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In TALC Chats episode # 8, Latonya and Diana practiced using that little verb "to do'" in the present. In this episode they practice using "to do" in the past.

A quick review of the forms "to do"in the present:
          I do
         we do
         you do
         they do
         he/she/it does

"to do" has two important jobs:
          1. As a main verb that means to accomplish something
               like "I do my dishes after I eat dinner."
         2. As a helper for most other verbs for
                 questions: "Do you like chocolate?"
                negative statements: "I don't like chocolate"

One very important verb that needs no help from "to do" is "to be".
          (am, is, are - present; was, were - past)
         Examples: You are busy. You are not busy. Are you busy?

"to do" in the past:

Using"to do" in the past as a main verb and and as a helper is easy. It's a piece of cake! Like almost all English verbs "to do" has only one past tense form : "did".

To talk about the past just change the "do" or "does" to "did ". 

Practice using "to do " as a main verb in the past:
            I do my laundry on Mondays.  I did my laundry last Monday.
            John always does his homework.  John did his homework last night.

Practice using "to do" as a helper in the past:
            Did you like broccoli when you were a kid? (main  verb "like")
           No, I did not (didn't) like broccoli when I was a kid.  (main  verb "like")
           
           Did John work yesterday? (main verb "work")
           No, John did not (didn't) work yesterday. (main  verb "work")

Notice that the main verb is always in the base form: like, work, eat 

The main verb does not change with the subject

   Listen for “did” “didn’t “ and “do” in Diana and Latonya's conversation. Sometimes “did” will be the main verb and sometimes it will be a helper with a main verb.

L:  Did you have a busy day yesterday?

D: No, I really didn’t have a very busy day yesterday.

L:  Did you work yesterday?

D: No, I didn’t work. It was my day off.

L: Did you make anything special for dinner?

D: No, I didn’t cook. I got a pizza.

L: Did you go to bed early?

D: No, I didn’t go to bed early. I read my book until midnight.

L: Wow! Did you finish the book?

D: Yes, I finished it. Do you want it?

L: Yes, I do, thanks. But I don’t want to stay up until midnight reading it!

D: Don’t worry! You don’t have to read it all in one night like I did.

L: I don’t plan to.

D: Well, I need to say goodbye. I don’t want to be late for my class.

L: OK! See you later!

How about you, dear listener:

Did you have a busy day yesterday? What did you do?

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