Simple present Affirmative "The simple present for |, you, we, and they is the same. For, the he/she/It forms, add-s,-es, or les to the verb, Spelling: he/she/it forms * Ifa verb ends in-o, add -es: ‘Ana goes to the computer club at school. * Ifa verb ends in a consonant and -y, change the -y toi and add es: Dylan always tries to do his homework before dinner. * Ifa verb ends in-s,-2,-X,-ch, or sh, add -es: He teaches French at my school. Negative ™ Form the simple present negative with don’t (do not) o doesn't (does nat) + verb, * In informal speech and wrting, you usually use the convactions dont and does In negative sentences, don't adds to the verb after doesn't: He doesn't speak French, (not He doean'tspeaks French) Questions and short answers '* Form questions in the simple present with do/does + subject + verb. Question words ' To ask questions in the simple present, use question word + do/does + subject + verb: What do you think about the video? se adverbs and expressions of frequency to say how ‘you do something: never logs on during the week. onally /from time to time / now and then / evening/day/week sions of frequency go at the beginning or end of a Articles: a/an, the and zero article a/an Use (e/an) * before one example ofa thing: I have a new tablet * before somebody’ job: -My sister isa teacher. * Use an when the noun begins witha vowel: |My phone has an app for history homework. the Use the before: * a specie thing: He bought the green cell phone. * something there is only one of The internet is very useful for Nomework. "= superlatives and dates: The Cornerhouse is the best café in the clty. My birthday is on the 24st of June. * something already mentioned: There’ a computer club at my school. The club is on Thursday. * countries and places with a plural name: ''m going on vacation to the United States. zero article Don't use an article before: * plural or uncountable nouns: ‘Many teenagers lke playing video games. We get math homework every day. * things in general It useful to have maps on a cell phone. ' meals, days, streets, singular place names: I eat lunch in the cafeteria, He lives in Chicago.GRAMMAR DATABASE Present progressive review USE * Use the present progressive to talk about things in progress now or around now: Josh is busy. He's cooking dinner. It isn't raining now. Lets go out What are you doing? ‘Are you studying for the math test? Present progressive and simple present * Use the present progressive to talk about things in progress. ‘now or around now, and the simple present for habits and routines and things that are generally rue: We usually have pizza on Fridays, but today were having pasta, "Use time expressions such as now, right now, or tocay with the present progressive: 1'm studying for my math test right now. "Use time expressions such as on Wednesdays, every week, never, usually, and always with the simple present: always do the dishes after dinner. FORM Affirmative * Form the present progressive with be + ng form of the verb, Im Youre readige a book, He's/She's its. raining. Were watching 0. Theyre Spelling "Ifa vetb ends in-e, remove the final before adding, sng: take - taking use - using ® Ifa verb ends in a vowel (e., 2, o) and a consonant (e.@.,m,,), double the consonant before adding “ing: swim - Swimming shop - shopping ' Ifa verb ends in ie, change the -ie to ¥ before adding ing: He ying Negative * Form the present progressive nogative with be + not + ng form of the ver. rm not You aren't doing the laundry, He/She Isn't Itisn't working. We/They aren't cooking dinner. + You usually use the contractions of be in the present progressive: He's waiting forthe bus. UNIT Questions and short answers ‘= Form present progressive questions with be + subject + Ing form of the verb, making alot of Yes, you are. / Ana noise? ‘No, you aren't. Yes, |am. / a Ea No, I'm not are coming tnigh? ane. / No, he/she isn’t. Yes, itis. / No, itisn't, Yes, we/they are, / No, we/they aren't. he/she it snowing, we/they being silly? ® You can also use question words (What, Who, Where, How) before be: Where are you staying in Miami? You never use contractions in atfimative short answers Yes, | am. (not Yes.) Stative verbs * You don’t usually use the present progressive with stative verbs like like, know, need, understand, and want. Use the simple present: NNasrin realy likes that book. (not Nasri is reaily-Hking- ‘thet-book) | don't understand the question. (not Hm-not- ‘enderstanding-the-question.) ® Other stative verbs are: agree, belleve, hate, love, remember EXE 01 cont usuaty use the present progressive with hear, see, or smell.Use can/can't instead: Tan hear you. Can you sy that again? (not Fant hearingyo Present progressive for future arrangements Use the present progressive to talk about arrangements, at specific times in the future: Tm cooking dinner this evening. Dad's taking me to the soccer game on Saturday. We aren't going