Now re-read the text and underline all the verbs you can find.
What is the tense of most of the verbs?
What is the present form of was/were? and the infinitive?
What is the present form of had? and the infinitive?
Are these regular or irregular verbs? Do you know any other regular or irregular verbs in this tense?
Is there any verb in the affirmative form?
How do we form affirmative sentences in this tense?
Is there any verb in the negative form?
Based on what you know from forming negative sentences with the present tense of the verb to be, how do you think it will be formed in the past tense?
Is there any verb in the interrogative form?
Based on what you know from forming interrogative sentences with the present tense of the verb to be, how do you think it will be formed in the past tense?
Why is the author using this tense in his text?

Share all your answers with your partner and then with the whole class and your teacher.

The Past Simple - Introduction to the tense with an excerpt of A Tale of Two Cities