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Grammar Basics: Unit 15 – I used to… (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/02/08
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Exercises: Complete the following sentences. Use “used to” or the simple present as necessary.

Examples:

  • Mary has short hair, but she (have) long hair. ==> Mary has short hair, but she used to have long hair.
  • John (be) fat, but now he (be) skinny. ==> John used to be fat, but now he is skinny.

1. I used to play the piano every day, but now I don’t have time.
2. Kim used to work in a restaurant. Now she works at a bank.
3. What did you use to do with your friends when you were a child?
4. When I was little, I used to hate broccoli.
5. Tom likes to play tennis. He plays it every day.
6. Before we moved, we used to live in Wisconsin.
7. Did you use to walk to school as a child?
8. William used to be rich, but he lost all his money in the stock market.
9. Last summer I used to get up early so I could exercise before breakfast.
10. What job did you use to have while you were in college?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 15 – I used to…

Posted on 2012/02/07
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The phrase

S used to V …

indicates some past condition or past activity that does not happen any more.

Examples:

I used to study German (, but I don’t anymore now).
When John was in college, he used to work nights.
Sam is very athletic (, but he used to be lazy).

Negative form:

did not (didn’t) use to ~

Examples:

Mary didn’t use to like Chinese food.
Pam didn’t use to listen to classical music.
We didn’t use to watch much TV.

Question form:

did S use to ~ ?

Examples:

Did you use to ride your bike when you were young?
Did Dad use to work on a farm as a boy?
Did the teacher use to give the class lots of homework?

Note: “used to” is used only for the past, never the present.

Exercises: Complete the following sentences. Use “used to” or the simple present as necessary.

Examples:

  • Mary has short hair, but she (have) long hair. ==> Mary has short hair, but she used to have long hair.
  • John (be) fat, but now he (be) skinny. ==> John used to be fat, but now he is skinny.

1. I (play) the piano every day, but now I (have / not) time.
2. Kim (work) in a restaurant. Now she (work) at a bank.
3. What did you (do) with your friends when you (be) a child?
4. When I (be) little, I (hate) broccoli.
5. Tom (like) to play tennis. He (play) it every day.
6. Before we (move), we (live) in Wisconsin.
7. Did you (walk) to school as a child?
8. William (be) rich, but he (lose) all his money in the stock market.
9. Last summer I (get) up early so I (can) exercise before breakfast.
10. What job did you (have) while you (be) in college?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 14 – Past Continuous vs. Simple Past (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/02/03
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Exercises: Put the verb in the past continuous or simple past.

Example:

  • What (you / do) when the lights (go) out? (“go out” = lose electrical power) ==> What were you doing when the lights went out?
  • I (do) homework. ==> I was doing homework.

1. Who rang the doorbell? It was a girl scout. She was selling cookies.
2. What did you do yesterday? We painted the bedroom.
3. What were you doing last night? I was doing laundry.
4. Did Mary come to the party last Friday? No, she was studying for the test all evening.
5. When did you study for the test? I studied while I was riding the bus to school.
6. The phone rang while I was taking a bath.
7. It started to rain when we were taking a walk.
8. When Henry came home, he skipped supper and went to bed.
9. After Susan ate breakfast, she left for school.
10. The choir was singing when the photographer took the picture.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 14 – Past Continuous vs. Simple Past

Posted on 2012/02/02
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Recall that we have two ways of expressing something that happened in the past:

  • The Simple Past
  • The Past Continuous

What is the difference between these two types of past? How do we know which type of past to use?

Simple Past: used to describe a completed action at a specific time in the past.

Past Continuous: used to describe an action in progress at a specific time in the past. In other words, something was happening, and was interrupted by another event. The thing that was happening uses the Past Continuous, and the thing that interrupted uses the Simple Past.

