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Workplace Tasks

In this lesson, you will learn how to use the past simple negative form (didn't + base verb) to talk about things that were not done in the past, in a workplace setting.

Workplace Tasks

Listening

Listen to the audio and answer the questions in the quiz below.

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Workplace Tasks

Based on what you heard in the recording, please answer the following questions. This activity will help you practice listening skills, understand common expressions, and improve your basic English comprehension. Read each question carefully and choose the correct answer. Click Start to launch the quiz!

1) What task did Kelly *not* finish?

2) Why didn't Kelly finish the sales report?

3) What problem did the printer have?

4) Who didn't call the new supplier?

5) Choose the correct negative form: "I ____ finish the report."

6) Choose the correct negative form: "It ____ work." (referring to the printer)

7) Why didn't the team attend the meeting?

8) Choose the correct negative form: "They ____ attend the meeting."

9) Choose the correct negative form: "He ____ send the email."

10) What didn't Mark do yesterday?

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Reading

Print Script

Brian: Hi Kelly. Good morning. How was your day yesterday?
Kelly: Good morning, Brian. It was... busy. A bit difficult, actually.
Brian: Oh? I see. I wanted to ask about a few things. First, the sales report. Did you finish it?
Kelly: Oh, no, I didn't finish it. I really wanted to, but I had too many urgent calls. I didn't have enough time.
Brian: Okay, I understand. And Mark? Did he send the important client email?
Kelly: No, he didn't send it. He was busy all morning with the new project meeting. He didn't get a chance.
Brian: Hmm. That's not ideal. What about the big team meeting? Did everyone attend as planned?
Kelly: No, they didn't attend. Many people were out of the office for training. So, the meeting didn't happen.
Brian: That's not good. We needed to discuss the new budget. Did we check the new inventory list for the warehouse?
Kelly: No, we didn't check it. We started, but then we ran out of time before lunch. We didn't complete it.
Brian: I see. And the printer? We needed it for the client presentations. Did it work well?
Kelly: No, it didn't work. It was broken all day. The technician didn't fix it in time. So we didn't print anything.
Brian: Oh, no! That's a big problem. Did Sarah call the new supplier for the office supplies?
Kelly: No, she didn't call them. She wrote it on her list, but she didn't remember to do it. She forgot completely.
Brian: So, many important things didn't happen yesterday! This is quite a list.
Kelly: Yes, it was a very difficult day for everyone. But don't worry, Brian. We will try to do all these things today. We didn't forget them.
Brian: I hope so, Kelly. We really need to catch up.

✅ Vocabulary

• Urgent – very important and needing to be dealt with quickly

• Client – a person or organization that uses the services of a professional person or company

• Attend – to go to an event, meeting, or class

• Inventory – a complete list of items, especially goods in a store or warehouse

• Technician – a person whose job involves practical work with scientific or technical equipment

• Supplier – a company or person that provides goods or services

✅ Useful Sentences / Takeaways

1. Talking about unfinished tasks
• I didn't finish it.
• He didn't send it.
• They didn't attend.
• We didn't check it.

2. Giving reasons for not doing something
• I had too many urgent calls.
• He was busy with the new project.
• Many people were out of the office.
• We ran out of time.

3. Asking about past actions
• Did you finish the sales report?
• Did he send the client email?
• Did everyone attend?
• Did it work well?

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