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DAVID tells his story

ANNE
What happened? Why did you stop writing?

DAVID
I started my course at University. It was very difficult. Computer science isn’t for me.

ANNE
Did you fail your exams?

DAVID
Yes. I let everyone down. I just wanted to die. Dad must be so angry.

ANNE
He’s just worried about you, David.

DAVID
I didn’t know what to do. I was so confused. I had to find a job. I couldn’t use father’s money any more. So, I applied for a job at the Markets. Phil was very kind. He agreed to give me a job if I could get a working visa.

ANNE
How did you?

DAVID
I went home and applied for it.

ANNE
You mean you went back to Singapore?

DAVID
Yes. I was too ashamed to see anyone. I’m such a failure.
ROSE takes David’s hand.

ROSE
I don’t think you’re a failure.

DAVID
Anyway, I returned here, and I started work. I met Rose, we moved in together, and, well, then Sam came along.

STEVE
It’s an amazing story.

SARAH
I think it’s wonderful.

DAVID
Mum and dad won’t think it’s that wonderful.

ANNE
They’ll be so relieved you’re safe. We didn’t know what to think, David.

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1. PAST TENSES

We use did or didn’t if we are talking about the past.
I did know. (positive)
I didn’t know. (negative)
 

ANNE
We didn’t know what to think, David.
  We use did with the basic form of a verb called an infinitive.

Know is the infinitive.
I did know.
 

These are some ways of forming past tenses with the verb know:
I did know.
I didn’t know.
I knew.
 

For an action that has not happened, we always use didn’t or did not and the infinitive.
I didn’t know.
I didn’t understand.
I didn’t care.
 

DAVID
I didn’t know what to do.
  Another way that we use to form past tenses is to use the past tense of one verb followed by the infinitive.
Listen to these examples:

DAVID
He agreed to give me a job if I could get a working visa.
  He agreed to give – the past tense agreed is followed by the infinitive to give.
 

DAVID
I was too ashamed to see anyone.
  The past tense was, is followed by the infinitive to see.
 

Listen to how these sentences are changed to talk about the past:
I know what to do. (present)
I knew what to do. (past)
I want to study overseas. (present)
I wanted to study overseas. (past)
     

  2. HAVE  

We use the word have and its past tense had in a number of ways.
 

They form perfect tenses with other verbs such as the present perfect have done for things that have just happened.
I have done a good job.

It can mean ‘need’
I have to study.
If you lose your job, you have to find another.
If Michelle loses her job, she has to find another.
 

The past tense is had.
They have to find another job. (present)
They had to find another job. (past)
 

Notice that the past tense had is followed by the infinitive to find and not the past tense ‘found’.
They had to find another job.
 

DAVID
I had to find a job.

    3. SUCCESS & FAILURE

Success and failure are nouns:
I’m a success.
I’m a failure.
 

DAVID
I’m such a failure.
 

The verbs are succeed and fail.
I hope you succeed with your studies.
If you work hard you won’t fail.
 

ANNE
Did you fail your exams?
 

The past tenses are succeeded and failed.
They succeeded in business.
He failed his exams.