Two main ways that Simple Past and Past Continuous are used are shown in the following sentence patterns:

1. When ….V (simple past), S V (past continuous). // S V (past continuous) when ….V (simple past)

Examples:

When the phone rang, we were eating. // We were eating when the phone rang.
When the baby woke up, I was writing a letter. // I was writing a letter when the baby woke up.

Note: Using this form emphasizes the interruption.

2. While ….V (past continuous), S V (simple past). // S V (simple past) While ….V (past continuous)

Examples:

While we were eating, the phone rang. // The phone rang while we were eating.
While I was writing a letter, the baby woke up. // The baby woke up while I was writing a letter.

Note: Using this form emphasizes the action that was in progress.

Note: When ….V (simple past), S V (simple past). // S V (simple past) when ….V (simple past).

Here, using Simple Past for both clauses indicates cause and effect – one thing happening leads to another. You can think of “when” as being the same as “after” in this case.

Examples:

When the alarm went off, I got out of bed. // I got out of bed when the alarm went off.
(After the alarm went off, I got out of bed. // I got out of bed after the alarm went off.)
When the light bulb burned out, he replaced it. // He replaced the light bulb when it burned out.
(After the light bulb burned out, he replaced it. // He replaced the light bulb after it burned out.)

Other notes:

Simple Past: used to describe permanent states, completed actions in the past, or actions completed during the specified time period.

Examples:

We waited for an hour. (completed action)
The house burned down. (completed action, permanent situation)
I took piano lessons. (completed action)
It snowed yesterday. (only part of the day)

Past Continuous: used to describe temporary states, incomplete actions in the past, or actions in progress during the specified time period.

Examples:

It was snowing yesterday. (whole day)
We were digging in the garden yesterday afternoon. (in progress)

Exercises: Put the verb in the past continuous or simple past.

Example:

  • What (you / do) when the lights (go) out? (“go out” = lose electrical power) ==> What were you doing when the lights went out?
  • I (do) homework. ==> I was doing homework.

1. Who (ring) the doorbell? It (be) a girl scout. She (sell) cookies.
2. What (you / do) yesterday? We (paint) the bedroom.
3. What (you / do) last night? I (do) laundry.
4. (Mary / come) to the party last Friday? No, she (study) for the test all evening.
5. When (you / study) for the test? I (study) while I (ride) the bus to school.
6. The phone (ring) while I (take) a bath.
7. It (start) to rain when we (take) a walk.
8. When Henry (come) home, he (skip) supper and (go) to bed.
9. After Susan (eat) breakfast, she (leave) for school.
10. The choir (sing) when the photographer (take) the picture.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 13 – Past Continuous (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/02/01
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Exercises: For the following sentences, convert to past continuous. Then, put the past continuous into question form. Finally, put it in past negative question form.

Example:
She is sweeping the porch. ==>

  • She was sweeping the porch.
  • Was she sweeping the porch?
  • Wasn’t she sweeping the porch?

1. He is doing his homework.
He was doing his homework.
Was he doing his homework?
Wasn’t he doing his homework?

2. The cat is acting crazy.
The cat was acting crazy.
Was the cat acting crazy?
Wasn’t the cat acting crazy?

3. Mother is washing clothes in the basement.
Mother was washing clothes in the basement.
Was Mother washing clothes in the basement?
Wasn’t Mother washing clothes in the basement?

4. Father is mowing the lawn.
Father was mowing the lawn.
Was Father mowing the lawn?
Wasn’t Father mowing the lawn?

5. I am taking a bath.
I was taking a bath.
Was I taking a bath?
Wasn’t I taking a bath?

6. We are having pork chops for dinner.
We were having pork chops for dinner.
Were we having pork chops for dinner?
Weren’t we having pork chops for dinner?