anywhere this weekend, What are you doing tomorrow night? These are often travel plans or arrangements with other people: We're meeting Mario and Alyssa downtown this aftermoon. You often use time expressions with the present progressive for future arrangements, such as: tomorrow on the/'this weekend this evening/afternoon tonight (on Monday/Tuesday at seven o'clock next week/month/year in the summer in two weeks at the end of the month 121.GRAMMAR DATABASE Simple past ons that happened at a specific time in the past: 4, Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize. often use these time phrases with the simple past: yesterday yesterday morning/aftericon last night/week ‘an hour/two months ago on Monday in July/2011 Affirmative Regular verbs * Form the simple past of regular verbs with verb +-ed. Spelling ' Ifa verb ends in-y, change the y to / and add -ed: study ~ studied But not if there's a vowel before the play ~ played * If vero ends in a vowel (e.g.,0) and a consonant (e€.,p, 1), double the consonant before adding ed: stop ~ stopped Invegular verbs = Many verbs are irregular in the simple past. You have to learn these: give - gave, say - sald, see - saw, make - made. (See page 140 for alist of iregular verbs in the simple past.) Negative ' Form the negative simple past with didn't (did not) + verb. * Use the contraction didn't in informal speech and writing. Questions and short answers ® Form simple past questions with Did + subject + verb. * You can also use question words What, Who, Where, How before did: Where did you go lastnight? progressive to: ‘actions in progress in the past: were swimming in the ocean, we saw a dolphin. lock lastnight | was doing my homework. background events, often to set the scene in y; If was ralning. He was walking slowly along the the suddenly saw a large creature. Affirmative ' Past form of be + ng form of the verb. Negative 1 Wasn't (vas not) or weren't (were not) + ing form of the verb. “Wte/She/t wasnt moving, “You/We/They werent sleeping. * You usually use the contractions wasn’t and weren't in informal speech and writing. Questions and short answers "= Form questions in the past progressive with was/were + ‘subject + ing form of verb. progressive and simple past the past progressive for actions in progress and the Use while before the past progressive and when before simple past: training when you were out? No, it wasn’t. they watching TV yesterday afternoon? Yes, they were. * You can also use question words What, Who, Where, How, before was/were: What were you doing yesterday at ten o'clock? ‘Some verbs change their spelling in the -ing form. { See Grammar Database 2 on page 121 for more information. = Don't use the past progressive with stative verbs, or hhear, see, of smell: We didn't understand him. (not Weweren*- understencting:ir.) ‘9 See Grammar Database 2 on page 121 for more information.IRAMMAR DATABASE Countable and uncountable Countable nouns ® are nouns you can count: ‘eg, onlons, lemons. * use a/an or the in the singular: Beat an egg. Chop the onion. + use some, a few, many, alot of, or a number with the plural: Many recipes from Italy use cheese. * have a singular and a plural form: the onion the onions * take a singular or plural ver: A lot of diets don't work. The chef gave some goad tips on how to make omelettes. Uncountable nouns = don't use a/an ora number with them but you can use the Put the cheese on the pancake. * often use some, aot a lite: Some ois aise, Usually tae a singular ver Atte dark chocolate everyday Is good for you \ Expressions of quantity a lot of * Use a lot of to describe a large quantity of something. You can use this with both countable and uncountable nouns: There isa lot of bread, | have a lot of friends. * You can also use many but only with countable nouns: There are many good recipes for pancakes. You can use many in negative sentences and questions too. alittle / afew * Use a litle or afew to describe a small quantity of something. * Use a lite with uncountable nouns: ‘Add a little milk to the mixture. * Use a few with countable nouns: | have a few eggs but not many. ‘some ® Use some to describe an amount that is not big and nat ‘small. You can use some with countable and uncountable There are some vegetables but not many. Heat some oll in a pan. Negative * Use any in negative sentences to tak about zero amounts. You can use this with both countable and uncountable nouns: There aren't any onions. I don't have any bread. * You can also use no with both countable and uncountable nouns: No onions are needed fortis dish Theres no milk in the refrigerator. * Use not + many with countable nouns and not + much with uncountable nouns to talk about a small amount of ‘something in negative sentences: 1 don't need many eggs to make an omelette. He doesn't have much time. + You can also use not +a lot of with both countable and uncountable nouns: tt doesn't have alot of