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English grammar

did and did not

A2 · Elementary Asking questions Questions 10

The rule

Questions and negatives in the past use did, and the main verb goes back to its plain form. Did you go? — not Did you went? The same is true of the negative: I did not see him, never I did not saw him. be is the exception: it uses was/were with no did.

Pattern

Did + subject + plain verb? · did not + plain verb · but: Was he …? / He was not …

Examples

  1. Did you call the office?

  2. I did not understand the last part.

  3. Where did she go after work?

  4. They did not receive the letter.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: Did you went to the doctor?

    Right: Did you go to the doctor?

    After did the verb has no past ending.

  • Wrong: I did not saw him.

    Right: I did not see him.

    did not is followed by the plain verb.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    Did you _____ the email?

    1. sends
    2. send
    3. sending
    4. sent
    Show answer

    Answer: B Did you send the email?

    After did the verb is plain.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    She did not _____ the bus this morning.

    1. catches
    2. caught
    3. catching
    4. catch
    Show answer

    Answer: D She did not catch the bus this morning.

    After did not the verb is plain.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    _____ they enjoy the trip?

    1. Did
    2. Were
    3. Do
    4. Was
    Show answer

    Answer: A Did they enjoy the trip?

    A past question with an ordinary verb starts with Did.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    _____ she at the meeting yesterday?

    1. Did
    2. Was
    3. Does
    4. Were
    Show answer

    Answer: B Was she at the meeting yesterday?

    With be, use was or were, not did.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    What time _____ the shop close?

    1. did
    2. does
    3. were
    4. was
    Show answer

    Answer: A What time did the shop close?

    A wh-word, then did, then the plain verb.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Did he pay by card?
    2. Did he paid by card?
    3. Did he pays by card?
    4. He did pay by card?
    Show answer

    Answer: A Did he pay by card?

    After did the verb is plain.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. We did not have time.
    2. We did not had time.
    3. We had not time.
    4. We not had time.
    Show answer

    Answer: A We did not have time.

    did not is followed by have, not had.

  8. 8This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. Did you saw the doctor?
    2. Did she see the doctor?
    3. Did you see the nurse?
    4. Did you see the doctor?
    Show answer

    Answer: A Did you saw the doctor?

    After did the verb loses its past form.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. She was not at home.
    2. She did not was at home.
    3. They were not at home.
    4. She did not stay at home.
    Show answer

    Answer: B She did not was at home.

    be does not take did.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    Did you speak to the manager

    Show answer

    Answer: Did you speak to the manager?

    Did, then the subject, then the plain verb.

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