7. You are lying!
You were lying!
Were you lying?
Weren’t you lying?

8. It is snowing heavily.
It was snowing heavily.
Was it snowing heavily?
Wasn’t it snowing heavily?

9. I am talking on the phone.
I was talking on the phone.
Was I talking on the phone?
Wasn’t I talking on the phone?

10. The bird is sitting on the fence over there.
The bird was sitting on the fence over there.
Was the bird sitting on the fence over there?
Wasn’t the bird sitting on the fence over there?

11. The twins are swimming in the pool.
The twins were swimming in the pool.
Were the twins swimming in the pool?
Weren’t the twins swimming in the pool?

12. We are drinking iced tea to keep cool.
We were drinking iced tea to keep cool.
Were we drinking iced tea to keep cool?
Weren’t we drinking iced tea to keep cool?

13. We are practicing for next week’s concert.
We were practicing for next week’s concert.
Were we practicing for next week’s concert?
Weren’t we practicing for next week’s concert?

14. He is writing a letter to Santa Claus.
He was writing a letter to Santa Claus.
Was he writing a letter to Santa Claus?
Wasn’t he writing a letter to Santa Claus?

15. Thousands of people are dying in Africa from famine.
Thousands of people were dying in Africa from famine.
Were thousands of people dying in Africa from famine?
Weren’t thousands of people dying in Africa from famine?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 13 – Past Continuous

Posted on 2012/01/31
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To form the past continuous, use the appropriate past tense form of the verb “be,” plus the –ing form of the verb:

  • I am –ing ==> I was –ing
  • you are –ing ==> you were –ing
  • he / she / it is –ing ==> he / she / it was –ing
  • we are –ing ==> we were –ing
  • they are –ing ==> they were –ing

Examples:

I’m reading the newspaper. ==> I was reading the newspaper.
You’re sleeping! ==> You were sleeping!
He’s studying for tomorrow’s exam. ==> He was studying for tomorrow’s exam.
The baby’s sleeping. ==> The baby was sleeping.
We’re leaving. ==> We were leaving.
They’re outside playing in the sandbox. ==> They were outside playing in the sandbox.

Negations are made the same way as for the past tense of the verb “be”:

  • I was –ing ==> I was not (wasn’t) –ing
  • you were –ing ==> you were not (weren’t) –ing
  • he / she / it was –ing ==> he / she / it was not (wasn’t) –ing
  • we were –ing ==> we were not (weren’t) –ing
  • they were –ing ==> they were not (weren’t) –ing

Examples:

I’m reading the newspaper.  ==> I wasn’t reading the newspaper.
You’re sleeping! ==> You weren’t sleeping!
He’s studying for tomorrow’s exam. ==> He wasn’t studying for tomorrow’s exam.
The baby’s sleeping. ==> The baby wasn’t sleeping.
We’re leaving. ==> We weren’t leaving.
They’re outside playing in the sandbox. ==> They weren’t outside playing in the sandbox.

Questions are made the same way as for the past tense of the verb “be”:

  • I was –ing ==> Was I –ing…?
  • you were –ing ==> Were you –ing…?
  • he / she / it was –ing ==> Was he / she / it –ing…?
  • we were –ing ==> Were we –ing…?
  • they were –ing ==> Were they –ing…?

Examples:

I’m reading the newspaper. ==> Was I reading the newspaper?
You’re sleeping! ==> Were you sleeping?
He’s studying for tomorrow’s exam. ==> Was he studying for tomorrow’s exam?
The baby’s sleeping. ==> Was the baby sleeping?
We’re leaving. ==> Were we leaving?
They’re outside playing in the sandbox. ==> Were they outside playing in the sandbox?

Questions can also have a negative form:

  • I was –ing ==> Was I not // Wasn’t I –ing…?
  • you were –ing ==> Were you not // Weren’t you –ing…?
  • he / she / it was –ing ==> Was he / she / it not // Wasn’t he / she / it –ing…?
  • we were –ing ==> Were we not // Weren’t we –ing…?
  • they were –ing ==> Were they not // Weren’t they –ing…?

