Past Simple: What We Did

Last Tuesday, our group checked the word cards after class. First, Sara read the words while Amin looked at the list. They found two unclear labels. Then they asked the teacher for permission to make new labels. The teacher gave them two used sheets of paper. Sara wrote the new labels, and Amin checked the spelling. They waited because the ink was wet. After that, they put the dry labels on the model boxes and returned the ruler. They did not move the shelf. At the end of the activity, the cards were easier to find in their small test. The group wrote down one remaining problem: the return date was missing from one label. Next time, they are going to check the date before testing the labels again.

Before the practice, one box was open and two labels were wet. Three folders were on the desk. The students checked the materials with the teacher. They did not take any item home. After the model task, the box was closed and the labels were dry. The three folders were still on the desk. These notes describe the states that the observer recorded. They do not identify the person who opened the box earlier. An interview can help clarify the events: “Did you close the box?” asks about an action. “Was the box open at the start?” asks about a state. The answers should follow the story, not what the interviewer hopes to hear. If the source does not give a detail, say that the information is not available.