spices in i. | alan’ havea lt of help with tis dish UNIT Questions + Use any with countable and uncountable nouns to ask about, quantity: o you have any milk? Are there any eds in the refrigerator? Note: You can also use some when making requests or offers. You can use it with countable and uncountable nouns: Can | have some Ketchup with the fries, lease? Would you like some onions with your burger? How much? / How many? * You can use How many or How much to ask about ‘quantity. Use How many for countable nouns and How ‘uch for uncountable nouns: ‘How many egg do you need? How much food do supermarkets throw away? Short answers + You can answer a How many or How much question with none, a few/ltle, not much/many, a lt How much milk do we have? Not much, Indefinite pronouns USE * Use indefinite pronouns to talk about people, things, or places that are not specific: J have something small for lunch since I'm not usually hungry. After she'd made the cake, there was flour everywhere. ‘Nobody wanted to help clean up. We aren't going anywhere this weekend. FORM Affirmative sentences People Things Places ‘somebody something somewhere everybody. everything everywhere nobody nothing nowhere * Use the ending body with people. * Use the ending hing with objects. * Use the ending where with places. + You can also use -one with people: someone, everyone, No one likes waste. Someone ate the last cookie! Negative sentences and questions People ‘Things Places anybody/anyone anything anywhere * Use anyboay/anvone, anything, anywhere in negative sentences: I dont know anyone who kes spinach I ean find the recive anywhere. + Use anybody, anything, ayeere in questions if you don't know if the thing, person, or place exists is there anything to eat? EXE incotinte pronouns use a singular ver: Everyone knows the answer (not Evervone know the onset) 123GRAMMAR DATABASE Adjectives followed by prepositions and nouns USE AND FORM [An adjective + preposition can be followed by a gerund. A {gerund is a noun formed from a verb. It ends with «ng, Use an adjective + preposition + gerund to describe * how good someone is at doing something: He's good at painting. Leah's not bad at playing the piano. ' how someone feels about doing something: She's worried about talking tothe teacher. ete was tired of watching movies. Spelling = Remember that if verb ends in-e, drop the final -e before adding -ing take ~ taking use - using { See Grammar Database 2 on page 121 for more information. Which preposition? Adjective reposition, tired/scared of {not So) good / (not) bad at cexcited/worried about bored with Interested. in Note: After bored, you can use of or with He was bored of/with playing computer games. Note: An adjective + preposition can come before a noun: He's good at art. Hopes, plans, and predictions for the future Future plans: be + going to + verb USE ® Use be + going to + verb to talk about plans in the future (when you have already made a decision): {Im going to visit my grandparents this summer. What are you going to do when you graduate from school? FORM Affirmative I'm Youre/We'e/Theyre going to He's/She's/its study geography in college. Negative I'm not You/We/They aren't going to He/She/t isn't travel around the world UNIT Questions and short answers "= Form questions with be + subject + going to + verb. Questions ‘Short answers Am going to Yes, am. / No, I'm not. goto Yes, he/she/it is. / Nsihecanedte \gelne. college? —_No, he/she/it isn't. Are you/ ‘Yes, you/we/they are, / we/they Bnd 10 No, you/we/they aren Degrees of certainty USE * Use will / will not + verb for predictions about the future: 1M probably see 2 lot of diferent countries ™ Use hope + will / will nat + verb for hopes for the future: She hopes shell get 2 g00d job. = Use may or might + verb if you are unsure if something will happen or not: Iimay g0 to college. He might be a dancer. You can also use | think or { don't think with wil if you're not sure: think 1 study to be an engineer. {don't think I lve in another country. * Use definitely or probably to say how sure itis that something will happen. Put definitely/probably after 'l and before won't: IM definitely ravel to different countries. I probably won't lve in Mexico. * You can also use definitely with going to {Im definitely going to do something with music. How sure is it? definitely = 100 percent sure probably = 75 percent sure ‘may/might = 50 percent sure FORM will Affirmative ' There's just one form of the verb. HYoull/HetW/Shel/t/We'l/They' Negative = There's just one form of the verb. V/You/He/She/It/We/They won't go to college. et a good job, Questions and short answers Questions ‘Short answers Pevsner, stavat_ Yes, /you/he/she/It/me/they wil. / home? — No, |/you/he/she/it/we/they won't. we/they What do you think yout do when you graduate from school? Do you think you'l Ive In your home town? What do you think you won't do?GRAMMAR DATABASE oa eee : Zero conditional “USE |= Use the zero conditional to describe situations that are always true | tfyou eat a balanced alt, your body works better. - tf exercise a fot, | get hungry. | You can't play tennis it you break your arm. FORM A zero conditional sentence has two parts or “clauses.” ' The if clause describes the action. Use if+ simple present verb: Ifyou heat water to 100°C, it boils = The result clause says what happens. Use a simple present verb: Ifyou heat water to 100°C, it boils. * Don’t use a comma ifthe result clause comes first: It takes six weeks to get better if you break your arm, Note: You can also use the imperatite or should + verb in the result clause. You often use this to give advice: you exercise, drink a lot of water. you burn your hand, you should put ice on it should 3 shoul/shoulan' + ver to Sa hat something / isn't a good idea: "i Stan doesnt fe! we he shoud go othe doctor | sou eat more tit. | thou hee a headache, you should’ ten oud must | Ter red fg, they shout swim in the ocean FORM + Should isthe same in al forms. Do not ad st thee, he, ort fom: Daisy shoud stay at home Wf she has astomachache. (ot Bovey shoul) + To form questions, use shoul + subjoct + verb: Should he take eps nthe marino at nigh? Should you tl the teacher about he gi who laughs a ou? What should ao don fel wel? UNIT ¥ First con nal USE ® Use the first conditional to talk about possible situations in the future and their results: If Rosa works hard, shell pass her exams. Ifyou make eye contact with the audience, theyil listen ‘more carefully. We might not finish the fun run if we don’t train enough. FORM A first conditional sentence has two parts or “clauses.” * The ifclause describes the action. You usually use if + a simple present verb: If Rosa works hard, she'll pass her exams. ® The result clause says what will or may happen. When you are 100 percent sure, use will/won't + verb: If Rosa works hard, shell pass her exams. When you are 75 percent sure, use will probably + verb: I Rosa works hard, shel! probably pass her exams. When you are 50 percent sure, use may/might or may not/ might not + verb: If Rosa works hard, she may pass her exams. * Don't use @ comma ifthe result comes first: They give $20 to charity if you finish the run. * You can use questions in the result clause in zero and first conditional sentences: Does water bol if you heat it to 100°C? What will you do if trains? ‘= Sometimes you can use should instead of will in first ‘conditional sentences to ask questions or to suggest something ‘Should | call you if we go to the movies tonight? You can also offer help with Would you like me to Would you like me to help you with your homework?‘must and have to Use must and have/has to + verb to say something is necessary: To be a pilot you have to pass a lot of exams. don’t have to Use don't/doesn't + have to + verb to say something isn't Tecessary: My mom doesn't have to go to work today, mustn't Use mustn't (must not) + verb to say something is forbidden fr dangerous: You mustn't use the elevator if there's a fre. EEE str nas a aiterent meaning than don't have to. Mustn't = not allowed: You mustn't talk in Class. Don't have to = not necessary (but possible}: / don’t hhave to start work early, but sometimes | ke to. Affirmative have to rou r WNourWe/They have He/She/it has to must ‘ WNou/He/She/It/We/They must arrive on time Negative don't have to VYou/We/They don't have to ravel far He/She/It doesn't have to 01 far to school mustn't WYou/He/She/It/ We/They mustn't eat in class Questions and short answers have to Form questions with do/does + subject + have to + verb, Questions Short answers Yes, |/we/they do, No, /we/they don't. Yes, he/she/it does. No, he/she/it doesn't. Do I/you/we/'thes Vyou/we/they ve work to hard? Does he/she/it Have to, must, and didn’t have to in the past Use had to + verb to say something was necessary in the past. Use it fr all persons: | had to go to the dentist fast week. Use didn’t have to + verb to say something was not necessary in the past. Use it forall persons: Malee didn't have to take a test In questions use Did (you) have to + ver Did you have to clean your room on the weekend? There is no simple past form of must. Use had to / didn't have to: | had to stay late at scheo! yesterday. unit | Use the present perfect, B felk about actions in the past when you! don’t know the ‘exact time or it's not important: Thomas has designed many apps. 40 talk about experiences you have had up to now: ‘ve learmed to play the guitar and the piano. Been to or gone to? Have/Has been can sometimes mean have/has visited and is used for completed actions. Use been when someone has gone somewhere and come back: Lucy has been to Spain. She came home last week. Use gone when someone has gone somewhere but hasn't come back yet: Lucy has gone to Spain and is still there. Affirmative hhave/has + past participle form of the verb. iou/We/THey