Note:

Like before, this negative question form is expecting a confirmation: Yes, S was / were –ing. ….

Examples:

I’m reading the newspaper. ==> Wasn’t I reading the newspaper?
You’re sleeping! ==> Weren’t you sleeping?
He’s studying for tomorrow’s exam. ==> Wasn’t he studying for tomorrow’s exam?
The baby’s sleeping. ==> Wasn’t the baby sleeping?
We’re leaving. ==> Weren’t we leaving?
They’re outside playing in the sandbox. ==> Weren’t they outside playing in the sandbox?

Exercises: For the following sentences, convert to past continuous. Then, put the past continuous into question form. Finally, put it in past negative question form.

Example:
She is sweeping the porch. ==>

  • She was sweeping the porch.
  • Was she sweeping the porch?
  • Wasn’t she sweeping the porch?

1. He is doing his homework.

2. The cat is acting crazy.

3. Mother is washing clothes in the basement.

4. Father is mowing the lawn.

5. I am taking a bath.

6. We are having pork chops for dinner.

7. You are lying!

8. It is snowing heavily.

9. I am talking on the phone.

10. The bird is sitting on the fence over there.

11. The twins are swimming in the pool.

12. We are drinking iced tea to keep cool.

13. We are practicing for next week’s concert.

14. He is writing a letter to Santa Claus.

15. Thousands of people are dying in Africa from famine.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 12 – The Simple Past Tense Negation, Question Form (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/01/27
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Exercises: First, convert all sentences to negative form. Then, convert them to question form. Finally, convert them to negative question form.

Example:
It snowed all day. ==>

  • It didn’t snow all day.
  • Did it snow all day?
  • Didn’t it snow all day?

1. We watched TV for an hour.
We didn’t watch TV for an hour.
Did we watch TV for an hour?
Didn’t we watch TV for an hour?

2. The cat sat on my lap.
The cat didn’t sit on my lap.
Did the cat sit on my lap?
Didn’t the cat sit on my lap?

3. She baked a cake for Mary’s birthday.
She didn’t bake a cake for Mary’s birthday.
Did she bake a cake for Mary’s birthday?
Didn’t she bake a cake for Mary’s birthday?

4. I bought a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks.
I didn’t buy a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks.
Did I buy a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks?
Didn’t I buy a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks?

5. Lisa wrote a nice thank-you note to her aunt.
Lisa didn’t write a nice thank-you note to her aunt.
Did Lisa write a nice thank-you note to her aunt?
Didn’t Lisa write a nice thank-you note to her aunt?

6. We flew from Chicago to Seoul.
We didn’t fly from Chicago to Seoul.
Did we fly from Chicago to Seoul?
Didn’t we fly from Chicago to Seoul?

7. He took several pictures of the Grand Canyon.
He didn’t take several pictures of the Grand Canyon.
Did he take several pictures of the Grand Canyon?
Didn’t he take several pictures of the Grand Canyon?

8. She changed the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash.
She didn’t change the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash.
Did she change the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash?
Didn’t she change the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash?

9. The mechanic repaired the car last week.
The mechanic didn’t repair the car last week.
Did the mechanic repair the car last week?
Didn’t the mechanic repair the car last week?

10. At the campout, we cooked hot dogs for supper.
At the campout, we didn’t cook hot dogs for dinner.
Did we cook hot dogs for dinner at the campout?
Didn’t we cook hot dogs for dinner at the campout?

11. It rained yesterday and ruined our picnic.
It didn’t rain yesterday, and ruin our picnic.
Did it rain yesterday, and ruin our picnic?
Didn’t it rain yesterday, and ruin our picnic?

12. The teacher graded our tests and handed them back to us.
The teacher didn’t grade our tests and hand them back to us.
Did the teacher grade our tests and hand them back to us?
Didn’t the teacher grade our tests and hand them back to us?

