Talking About Past Events

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Person sharing their weekend activities
CEFR: A1
Past Simple

Talking About Past Events



Écoutez le texte du cours.

🎧 Read/Listen first

I went to the park last Saturday. I played soccer with my friends. We had a picnic and ate sandwiches. It was sunny and warm. I enjoyed my time at the park.

⚡ Learning goals

  • Understand past simple tense
  • Use simple sentences about past events
  • Talk about activities in the past

🔑 Key language

  • I went to the park. I went to the park last Saturday.
  • We had a picnic. We had a picnic and ate sandwiches.
  • It was sunny. It was sunny and warm.

🌍 Global comprehension

What did I do last Saturday?

What did we eat at the picnic?

It was ___ and warm.

✍️ AI writing analysis

CEFR: A1Length: 3 to 5 sentences

Task: Write about your last weekend.

Use simple sentences about what you did.

Success criteria: Use past simple correctly.

Target vocabulary

  • went
  • had
  • sunny
  • park
  • friends
Grammar focus

  • past simple
  • simple sentences

✍️ Vocabulary

wentto move from one place to another.
I went to the park.
Repeat: I went
Défi rapide : Say 'went' in a sentence.
hadto possess or experience something.
We had a picnic.
Repeat: We had
Défi rapide : Use 'had' in a sentence.
sunnyhaving a lot of sunlight.
It was sunny and warm.
Repeat: It was sunny
Défi rapide : Describe a sunny day.
parka public green area for recreation.
I went to the park.
Repeat: to the park
Défi rapide : Name a park you like.
friendspeople you know well and like.
I played with my friends.
Repeat: my friends
Défi rapide : Say something about your friends.

🧠 Flashcards interactives

Choisissez la bonne réponse, écoutez le modèle, puis répétez à voix haute.

Chargement des flashcards interactives…

⚙️ Rules & Grammar

🟣 Using the Past Simple

Rule:
The past simple is used to talk about actions that happened in the past. We often use 'went', 'had', and 'was'.

Examples:

  • I went to the park.
  • She had a picnic.
Common pitfall + fix:

  • I go to the park. → I went to the park.
  • We has a picnic. → We had a picnic.
✓Check your understanding
What is the past simple of 'go'?

✍Use the language
Complete: She ___ a sandwich.

🟣 Using 'was' and 'were'

Rule:
We use 'was' for singular subjects and 'were' for plural subjects. It describes a state in the past.

Examples:

  • I was happy.
  • They were at the park.
Common pitfall + fix:

  • I were happy. → I was happy.
  • They was at the park. → They were at the park.
✓Check your understanding
What is the correct form?

✍Use the language
Complete: They ___ at the park.

🟣 Forming Simple Sentences

Rule:
A simple sentence has a subject and a verb. It can also have an object. Keep it clear and short.

Examples:

  • I went to the park.
  • We had fun.
Common pitfall + fix:

  • I went park. → I went to the park.
  • We had picnic. → We had a picnic.
✓Check your understanding
Which is a simple sentence?

✍Use the language
Complete: They ___ soccer.

🟣 Using Time Expressions

Rule:
Time expressions like 'last Saturday' help to show when something happened. They make sentences clear.

Examples:

  • I went to the park last Saturday.
  • We had a picnic yesterday.
Common pitfall + fix:

  • I went to the park. → I went to the park last Saturday.
  • We had picnic. → We had a picnic yesterday.
✓Check your understanding
What is a time expression?

✍Use the language
Complete: I went to the park ___.

🧩 Guided practice

Mini-dialogue:
I went to the park last Saturday. It was sunny. We had a picnic.

Why this matters:
This language helps you talk about your past activities.

Verb & Adjective Pack:
Use simple sentences to share your experiences.

I ___ to the park last Saturday.
We ___ a picnic yesterday.
It was ___ and warm.

🎙️ AI oral analysis

CEFR: A1Oral target: 3 to 5 sentences

Oral task: Write about your last weekend.

Use simple sentences about what you did.

Success criteria: Use past simple correctly.

Target vocabulary

  • went
  • had
  • sunny
  • park
  • friends
Grammar focus

  • past simple
  • simple sentences

🚀 Quick challenge

Listen to the model, repeat aloud, then retry to improve your score.

EASYSay what you did last weekend.
Model: I went to the park.
Use past simple correctly.
EASYDescribe the weather last Saturday.
Model: It was sunny.
Use 'was' correctly.
MEDIUMTell me about your friends.
Model: I played with my friends.
Use 'with' correctly.

AI Conversation Mission

Situation

You are sharing your weekend activities.

Your mission
  • Tell about your last Saturday.
  • Describe the weather.
  • Mention who you were with.
Focus language
past simplesimple sentencestime expressions
Communication tip

Use clear and short sentences.