have LtouATiee been to the app club. He/She/it has Contractions ve/Youve/WEve/THEYVE ie app cub He's/She's/It's To form the past participle of regular vetDs, add ed: design - designed help - helped start ~ started ‘Note: Sometimes there are spelling changes. These are the ‘same as the spelling changes for the simple past. ‘See Grammar Database 3 on page 122 for more information. Many verbs have irregular past participles. Some of these past participles are the same as the simple past. (See page 1140 for a list of irregular past participles.) Negative have/has + not + past participle form of the verb. (ou) haven't (have not) WNou/We/They ( iS eee He/She/It hasn't (has not) Questions and short answers Form questions in the present perfect with have + subject + past participle form of the verb. Questions Short answers: Yes, |/you/wo/they Vyou/we/ have. a they No, /you/we/' pet haven't. successful? Suc00SSfU? Yes, ne/she/it has. No, he/she/it hasnt. Have Has he/she/it EEXEEEG con't use contractions in atfirmative short answers: Yes, have, (ot Yes-#¥e)GRAMMAR DATABASE “ene Present perfect with ever and never «Use the present perfect with ever or never to talk about experiences you had or didn't have at any time in the past: ve never seen Star Wars. Have you ever been to a classical concert? ® Use the present perfect + ever to ask if an event happened, at any time in the past: Have you ever watched a wildlife documentary? ® You usually answer with a short answer: Yes, !have. / No, Ihaven't. Yas, she has. / No, she hasn't. ' Use the present perfect + never to say you haven't done something in your life: I've never waltten a biog. "Put ever before the past participle in questions: Have you ever been to New York? ' Put never before the past participle in affirmative sentences: I've never seen Pirates of the Caribbean. Present perfect already * Use the present perfect with already for actions completed before now: [My dad isn’t here. He's already gone to work. yet ® Use the present perfect with yet in questions to ask if an action is completed or not: Have you seen the new James Bond movie yet? It's teriic! * Use the present pefect with yet in negative sentences to say an action isn't completed: Bob can't go to the movies tonight because he hasn't done his homework yet just * Use the present perfect with just for very recent actions: I've Just had lunch, so 'm not hungry right now. EEE vest and atroacy come before the past participle, but yet comes at the end of the sentence: {ve Just seen the latest Star Wars movie. (not #ve-seen the latest Star Ware-movie ust) Have you done your math remework yet? (Not Hare yer done yet your math pomenork?) h already, yet, and just UNIT Present perfect or simple past = Use the present perfect to talk about things that have happened in the past when you dont know the exact time or the time isnot important: Ive told my mom the tv. Have you seen Mike? I don’t know whore he i = Use the simple past to talk about tings that have happened inthe past at a specifi time told my mom the secret yesterday. (not Hhave tot my-mon- the secret yesterdey) Did you see the news last night? (not Have you-seen the news fast night?) Don't use the present perfect with specific time expressions (e.g, last week, yesterday, two yoars ago, at four o'clock). When you include a specific time, use the simple past We went tothe United States last year fr my cousin’ birdy (not We have-been-tothe Unite States last year formy- cousins bree Note: You can use the present perfect with phrases lating to unfinished time, suchas tis week, this year, to. Tve done alo of homework today, but! cant do ay esterday * Use the simple past to give other specific details about ‘something that has happened, such as where, what, who with: ‘A Have you seen the new James Bond movie? B Yes, | saw it in Chicago. |A What did you think of it? B thought it was terrific! 127GRAMMAR DATABASE Relative clauses "Use relative clauses to identify or describe people, things, and places: Kids who play soccer learn other skis for fe. This sport is popular in Japan where you can find the world’s biggest bowing alley. 1 Use that or which for things: Lacrosse and hockey are sports that are played with a stick ‘and a ball. Golf isa sport that is played by many older people. Use who or that for people: That’ the girl who won the race. The player that most impressed me was the Spanish goalkeeper. Use where for places: Medellin isthe city in Colombia where street soccer began. There are places in China where people still make skis from wood and horse skin, Comparative and superlative adjectives. mparative adjectives to compare two things: fs older than Jason, but Ben is faster. cy Is more exciting to watch than tennis. ‘than | am at running, perlative adjectives to compare one thing with all ‘runner was 101 years old. yas the most exciting race I've ever seen. FORM * To form the comparative of adjectives