English grammar
Mixed irregular past: had, said, was, went
Tell what happened around pay day, mixing irregular past forms.
From the scene Today I get paid!
In short
Learn the common irregular pasts: had, said, was, went. Went is for moving; was is the past of be.
Your turn
Which one goes with question?
Options: what did you say? (not "did you said") · I had an idea · I said
Show answer
question → what did you say? (not "did you said")
How it works
The unit's irregular past forms side by side: have → had, say → said, be → was, go → went (never "haved", "goed").
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Everyone? What exactly did you (blank)?
Options: saying · say · said
Show answer
Everyone? What exactly did you say?
¿A todos? ¿Qué dijiste exactamente?
Good to know
In questions, did + base form: what did you say? (not "what did you said?"). With be, no did: was she there?
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Oh, Nuria... (blank) Doña Elena at the front door?
Options: Was · Did · Has
Show answer
Oh, Nuria... Was Doña Elena at the front door?
Ay, Nuria... ¿Doña Elena estuvo en el portal?
have → had I had an idea
Nuria
Yesterday I had an idea: save half.
Ayer tuve una idea: ahorrar la mitad.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yesterday (blank): save half.
Options: What did you say · I said · I had an idea
Show answer
Nuria
Yesterday I had an idea: save half.
Ayer tuve una idea: ahorrar la mitad.
question what did you say? (not "did you said")
Your turn
What goes with what did you say? (not "did you said")?
Options: question · have → had · say → said
Show answer
what did you say? (not "did you said") → question
say → said I said
Nuria
I said at the front door: Friday, dinner's on me!
Dije en el portal: ¡el viernes invito yo a cenar!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) at the front door: Friday, dinner's on me!
Options: What did you say · I said · I had an idea
Show answer
Nuria
I said at the front door: Friday, dinner's on me!
Dije en el portal: ¡el viernes invito yo a cenar!
be: no did was she there? (not "did she be")
Your turn
What goes with was she there? (not "did she be")?
Options: have → had · question · be: no did
Show answer
was she there? (not "did she be") → be: no did
go → went she went to the market (not "she was to")
Javi
Because this afternoon she went to the market and talked to the whole neighbourhood.
Porque esta tarde fue al mercado y habló con todo el barrio.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Because this afternoon (blank) and talked to the whole neighbourhood.
Options: she went to the market · I had an idea · what did you say
Show answer
Javi
Because this afternoon she went to the market and talked to the whole neighbourhood.
Porque esta tarde fue al mercado y habló con todo el barrio.
Watch out
Went is for moving (she went to the market), was is the past of be (it was great).
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| have → had | I had an idea |
|---|---|
| question | what did you say? (not "did you said") |
| say → said | I said |
| be: no did | was she there? (not "did she be") |
| go → went | she went to the market (not "she was to") |
More lines from the story
- JaviEveryone? What exactly did you say?¿A todos? ¿Qué dijiste exactamente?
- JaviOh, Nuria... Was Doña Elena at the front door?Ay, Nuria... ¿Doña Elena estuvo en el portal?
- NuriaAnd with the other half, I'm treating everyone tonight.Y con la otra mitad, invito a todos esta noche.