TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 1 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
PAST IS HISTORY
Good morning, sir. Good morning, class. Any 3Rs for today? Yes. We have read, revised and repeated. How
many times? Once. Once only. Except Puru – ten times. Please don’t tease me. Do you understand the rule in
that lesson? Yes, Gavin. We have to add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the do-word when the doer is one person – singular. The
doer is not necessary a person, it can be an animal, like a pet, or a thing or an idea.
All right. Let’s continue with our today lesson. Last lesson we were telling about our usual activities. As you
know, what happens normally is not the thing we would share with our friends. Why? Everyone does
practically the same things every day. It is ordinary, mundane and monotonous. It is a boring routine that each
and every one of us does daily. Today, we will talk about something that happened which may interest your
friend. Now, you have three minutes to recall some interesting, engrossing, fascinating bits to share. Write in a
sentence or two only.
Activity 1: Write briefly, a sentence or two, the event or the incident below
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All right. Any volunteer to start the ball rolling. Yes, there is a hand at the back. I overslept. Anyone else? Keep
it coming until I say so. I see an accident. Saw an accident. I saw an accident. I have a puncture. You had a
puncture. Was it your bicycle or motorcycle? My motorcycle. We went to the cinema. We shall stop here.
Today, we will tell one another about something that happened before today. Something that we want to share
or inform our friends. Before we go any further, remember the list of do-words – the verbs. You try to complete
the table below.
Activity 2: Complete the verb (do-word) in the table below
Verb (root) Verb (past)
do
go
eat
drink
bake
Verb (root) Verb (past)
open
take
play
sing
ask
You use your dictionary to find and check the verb in past tense.
Have you all completed the simple exercise? Right. Can someone share the answers? Just stand and share.
(Laughter) You two nearly always seem to be of one mind. Yes sir, great minds think alike. Uh, the opposite
may be true, too. One of you, please answer. Did, went, ate, drank, baked, opened, took, played, sang and
asked. Excellent. I hope all of you get these correct.
When we tell about something specific that happened before today, we use the verbs in past tense, as we
have revised.
You have five minutes to write briefly any event or incident you like to tell your friends here. Let us write not
more than ten sentences. Give only the important details.

TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 2 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
Activity 3: Write briefly, five to ten sentences, the event or the incident below
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Yes, now I have a tin here. Oh, you like Jacob’s Original. Yes, yes, I only choose original. All right, don’t get
distracted. As I said, I have a tin here and each of you will draw a card. Keep it clasped in your palms until
everyone has drawn a card. In your group of four, you will tell whatever you want to share. Take one only,
Puru. Now all of you have a card. Look at your cards and get into your groups. I will monitor your progress until
everyone has his or her turn. You can begin.
Excuse me, Qian, Your eagerness to start is admirable. Remember the drill: choose a leader, and a secretary,
start from clockwise beginning with the leader. Everyone must have a chance to be leader, no exception. Julia,
you have not been a leader before. They already had their turn to be a leader once, if I remember correctly. I
am a good follower. Afraid to take the lead? Hooray to Julia the leader! Ikhsan, no teasing. Continue.
Remember to take notes – words, phrases, ideas …
A few groups have completed. For those who have finished, ask one another for more information, while we
wait for the other groups to finish. Sir, are you not tired walking for so long? I take this as a form of exercise.
Physical exercise is good for the body, as … .
Reading is good for the mind. Very good, Olivia. Whose quote is this? Joseph Addison! Spot-on, Gavin. Now,
what is the correct quote? Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body. Right, Kalsom. I know, too. I
am sure you do, Gavin. Let others also shine. You must be proud of yourself, Gavin. You have made them
work hard; this should spur you to be better.
I see all have concluded their tasks. A group to volunteer. Group Excellence. See, Gavin. Your enthusiasm
has rubbed off on them already. Kudos to Gavin.
Yes, Group Excellence. Who is the leader? Lauryn, tell us.
You all remember last year. We had an outage. It rained like it had never rained before. ‘As’ or ‘as if’, if you
may, Lauryn, instead of ‘like’. It rained as if it had never rained before. It flooded many areas in our town. We
heard a strange sound. Our dark furry dog, Hero, ran towards that sound. We screamed at him not to go. He
went. All our torchlights shone at his direction. He came back white.
Lauryn, that is excellent. I have read a similar story. It is a true story. Yes, I believe your story is true, Lauryn.
Thank you, sir. David, you are next. Retell what you have heard. I need your paper. Oh, you did not take
notes, David (Sheepish grin).
Last year as you all may remember, it rained very heavily. What is an outage? Blackout. See, you should have
taken notes and ask if you do not know. Lost opportunity is very expensive. Does anyone know this quote?
Isn’t it ‘nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity? Whoa, Kalsom, you must be reading a lot lately.
Who said this? H. Jackson Brown Jr. I know the name. Is he not the writer of ‘Life’s Little Instruction Book’?
Have you read it? No. You should.
Start from the beginning, David. You know, last year it rained heavily. We lost electricity and there were floods.
Lauryn and her family heard a strange noise and their dog, Hero, ran there. They screamed at him not to go.
He was naughty. They shone their lights towards him. They saw him ran back white in colour.

TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 3 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
Next, Musa and Chaya, go to the board and write the story in five sentences, not more. Five only? Lauryn said
it in eleven, David has cut it to eight, I think, who is counting? We all know David retold in less sentences. See,
if you two can make it less than David’s. Add oil, Musa and Chaya!
Written on the board – by Chaya
It rained heavily last year. We had no electricity and there were floods in many
places. Lauryn’s family dog heard a strange noise and ran towards it, ignoring
his owners’ command. Then, he came back white in the light shone at him.
Written on the board – by Musa
Last year heavy rain caused an outage and floods. Lauryn and her family heard
a strange sound. Their dog, ignoring their instruction, rushed towards it and
came back white.
Congratulations are in order. Don’t you all agree, class? Yes, yes. They missed an important point. Yes, they
did. But they completed the task as required. This is just a practice to write in fewer words. Of course, if they
manage to keep all the important contents or points, it would be superb. Summary practice.
Itis awast eofti mere membering thepast. Sorry, Upkar, did you say something? No, yes, I think past is history;
I live for the future. What do you mean history? I think past is best lay to rest and never to be brought up again.
Oh! You all learn History. What is history? History is all about the dead and the unrelated to our life. Is that so?
Oh, I am sad to hear that. You did enjoy the story Lauryn told just now. I bet there are many questions and
loose ends in her story you can’t wait to ask her. Do you know experiences are history? Your previous success
are history. Do any of you get tired listening to Upkar’s feats last year when he won six gold medals in field and
track? Upkar, that was history. No, seriously. We love to hear how you achieved that, it is inspiring.
Yes, past is history. History is past. What is history? History is finding out what was or were in the past. Some,
or rather most past, laid buried by sand, earth, mountain and water; we may never know their stories. Those
that we can enquire, piece together and retell give us insight, experience, knowledge and a peek into their
lives. And possibly, if we choose to, knowing their lives and stories can make us all a better people by not
repeating their mistakes and continuing their legacies for a better future. Let us make history come to live.
Right, we will spend the remaining time taking notes from your friends in your group.
Activity 4: Take turn to retell your story and take notes from the stories share to you
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TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 4 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
Your homework is to choose either your own story or one of your friends’ and expand it into a long essay.
Assignment 1: Essay – An Unforgettable Day
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TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 5 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
PAST IS HISTORY
Revisionary Exercise 1:
Cross out name and pronoun that are not singular and rewrite the correct sentences by changing the
verbs into past simple tense
0. (The table / The tables) is full of things.
Answer: The table was full of things.
1. (Maini / Maini and Malini) walks to school.
Answer:
2. (The firemen / The fireman) lifts a boy from the river.
Answer
3. (They / It) eats all the fish.
Answer
4. (She / We) goes to the library every Saturday.
Answer
5. (His classmates / Tom) arranges the chairs for the concert.
Answer
6. (James / The children) helps to push the stalled car.
Answer
7. (The book / The books) has many colourful pictures.
Answer
8. (The fishermen / The fisherman) mends the fishing net.
Answer
9. (The mice / The mouse) scurries into the hole.
Answer
10. (The bottle / The bottles) is still full of water.
Answer

TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 6 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
PAST IS HISTORY
Revisionary Exercise 2:
Cross out name and pronoun that are singular and rewrite the correct sentences with the verbs in
past simple tense
0. (The table / The tables) are full of things.
Answer: The tables were full of things.
1. (Maini / Maini and Malini) walk to school.
Answer:
2. (The firemen / The fireman) lift a boy from the river.
Answer
3. (They / It) eat all the fish.
Answer
4. (She / We) go to the library every Saturday.
Answer
5. (His classmates / Tom) arrange the chairs for the concert.
Answer
6. (James / The children) help to push the stalled car.
Answer
7. (The book / The books) have many colourful pictures.
Answer
8. (The fishermen / The fisherman) mend the fishing net.
Answer
9. (The mice / The mouse) scurry into the hole.
Answer
10. (The bottle / The bottles) are still full of water.
Answer

TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 7 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
PAST IS HISTORY
Revisionary Exercise 3:
Questions with did
Strike out the wrong words from the substitution table below and re-write the questions
0.
What did Ali eats
eat
drink
drinks
?
What did Ali eat?
What did Ali drink?
1.
What did he do
does
take
takes
?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2.
What did they play
plays
makes
make
?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3.
Where did we send
take
sends
takes
this to?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4.
Why did she says
builds
say
build
that?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 8 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
PAST IS HISTORY
Revisionary Exercise 4:
Comprehension – read the short passage below and answer the questions
You all remember last year that our town had a catastrophe. We had an outage. There was no
electricity. The whole town was pitch dark. It rained as if it had never rained before. It flooded every low-laying
area in our town. In spite of the deafening sound of the pouring rain and of the clashing thunders, we heard an
eerie noise that made our hair stand on end. Our dark furry dog, Hero, broke loose from his chain. He raced
pass us. We screamed at him to stop. He bolted towards the dark void from where the noise came. All our
torchlights trained at his diminishing shadow as it melted into darkness. Within seconds, it just seemed like a
blink of an eye, he dashed back white.
0. What had happened to the town?
….The town had a catastrophe.
1. What is an outage?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
2. How did it rain that day?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
3. How loud was the sound?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
4. How did they feel when they heard the eerie noise?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
5. At whom did they scream?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
PAST IS HISTORY
Revisionary Exercise 5:
Read the passage above. Construct questions based on the answers given.
0. When did the catastrophe happen?
The catastrophe happened last year.
1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………
The relentless thunderstorm caused the outage.
2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………
It inundated every area except the hilly ground.
3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………
Hero was constrained by a chain
4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………
He rushed towards the eerie noise.
5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………
They screamed at him to stop.

TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 9 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
IRREGULAR VERBS
A simple past form or a past participle form of a regular verb ends in -ed. These verbs are irregular.
MEANING TO VERB (root) Simple Past Past Participle
to awake awoke awoken
to be was * / were **) been
to beat beat beat
to become became become
to begin began begun
to bend bent bent
to bite bit bitten
to bleed bled bled
to blow blew blown
to break broke broken
to bring brought brought
to build built built
to burn burnt/burned burnt/burned
to buy bought bought
to catch caught caught
to choose chose chosen
to come came come
to cost cost cost
to cut cut cut
to deal dealt dealt
to dig dug dug
to do did done
to draw drew drawn
to dream dreamt/dreamed dreamt/dreamed
to drink drank drunk
to drive drove driven
to eat ate eaten
to fall fell fallen
to feed fed fed
to feel felt felt
to fight fought fought
to find found found
to fly flew flown
to forget forgot forgotten
to freeze froze frozen
to get got got
to give gave given
to go went gone
to grow grew grown
to hang
to hang
hung
hanged
hung
hanged
to have (got) had had
to hear heard heard
to hide hid hid
to hit hit hit
to hold held held
to hurt hurt hurt
to keep kept kept
to know knew known

TESL - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
BY ALBERT LIMSON
Page 10 of 10
GRAMMAR AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
to lay laid laid
to lead led led
to learn learnt/learned learnt/learned
to leave left left
to let let let
to lie lay lain
to light lit lit
to lose lost lost
to make made made
to mean meant meant
to meet met met
to pay paid paid
to prove proved proved/proven
to put put put
to read read read
to ride rode ridden
to ring rang rung
to rise rose risen
to run ran run
to say said said
to see saw seen
to sell sold sold
to send sent sent
to shake shook shaken
to shine shone shone
to shoot shot shot
to show showed showed/shown
to shut shut shut
to sing sang sung
to sit sat sat
to sleep slept slept
to smell smelt/smelled smelt/smelled
to speak spoke spoken
to spend spent spent
to stand stood stood
to steal stole stolen
to stick stuck stuck
to stink stank/stunk stunk
to swear swore sworn
to swim swam swum
to take took taken
to teach taught taught
to tear tore torn
to tell told told
to think thought thought
to throw threw thrown
to understand understood understood
to wear wore worn
to win won won
to write wrote written
*singular subject for verb-to-be - be (root), is/am (simple present), was (simple past)
**plural subject for verb-to-be – be (root), are (simple present), were (simple past)