yesterday?

Part 4: Correct the errors

Read this short message about a photography walk. Find the 3 mistakes and write the correct forms.

✉️ Message from Sam

"Yesterday I walked to the park with my sister. We [10] didn't brought our big camera. [11] Did you took any nice portraits yesterday? [12] Why did the snapshot was so dark?"

Correction 10 (base)

Write the correct words for: didn't brought

____ (Correct phrase...)

Correction 11 (verb)

Write the correct words for: Did you took

____ (Correct phrase...)

Correction 12 (be)

Write the correct words for: Why did the snapshot was

____ (Correct phrase...)

Great job! You have practiced questions, negatives, short answers, and the verb be with photography vocabulary.

Grammar: Past Simple Questions and Negatives in Photography

📸 Past Simple: Questions & Negatives

How to guide the class

What to do next

Camera Rules: Past Simple in Action

Yes / No Questions

Negative Sentences

Short Answers

Question Words & The Verb Be

Photo Studio Practice (12 Challenges)

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

Part 2: Rewrite the sentence as a question with Did

Part 3: Fill in the missing word

Part 4: Correct the errors

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