13. Tom impatiently tapped his foot.
Tom didn’t tap his foot impatiently.
Did Tom tap his foot impatiently?
Didn’t Tom tap his foot impatiently?

14. Sam watered the plants every morning.
Sam didn’t water the plants every morning.
Did Sam water the plants every morning?
Didn’t Sam water the plants every morning?

15. We relaxed and listened to music after dinner.
We didn’t relax and listen to music after dinner.
Did we relax and listen to music after dinner?
Didn’t we relax and listen to music after dinner?

16. Kathleen lied to her mother, and got into trouble.
Kathleen didn’t lie to her mother and get into trouble.
Did Kathleen lie to her mother and get into trouble?
Didn’t Kathleen lie to her mother and get into trouble?

17. They went to a movie last weekend.
They didn’t go to a movie last weekend.
Did they go to a movie last weekend?
Didn’t they go to a movie last weekend?

18. I finished reading a good book yesterday.
I didn’t fishing reading a good book yesterday.
Did I finish reading a good book yesterday?
Didn’t I finish reading a good book yesterday?

19. My pencil lead broke, so I sharpened it again.
My pencil lead didn’t break, so I didn’t sharpen it again.
Did my pencil lead break? Did I sharpen it again?
Didn’t my pencil lead break? Didn’t I sharpen it again?

20. He came late for breakfast.
He didn’t come late for breakfast.
Did he come late for breakfast?
Didn’t he come late for breakfast?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 11 – The Simple Past Tense (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/01/25
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Exercises: Use the proper simple past tense in the sentences below.

Example:

  • It _________ all day. (snow) ==> It snowed all day.

1. We watched TV for an hour.

2. The cat sat on my lap.

3. She baked a cake for Mary’s birthday.

4. I bought a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks.

5. Lisa wrote a nice thank-you note to her aunt.

6. We flew from Chicago to Seoul.

7. He took several pictures of the Grand Canyon.

8. She changed the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash.

9. The mechanic repaired the car last week.

10. At the campout, we cooked hot dogs for supper.

11. It rained yesterday and ruined our picnic.

12. The teacher graded our tests and handed them back to us.

13. Tom impatiently tapped his foot.

14. Sam watered the plants every morning.

15. We relaxed and listened to music after dinner.

16. Kathleen lied to her mother, and got into trouble.

17. They went to a movie last weekend.

18. I finished reading a good book yesterday.

19. My pencil lead broke, so I sharpened it again.

20. He came late for breakfast.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 11 – The Simple Past Tense

Posted on 2012/01/24
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The Simple Past is formed by putting –ed at the end of the verb:

Examples:

  • wash ==> washed
  • walk ==> walked
  • laugh ==> laughed
  • comb ==> combed
  • print ==> printed
  • John washed the car.
  • We walked to school every day.
  • Everyone laughed at the clown.
  • The beautician combed her client’s long hair.
  • He printed a receipt for me.

Words that end in a –y that is preceded by a consonant must use change the –y to an i before putting the –ed at the end:

Examples:

  • try ==> tried
  • cry ==> cried
  • study ==>studied
  • dry ==> dried
  • She tried to open the door.
  • The baby cried for a whole hour.
  • Steve studied all weekend for his test.
  • We dried fish on wire racks.

Words whose final syllable has a short vowel followed by a single consonant double the last consonant:

Examples:

  • stop ==> stopped
  • ban ==> banned
  • plan ==> planned
  • The policeman stopped the speeding car.
  • The teacher banned all cell phones from the classroom.
  • We planned to go on a picnic yesterday.

As with most languages, there are exceptions. Some verbs are irregular, and do not form the simple past according to the above rules. We have no choice but to memorize these verbs and their past tense. The following list is the 50 most common irregular English verbs. These verbs are listed in order of frequency: Number 1 is the most common, Number 2 is the second most common, etc. These 50 words make up 87% of irregular verb occurrence in English. The first 11 represent half of the occurrence of irregular verbs in English.

