English grammar
Simple past for yesterday's accidents
Tell someone about an accident that happened yesterday.
From the scene A jellyfish stung me
In short
For accidents at a finished time like yesterday, use the past simple: a jellyfish stung me, it hurt.
Your turn
Which one goes with did it hurt??
Options: Did it hurt? · sting → stung · hurt → hurt (not: hurted)
Show answer
did it hurt? → Did it hurt?
How it works
For something that happened at a finished time (yesterday, last night), use the simple past: a jellyfish stung me, it hurt.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Yes, it (blank) so much.
Clue: irregular past: same form as the base verb
Options: hurted · was hurt · hurt
Show answer
Yes, it hurt so much.
Sí, me dolió muchísimo.
Good to know
Don't use has / have with a finished time: it stung me yesterday, NOT "it has stung me yesterday".
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
No, nothing (blank) him.
Clue: irregular past of sting
Options: stung · stinged · stang
Show answer
No, nothing stung him.
No, a él no le picó nada.
Good to know
Watch the irregular pasts: sting → stung, hurt → hurt.
it stung me (yesterday) sting → stung
did it hurt? Did it hurt?
Nuria
Did it hurt a lot?
¿Le dolió mucho?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) a lot?
Options: Hurt → hurt · Did it hurt · Sting → stung
Show answer
Nuria
Did it hurt a lot?
¿Le dolió mucho?
it hurt a lot hurt → hurt (not: hurted)
I went yesterday not: I have been ... yesterday
Your turn
What goes with not: I have been ... yesterday?
Options: did it hurt? · I went yesterday · it stung me (yesterday)
Show answer
not: I have been ... yesterday → I went yesterday
Common mistake
Not Since or Ever here. Definite past time = simple past.
Yesterday a jellyfish stung me. Look!
Ayer me picó una medusa. ¡Mira!
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
| it stung me (yesterday) | sting → stung |
|---|---|
| did it hurt? | Did it hurt? |
| it hurt a lot | hurt → hurt (not: hurted) |
| I went yesterday | not: I have been ... yesterday |
More lines from the story
- ElenaYesterday a jellyfish stung me. Look!Ayer me picó una medusa. ¡Mira!
- ElenaYes, it hurt so much.Sí, me dolió muchísimo.
- ElenaNo, nothing stung him.No, a él no le picó nada.
- ElenaHere, on my leg.Aquí, en la pierna.
- ElenaBut his stomach hurt.Pero a él le dolió el estómago.