GRAMMAR Explanations .

1. Use the Past Simple to talk about things that are now finished.

· Albert Rimes lived in the twentieth century.

· He was a poet.

· He wrote a poetry.

2. You can use the Past Simple with time expressions that refer to the past (last week, by 1980, in the 19^th century, fifty years ago).

· By 1930, he was famous.

· He died over ten years ago.

№1. IDENTIFY. Read about Japanese poet Matsuo Basho. Underline all the regular past tense verbs. Circle all the irregular past tense verbs.

Matsuo Basho wrote more than 1, 000 three – line poems or “ haiku” He chose topics from nature, daily life and human emotions. He became one of the Japan’s most famous poets and his work established haiku as an important art form.

Matsuo Basho was born near Kyoto in 1644. His father wanted him to become a samurai (warrior). Instead, Matsuo moved to Edo (present – day Tokyo) and studied poetry. By 1681, he had many students and admirers.

Basho’s home burnt down in 1682. Then, in 1683, his mother died. After these events, Basho felt restless. In 1684, he travelled on foot and on horseback all over Japan. Sometimes his friends joined him and they wrote poetry together. Travel was difficult in the seventeenth century and Basho was often ill. He died in 1694 during a journey to Osaka. At that time he had 2, 000 students.

№2. CHOOSE & COMPLETE. Read this biography of another poet, Emily Dickinson. Complete it using the Past Simple form of the verbs in the box.

Emily Dickinson, one of the most popular American poets, _____________ (1) from 1830 to 1886. She _______________ (2) about love, nature and time. These _____________ (3) her favourite themes. Dickinson ____________ (4) an unusual life. After just one year of college, she ______________ (5) a recluse - she almost never ________________ (6) her house in Amherst, Massachusetts. At home, she ________________ (7) no one except her family, and she only _____________ (8) white.

In addition to her poetry, Dickinson _________ (9) many letters. Other people always ________________ (10) the envelopes for her. During her lifetime only seven of her 1, 700 poems _______________ (11) in print - and this ______________ (12) without her knowledge or permission.

№3. EDIT. Read part of a student’s diary. Find and correct eight mistakes in the use of the Past Simple. The first mistake has already been corrected.

Today in class we read a poem by Robert Frost. I really enjoy (enjoyed) it. It was about a person who choosed between two roads in a forest. Before he made his decision, he spents a lot of time trying to decide which road to follow. Many people thought the person were Frost. In the end, he take the road that was less travelled on. He decided to be a poet. That decision change his life a lot.

Sometimes I feel a little like Frost. Two years ago I decide to come to this country. That were the biggest decision of my life.