Talking About Yesterday
Original English Drills activities. Listening uses a teacher-read script. Print the student lesson on two A4 landscape sides; choose short-edge duplex printing.
1. Warmer
Look at the illustration. What can you see? Where are the people?
Tell a partner two things you already know about this situation.
Goal: Past simple — use English in an everyday situation.
2. Vocabulary
Match the words to their meanings.
1. yesterday · 2. met · 3. bought · 4. tired · 5. flatmate
A. a person who shares your home
B. the day before today
C. past form of buy
D. needing rest
E. past form of meet
1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___
3. Reading
Yesterday was a busy day for Ana. In the morning, she walked to the park and met her friend Ben. They talked for half an hour. Then Ana went to the supermarket and bought vegetables for dinner. She came home at lunchtime and made a sandwich. In the afternoon, she studied English and wrote an email to her sister. She did not watch television. In the evening, she cooked dinner with her flatmate. After dinner, they listened to music. Ana went to bed at ten because she felt tired but happy.
4. Comprehension
Answer using the reading.
- Who did Ana meet?
- What did she buy?
- Who did she write to?
- Did she watch television?
5. Grammar focus
Use the past simple for finished events: Yesterday I walked. She went home.
Regular verbs: walk → walked; study → studied.
Irregular verbs: go → went; buy → bought; write → wrote.
Negative: didn’t + base verb: She didn’t watch TV.
Question: Did + subject + base verb: Did you go out?
6. Guided practice
Complete or choose the correct word.
- Yesterday Ana ___ to the park. (walk)
- She ___ her friend. (meet)
- She ___ vegetables. (buy)
- She ___ an email. (write)
- She didn’t ___ TV. (watch)
- ___ you ___ dinner yesterday? (did / cook)
Talking About Yesterday — continued
7. Listening
Your teacher will read a short script twice. Complete the notes.
- Got up at: ___
- Travelled by: ___
- Met: ___
- Ate: ___
- Came home at: ___
8. Speaking
Ask your partner: What did you do yesterday morning? Where did you go? Who did you talk to? What did you eat? Ask one follow-up question. Report two things your partner did.
9. Fun practice
Grammar detective: Correct one mistake in each sentence.
- Yesterday I go to the park.
- She didn’t watched TV.
- Did you cooked dinner?
- He buyed some bread.
10. Writing and reflection
Write six sentences about yesterday, real or imagined. Use at least two irregular past verbs and one negative. Put events in time order.
Exit check: Yesterday I ___ (go) out. Did you ___ (cook)?
□ I can use today’s language. □ I can take part in this situation.
Talking About Yesterday — Teacher Answers
A2 · Past simple · 50–60 minutes
1. Warmer
Accept relevant descriptions. Elicit useful words before reading. The AI illustration is a discussion prompt; it need not show every detail in the text.
2. Vocabulary
1–B; 2–E; 3–C; 4–D; 5–A.
3–4. Reading and comprehension
Ben; vegetables; her sister; no, she didn’t.
5–6. Grammar and practice
walked; met; bought; wrote; watch; Did / cook.
7. Teacher-read listening script
Read twice clearly, with a short pause between readings. Ask learners to compare answers before checking.
Yesterday I got up at eight. I took the bus to town and met my cousin. We had lunch at a café. I ate a vegetable sandwich. In the afternoon, I visited the library. I didn’t buy any books. I came home at five.
Answers: 8 am; bus; cousin; a vegetable sandwich; 5 pm.
8. Speaking
Answers vary. Model one exchange, then let pairs practise and swap roles. Monitor clarity and the target language.
9. Grammar detective
Yesterday I went to the park. She didn’t watch TV. Did you cook dinner? He bought some bread.
10. Writing and reflection
Check past forms, time order and the base verb after did/didn’t. Exit check: went; cook.
Suggested timing and support
Warmer and vocabulary: 8 minutes; reading and comprehension: 10; grammar and practice: 12; listening: 7; speaking and game: 10; writing: 8. For support, give a sentence starter. For extension, add a follow-up question or extra detail.