ניוזלטר אנגלית #7 – המילה “History” וזמן Past Simple בשפה האנגלית

מאת אישמעאל בן-ישראל, מורה לאנגלית בלינגולרן

In this month’s edition, we’ll talk about history and discuss some interesting issues and dilemmas surrounding the subject. We’ll also learn how to use the past tense.

What is “history”?

The word history comes from the Greek word historia and simply means knowledge that we get from research. So history is the story that historians write about the past, using what they learned about the world through scientific research. There are many different kinds of history; for example scientific history, history of the solar system, history of economics, history of specific societies, global history and so on.
Historians work like detectives, researching the past, using evidence left behind that is available today, like archeological findings and historical accounts written by historians. These findings are cross-checked and used by historians to put together a reliable description of past events.

Is history an exact science?

If history is supposed to provide us with an exact account of past events, in other words to tell us exactly what happened at a certain time in the past, then it should surely be considered an exact science. This doesn’t mean that history could give us answers to all questions we have about the past, but that answers that it did give us would be objective undeniable facts.
The problem is that history is written by historians and historians are human beings. Like everyone else, they are influenced by their own values, opinions and prejudices. No matter how professional they may try to be, it’s very difficult not to be judgmental about the past. Here are some dilemmas and questions that historians have to deal with:
• Does history only provide us with facts about the past, or does it also function as a compass for the future? Can history help us deal with the challenges of the future?
• Should historians only give us the facts, or should they also interpret what those facts mean?
• Are legends part of history? Many would say no, but imaginary legends sometimes turn the wheels of history faster than real events.
• When historians examine the past, should they do so through the lense of the present or the past? Is it even possible to know today, how people thought about past events?

Before you go, let’s talk about the Past Simple tense

We use the Past Simple when we want to describe actions that took place in the past.
Past Simple sentences can be divided into two main groups:

1. Sentences without a “regular verb”
In English every sentence has to have a verb. If there isn’t a “regular verb” in a sentence in Past Simple, we use was/were to connect between the subject and the rest of the sentence. For the pronouns I, he, she and it, use was; for you, we and they, use were:
• I was at the party yesterday.
• Jennifer was beautiful in her new red dress.
• The cars were in the garage.
• Was it cold outside?

2. Sentences with a “regular verb”
Here there are differences in sentence formation depending on the kind of sentence (positive, negative, question…):

a. Positive sentences: use the past tense form of the verb (V2):
iI. played basketball yesterday.
ii. She took me with her to the park this morning.
iii. We wanted more ice-cream.
iv. He wanted more ice-cream.

*Notice that the past tense form of most words is created by adding ed to the base form of the verb. There are also irregular verbs, such as:
Go-went
Say-said
Take-took

b. Negative sentences: use didn’t + base form of the verb:
iI. didn’t have time.
ii. He didn’t have time.
iii. She didn’t know the answer to the question.

c. Yes/no questions: use did + base form of the verb:
i. Did you know the answer?
ii. Did he have your phone number?
iii. Did they live on their own?

d. Wh’ questions: use did + base form of the verb:
i. Where did you go?
ii. What did he say?
iii. Why did you take the bus to work if you own a car?
iv. Who did you think will win the race?
v. When did the bus leave the station?

That’s it for now! 
Thanks for taking the time to read this Newsletter. We hope you found it useful and interesting.
See you next time!

מילונית

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