50 Most Common Irregular English Verbs

Rank Base Form (Past Tense, Past Participle)

1. say (said, said)
2. make (made, made)
3. go (went, gone)
4. take (took, taken)
5. come (came, come)
6. see (saw, seen)
7. know (knew, known)
8. get (got, got/gotten (US))
9. give (gave, given)
10. find (found, found)
11. think (thought, thought)
12. tell (told, told)
13. become (became, become)
14. show (showed, shown / showed)
15. leave (left, left)
16. feel (felt, felt)
17. put (put, put)
18. bring (brought, brought)
19. begin (began, begun)
20. keep (kept, kept)
21. hold (held, held)
22. write (wrote, written)
23. stand (stood, stood)
24. hear (heard, heard)
25. let (let, let)
26. mean (meant, meant)
27. set (set, set)
28. meet (met, met)
29. run (ran, run)
30. pay (paid, paid)
31. sit (sat, sat)
32. speak (spoke, spoken)
33. lie (lay, lain)
34. lead (led, led)
35. read (read, read)
36. grow (grew, grown)
37. lose (lost, lost)
38. fall (fell, fallen)
39. send (sent, sent)
40. build (built, built)
41. understand (understood, understood)
42. draw (drew, drawn)
43. break (broke, broken)
44. spend (spent, spent)
45. cut (cut, cut)
46. rise (rose, risen)
47. drive (drove, driven)
48. buy (bought, bought)
49. wear (wore, worn)
50. choose (chose, chosen)

Exercises: Use the proper simple past tense in the sentences below.

Example:

  • It _________ all day. (snow) ==> It snowed all day.

1. We _________ TV for an hour. (watch)

2. The cat _________ on my lap. (sit)

3. She _________ a cake for Mary’s birthday. (bake)

4. I _________ a pair of shoes and three pairs of socks. (buy)

5. Lisa _________ a nice thank-you note to her aunt. (write)

6. We _________ from Chicago to Seoul. (fly)

7. He _________ several pictures of the Grand Canyon. (take)

8. She _________ the baby’s diaper often to avoid diaper rash. (change)

9. The mechanic _________ the car last week. (repair)

10. At the campout, we _________ hot dogs for supper. (cook)

11. It _________ yesterday and _________ our picnic. (rain, ruin)

12. The teacher _________ our tests and _________ them back to us. (grade, hand)

13. Tom impatiently _________ his foot. (tap)

14. Sam _________ the plants every morning. (water)

15. We _________ and _________ to music after dinner. (relax, listen)

16. Kathleen _________ to her mother, and _________ into trouble. (lie, get)

17. They _________ to a movie last weekend. (go)

18. I _________ reading a good book yesterday. (finish)

19. My pencil lead _________, so I _________ it again. (break, sharpen)

20. He _________ late for breakfast. (come)

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Grammar Basics: Unit 10 – “was” and “were” (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/01/20
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Exercises: Make sentences by using the correct form of was/were.
Example:

  • skinny / the dog ==> The dog was skinny.
  • Bob / hungry / not ==> Bob wasn’t hungry.
  • not / Sally / sleepy ? ==> Wasn’t Sally sleepy?

1. The dishwasher was broken.

2. It was rainy last week.

3. My pencil was red.

4. Mary was invited to the party.

5. That restaurant was expensive.

6. Were the lights off?

7. Joe was attacked by a dog.

8. They were late for their appointment.

9. Was the laundry done?

10. The books were donated to the boys’ club.

11. I was first place in the competition.

12. Weren’t you at the library?

13. The waiter was tired from working all day.

14. Weren’t Tim and Tom in the swimming pool?

15. The cat was stuck in a tree.

16. Wasn’t Tom in class?

17. The house was sold last week.

18. Wasn’t the stove turned off?

19. The pop machine was out of order.

20. Weren’t the windows clean?

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