AIRMEN’S JOURNAL
PILOT’S TALK
← Level A lessonsMOUNT ETNA · LEVEL A · UNIT 1

Telling the Story: Past Simple

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Words from the text: divert, cancel, change, start, work, continue, volcano, airport, flight, ash, airspace, passenger, aircraft

A We use Past Simple to tell a story about finished events. Most verbs are regular: we add -ed to the verb.

Airlines diverted their flights to Palermo.

KM Malta Airlines canceled two flights.

Aeroitalia changed its flights to Comiso.

Для правильных глаголов в Past Simple просто добавляем -ed: start→started, work→worked, divert→diverted.

B Some verbs are irregular. They do not take -ed. They have a special past form that you must learn.

SAC said: all flights will stop.

Three flights went to Trapani.

The ash cloud began to move south.

Некоторые глаголы (say-said, go-went, begin-began) имеют особую форму прошедшего времени, её нужно запомнить отдельно.

C To tell a story in order, use Past Simple for every event. Words like First, Then, and After that show the order of events.

First, the airport worked with less capacity.

Then the ash cloud continued to move south.

After that, all flights stopped completely.

Чтобы рассказать историю по порядку, используем Past Simple для каждого события плюс слова first, then, after that.

Exercises

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1.1 Put the verb in brackets into Past Simple.

Example: Mount Etna (be) ______ active again. → was

  1. The volcano (start) making problems for flights.
  2. SAC (say) all flights would stop.
  3. Airlines (divert) their flights to other airports.
  4. KM Malta Airlines (cancel) two flights.
  5. Aeroitalia (change) its flights to Comiso.
  6. The airport (work) with less capacity at first.
  7. The ash cloud (continue) to move south.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. started
  2. said
  3. diverted
  4. canceled
  5. changed
  6. worked
  7. continued

1.2 Put the events in order (1-5). Use the verbs to help you.

Example: The airport worked with less capacity. (this is the first event) → 1

  1. All arrivals and departures stopped completely.
  2. The airport worked with less capacity.
  3. The ash cloud came closer.
  4. Airlines began to divert their flights.
  5. The airport made the rules stricter.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. 5
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4

1.3 Answer the questions about the text. Use one sentence with Past Simple.

Example: What happened on September 26? → SAC suspended flight operations because of the volcano.

  1. What happened to KM Malta Airlines flight KM642?
  2. Where did Aeroitalia's flight go instead of Catania?
  3. What happened to the Delta flight from New York?
  4. How many flights diverted in total?
  5. What happened to the Brussels Airlines flight on September 26?
  6. Where did passengers from the Brussels flight go by bus?
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. KM Malta Airlines canceled flight KM642.
  2. Aeroitalia's flight went to Comiso instead.
  3. The Delta flight diverted to Rome Fiumicino.
  4. At least 10 flights diverted.
  5. Brussels Airlines canceled the flight to Brussels.
  6. Passengers went to Catania by bus.

1.4 Complete the sentences. Use the Past Simple of a verb from the box: divert, cancel, change, start, work, continue.

Example: The ash cloud ______ to move south. → continued

  1. The volcano making problems for air flights.
  2. The airport with less capacity before it closed.
  3. Airlines their flights to Palermo and Trapani.
  4. KM Malta Airlines two flights.
  5. Passengers' travel plans because of the volcano.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. started
  2. worked
  3. diverted
  4. canceled
  5. changed