Past Simple - Negatives & Questions in English

Overview

Once you know how to make positive statements in the past simple, the next step is learning to form negatives and questions. This is where English uses the auxiliary verb "did." Understanding how "did" works is crucial because it changes how the main verb behaves.

At the CEFR A2 level, being able to ask questions about the past and say what did not happen opens up your ability to have real conversations. You can ask "Did you enjoy the movie?" deny something ("I didn't see him"), and get information ("Where did she go?").

The most important rule to remember: when you use "did" or "didn't," the main verb always returns to its base form. This applies to both regular and irregular verbs.

How It Works

Negative Sentences

Structure	Example
Subject + didn't + base verb	I didn't go to work.

"Didn't" (did not) is the same for all subjects:

Subject	Example
I didn't see	He didn't see
You didn't see	She didn't see
We didn't see	They didn't see

Yes/No Questions

Structure	Example
Did + subject + base verb?	Did you see him?

Question	Short Answer
Did you go?	Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
Did she call?	Yes, she did. / No, she didn't.
Did they arrive?	Yes, they did. / No, they didn't.

Wh-Questions

Structure	Example
Wh-word + did + subject + base verb?	Where did you go?

Question Word	Example
What	What did you eat?
Where	Where did they go?
When	When did she arrive?
Why	Why did he leave?
How	How did you find out?
Who (object)	Who did you meet?

Exception: "Who" as Subject

When "who" or "what" is the subject of the question, do not use "did":

Type	Example	Explanation
Who = subject	Who called you?	"Who" is the one calling -- no "did" needed
Who = object	Who did you call?	"You" is the subject, "who" is the object -- use "did"

"Was/Were" Questions

The verb "be" does not use "did." It forms questions and negatives on its own:

Type	Example
Positive	She was tired.
Negative	She wasn't tired.
Question	Was she tired?

Examples in Context

English	Note
I didn't go to work yesterday.	Negative with base form "go"
Did you see him at the party?	Yes/no question
She didn't know the answer.	Negative -- "know" returns to base form
Where did they go after dinner?	Wh-question
We didn't enjoy the movie.	Negative
What did you have for lunch?	Wh-question
He didn't say anything.	Negative
Did it rain last night?	Yes/no question
Why didn't you call me?	Negative Wh-question
Who won the game?	"Who" as subject -- no "did"

Common Mistakes

Using the past form after "did/didn't"

• Wrong: Did you went to the party?
• Right: Did you go to the party?
• Why: "Did" already carries the past meaning. The main verb must be in the base form. This is the single most common mistake with past simple questions.

Using "did" with "was/were"

• Wrong: Did she was tired?
• Right: Was she tired?
• Why: "Be" (was/were) never uses "did." It forms its own questions by inverting: "She was" becomes "Was she...?"

Forgetting "did" in questions

• Wrong: You liked the movie?
• Right: Did you like the movie?
• Why: In standard English, yes/no questions about the past require "did" before the subject. Rising intonation alone ("You liked the movie?") is very informal and mainly used for surprise or confirmation.

Confusing subject and object questions with "who"

• Wrong: Who did call you?
• Right: Who called you?
• Why: When "who" is the subject (the one performing the action), do not add "did." Only use "did" when "who" is the object: "Who did you call?"

Usage Notes

In spoken English, "didn't" is almost always used instead of "did not." The full form "did not" sounds very formal or emphatic. When you want to stress the negative, you might say: "I did NOT say that!" -- but in normal conversation, "didn't" is standard.

In informal speech, you may hear questions formed without "did," using only rising intonation: "You saw the game?" This is understood but considered casual. In any writing or formal situation, use the "Did + subject + base verb" structure.

Both British and American English follow the same rules for past simple negatives and questions. There are no significant differences in this area.

Practice Tips

• Transform sentences: Take ten positive past simple sentences and rewrite each one as a negative and a question. For example: "She visited Paris" becomes "She didn't visit Paris" and "Did she visit Paris?"
• Interview practice: Write ten "Did you...?" questions and use them to interview a friend or study partner about their past weekend. Then answer the questions about your own weekend.
• Focus on the base form rule: Every time you form a past question or negative, consciously check that the main verb is in its base form. With practice, this becomes automatic.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Past Simple - Regular Verbs -- learn positive past simple statements before adding negatives and questions