Learning English Blog
Past Tense "Did" Questions
by Jason Catizone on 07/25/24
English can be difficult! Especially when having to choose the correct verb tense in sentences. Many students make mistakes in this realm, so I hope that today's short blog will help some!
Here are a few correct examples of questions, followed by incorrect versions.
Did you feel sick yesterday?
(Not: "Did you felt sick yesterday?")
Did he work on Monday?
(Not: "Did he worked on Monday?")
If you notice, the verb form after using "did" in a question is present tense. We don't use "did" and then immediately use a past tense verb. Thus:
When did you arrive?
(Not: "When did you arrived?")
Who did they call?
(Not: "Who did they called?")
Where did he go?
(Not: "Where did he went?")
When we have more complex sentences though, the first verb following "did" is present tense, but the additional verbs are past tense. Consider the following examples:
What did she say when they found her phone?
(Not: "What did she say when they find her phone?")
Why did you cry when he pushed you?
(Not: "Why did you cry when he push you?")
How did you feel when you lost and they won?
(Not: "How did you feel when you lose and they won?")
Keep practicing these things, and you will in time say the correct forms automatically - you won't even have to pause and think!
