A1 · Beginner · Lesson 5

The Verb "To Have": Past Simple (All Forms)

had, didn't have, and questions with did

Language Focus

The verb "have" has one past form for every subject: had. We use it to talk about possessions, experiences, and situations in the past.

FormStructureExample
AffirmativeAll subjects: hadI had a great day. They had a meeting.
Negativedidn't haveShe didn't have time. We didn't have any milk.
Yes/No QuestionDid...have?Did he have fun? Did you have breakfast?
Short AnswerYes/No + subject + did/didn'tYes, he did. No, they didn't.
Wh- QuestionWh-word + did...have?What did you have for lunch? Why didn't she have breakfast?

Remember: Unlike "be" (was/were), "have" uses the same form – had – for every subject in the past. And after did/didn't, we always use the base form "have", never "had" (Did you have...? not Did you had...?).

Listening: A Busy Morning

Context: a hectic start to the day
Yesterday I had a really busy morning.
I had breakfast early, but I didn't have much time to eat.
My sister had a meeting before school.
We didn't have any milk, so we had toast instead.
My brother didn't have breakfast at all – he was too tired.
In the end, we all had a good day, even though the morning was hectic.

Now go to Exercise 1 and answer True or False.

1. True or False

Context: A Busy Morning (from the listening)

Listen again if you need to, then choose True or False.

2. Multiple Choice

Context: a school reunion

Choose the correct past form of "have".

3. Matching

Context: family memories

Match each subject to the correct sentence ending.

4. Gap Fill

Context: a diary entry

Complete the diary entry with had or didn't have.

5. Have Sort

"Had" can mean two different things. Click each phrase, then click the correct group below to sort it.

had = owned / possessed something

had = did / experienced something

6. Word Order

Context: questions with did...have

Click the words in the correct order to build each question.

7. Right or Wrong?

Context: a family history quiz

Is the question form right or wrong? Click your answer.

Your Scores

0 / 43

Total points across all exercises

ExerciseScore
1. True or False0 / 5
2. Multiple Choice0 / 6
3. Matching0 / 5
4. Gap Fill0 / 6
5. Have Sort0 / 11
6. Word Order0 / 5
7. Right or Wrong0 / 5