When do I use did and did not?

Use did and did not for finished past time: I did not go out, Did you sleep well. Did works for every person — I, you, he, she, it, we and they all take the same form. Add a past time word like yesterday or last night, and never change the main verb.

Why can I not say I didn't went?

Did already carries the past, so the main verb stays in its base form: I didn't go, She didn't eat. Saying didn't went marks the past twice, which English never does. Remember the rule as one did plus one plain verb, and every negative and question comes out right.

Is this A1 grammar test free, and does it have answers?

Yes. The whole test is free and needs no account. When you check your answers you see the correct form for every question plus a one-sentence explanation of why it is right, and you can read the full did lesson on the explanation page. You can repeat all five exercises as often as you like.

What is the difference between do not and did not?

Do not is present: I do not smoke. Did not is past: I did not smoke yesterday. Use did not with yesterday, last night and other finished time.

Why can I not say I didn't went?

Did already shows the past, so the main verb stays in its base form: I didn't go, never I didn't went. One past marker per sentence is enough.

Past Simple Negatives and Questions

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Practice Questions & Answers

All A1 questions for “Past Simple Negatives and Questions Exercises – A1 Grammar with Answers”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Try the interactive exercises above, then check your answers here.

✅ Correct	❌ Wrong
They did not come.	They do not come.

Did, Did Not and Do in the Past

1. I ___ go out yesterday.
- A. did not ✓
- B. do not
- C. does not
- D. went not
Answer: did not
Use did not for the past. Do not and does not are present.
2. ___ you see Anna?
- A. Do
- B. Did ✓
- C. Does
- D. Were
Answer: Did
Questions in the past start with Did. Do and Does are present.
3. She ___ watch TV.
- A. are
- B. am
- C. did not ✓
- D. is
Answer: did not
The past needs did not. Does not is present.
4. They ___ play football.
- A. do not
- B. does not
- C. are not
- D. did not ✓
Answer: did not
They means more than one. The past needs did not.
5. ___ he call you?
- A. Does
- B. Did ✓
- C. Is
- D. Do
Answer: Did
He is one person. Past questions start with Did.
6. We ___ eat out.
- A. did
- B. does
- C. did not ✓
- D. do
Answer: did not
Use did not with we. Did alone cannot make a negative.
7. ___ it rain yesterday?
- A. Does
- B. Do
- C. Was
- D. Did ✓
Answer: Did
It takes Did in a past question. Does is present.
8. He ___ come.
- A. did not ✓
- B. does not
- C. do not
- D. came not
Answer: did not
Use did not with he. Came not is never correct.
9. ___ you like the film?
- A. Is
- B. Did ✓
- C. Are
- D. Do
Answer: Did
Use Did with you in the past. Is starts present questions.

Did and Did Not: Amelia's Flight

Amelia Earhart's small propeller plane over the sea at sunrise, for A1 past simple negatives and questions — Her 1932 solo flight across the Atlantic gives every gap a real past moment.

1. Amelia was a pilot. In 1932 she flew far alone._____she fly far?
- A. Do
- B. Does
- C. Did ✓
- D. Was
Answer: Did
Use Did to start a past question. Her flight is past time.
2. She was brave._____(do) not stop. She flew on.
Answer: did
Use did before not. Do not is present.
3. People watched the sky._____they see her? Yes, they cheered.
- A. Do
- B. Did ✓
- C. Does
- D. Was
Answer:

Common Mistakes with Did

1. Which option does not belong?
- A. I did not go out.
- B. She did not call.
- C. They did not came. ✓
- D. We did not stay.
Answer: They did not came.
Did already shows the past. Say they did not come.
2. Which option does not belong?
- A. Did you sleep well?
- B. Did he call?
- C. Do she like it? ✓
- D. Did they win?
Answer: Do she like it?
Past questions need Did. Say did she like it.
3. Which option does not belong?
- A. He did not eat.
- B. We did not drive.
- C. She did not cook.
- D. He did not went. ✓
Answer: He did not went.
After did not use the plain verb. Say did not go.

Did in a Weekend Conversation

Two colleagues under a framed Amelia Earhart plane picture, chatting about the weekend in past simple — A weekend chat needs did for negatives and questions about the past.

1. Hi! ___ you have a good weekend?
- A. Did ✓
- B. Do
- C. Does
- D. Was
Answer: Did
Use Did to ask about a finished weekend. Do is present.
2. Not really. We ___ not travel.
- A. do
- B. does
- C. did ✓
- D. went
Answer: did
Use did before not. Went alone cannot make a negative.
3. Oh no! ___ it rain?
- A. Does
- B. Did ✓

Negatives and Questions with Did

1. I watch TV. (negative past)
Answer: I did not watch TV., I didn't watch TV.
Did not shows the past. The verb stays watch.
2. She likes apples. (negative past)
Answer: She did not like apples., She didn't like apples.
Use did not with she. Like loses its s.
3. They play tennis. (question past)
Answer: Did they play tennis?
Move Did before they. Add a question mark.
4. He works here. (negative past)
Answer: He did not work here., He didn't work here.
Use did not with he. Work never takes s here.
5. You know the answer. (question past)
Answer: Did you know the answer?
Move Did before you. Know stays the same.
6. We visit Paris. (negative past)
Answer:

Past Simple Negatives and Questions Exercises – A1 Grammar with Answers

I ___ go out yesterday.

Keep practising

Adverbs of Frequency: Always, Usually, Never

Comparative Adjectives: Bigger, More Beautiful, Better

Have Got: Family, Pets and Things

Prepositions of Place: At, In and On

More A1 English Practice

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot (A1 Reading)

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot: A1 Reading Practice

Practice Questions & Answers

Did, Did Not and Do in the Past

Did and Did Not: Amelia's Flight

Common Mistakes with Did

Did in a Weekend Conversation

Negatives and Questions with Did

A Simple Restaurant Menu (A1 Reading)

A Study Timetable (A1 Reading)

An Email to a Friend (A1 Reading)

Looking for the Perfect Home (A1 Reading)