that have one syllable fr two syllables and end in y, add -er. See the table below for other spelling changes. ® You usually form comparatives with comparative adjective + than: He's a better tennis player than am. ' To form the superlative of adjectives that have one syllable fr two syllables and end in y, use the + adjective + est. ‘See the table below for other spelling changes. ‘Some comparative and superlative adjectives are irregular: Note: Put than after comparative adjectives when you ‘compare two things in one sentence: A golf ball is heavier than a table tennis bal. You don't need to put than if you don’t mention the second thing, person, of place: This bat is bigger and more useful Equality and inequality There are many ways to express equality or inequality when you make comparisons. less * Less + adjective is the opposite of more: [ind the geography lessons less Interesting than the history ones. * Only use less with adjectives that have more than one syllable. the least ' The least + adjective is the opposite of the most: Computer class is my least favorite subject at school * Only use the least with adjectives thatave more than one, syllable. as... as * Use as + adjective + as to say that two things are the same: Rugby is as popular as soccer in France. * You can use this with all adjectives. not as ... as * Use not as + adjective + as to say that two things are not “the same: Table tennis isn't as exciting as basketball. Maya isn't as fast as Lia or Rozalia. * You can use this with all adjectives. too and enough * Use t00 before an adjective to mean “more than is necessary or enough”: 1 can't play soccer later. 'm too tired. * Use enough after an adjective to mean “(not) as much as is necessary”: Baseball isn't exciting enough for me.son who does the action is unknown or obvious: ‘year thousands of cell phones are thrown away. are used to do a lat of different things. + The following sentences mean the same thing: Many teenagers use cell phones to play games. Cll phones are used ty many teenagers to play games. ' The first sentence is active, and the focus is on Mary teenagers. "= The second sentence is passive, and the focus is on Cell phones. Note: You often find the simple present passive in scientitic and technical texts about facts and processes. Itis more ‘common in written English than in spoken English FORM Affirmative "= Form the simple present passive with be + past participle form of the verb, * Use by to say who or what does the action: New medicines are discovered by sclentists every year. * To form the past participle of regular verbs, add -ed: need -needed test - tested invent invented design - designed EXEL sary vorbs have irregular past participles. You have to learn these. Some of these past participles are the same as the simple past. (See page 140 for a lst of irregular past participles.) Spelling Remember that you sometimes have to make spelling ‘changes to regular past participles: ® Ifa verb ends in-e, Just add: recycle - recycled use - used celebrate - celebrated * Ifa verb ends in-y, change the -y to 4 before adding ed: carry carried try - tried Don't do this if there is a vowel before they: play ~ played (not plaid) ® Ifa verb ends in one vowel (e.g.,0) and one consonant (ee. p,£), double the consonant before adding -ed: stop ~ stopped Negative "= Form the simple present passive negative with is/are + ‘not + past participle form of the verb: Coffee isn’t grown in California Cell phones aren't recycled enough. Questions and short answers ' Form questions in the simple present passive with Is/Are + ‘subject + past participle form of the verb: Js your cell phone made of plastic? Yes, itis. /No, it isn't ‘Are most cell phones recycled? Yes, they are. / No, they aren't. ' You can also use question words (What, Who, Where, How) to {orm questions with the simple present passive: How are the designs chosen? ‘Simple past passive the simple past passive when: action is more important than the person who did the oni FORM Affirmative «= Form the simple past passive with was/were + past participle form of the verb: The ballpoint pen was invented by Lazo and Georg Biro. Their pens are used all around the world. * Use by to say who or what did the action: Penicilin was discovered by Alexander Fleming. Negative "= Form the simple past passive negative with was/were + rot + past participle form of the verb: The can wasn't selected to go on the list. Xrays weren't discovered unt the late 19th century Questions and short answers '* Form questions in the simple past passive with Was/Were + ‘subject + past participle of verb: Was the X-ay machine voted the number one invention? Yes, it was. / No, it wasn't Were microchips invented in the 19th century? Yes, they were. / No, they werent. * You can also use question words (What, Who, Where, How) to form questions with the simple past passive: What was the Apollo 11 space capsule called? 129