Coffee Break English, season one, episode three.
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Coffee Break English.
My name's Josie. And my name's Mark.
How are you today, Josie?
I'm very well. Thank you, Mark.
I'm excited for another episode.
How are you? I'm well, too.
And yes, I, too, am looking forward to this episode because it's about music and I love music.
That's right. Me, too.
And today, we're talking about a very, very famous English pop band.
It's the Beatles. Excellent.
Now, Josie, what are the language points that we're going to be looking at today?
Today, we'll be looking at the past simple tense.
OK. Well, we can listen for them in the text.
Let's have a listen.
And because we're talking about an English band, let's listen to Susan from London.
I'm sure you know the Beatles.
They are one of the most famous pop bands in the world.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney created the band in Liverpool in the UK in 1960 when they were teenagers.
At the beginning, the band didn't have the same name.
They were called the Quarrymen.
After a few months, George Harrison joined the band.
They changed their name to The Beatles and they went to Hamburg in Germany to play in bars and clubs.
In 1962, they fired their drummer because they didn't think he was very good.
Then they found Ringo Starr and the band was complete.
They released their first album, Please, Please Me, in 1963 and soon they were famous all over the world.
The love and excitement of their fans was called Beatlemania.
Their fans screamed and cried at the Beatles concerts and some of them even thought that the band had supernatural powers.
Between 1963 and 1970, the Beatles made 13 albums and even some films.
In 1970, after an incredible career of 10 years, the band decided they didn't want to continue making music together and they separated.
The four Beatles all had successful solo careers and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are still making music today, although they are quite old now.
John Lennon died in 1980 after he was shot by a Beatles fan in New York and George Harrison died later in 2001.
The Beatles are still very famous today and there are many books and films about their amazing story.
In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine decided that their album, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, was the best album of all time.
The Beatles were actually inspired by another singer, Elvis Presley.
When they were teenagers in Liverpool, they loved Elvis and they wanted to be famous for their music just like him.
Their dreams came true.
Thank you, Susan. So, let's review the text and we can talk about some of the vocabulary and language that we find.
Would you like to read the first phrase, Mark?
I'm sure you know the Beatles.
They are one of the most famous pop bands in the world.
Yes, so they are famous.
Famous means everybody knows them.
They are very known.
OK, John Lennon and Paul McCartney created the band in Liverpool in the UK in 1960 when they were teenagers.
Lots of information there.
Yes, this is quite a long phrase.
Let's start at the beginning.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney created the band.
Created is in the past simple tense because this, of course, happened in the past.
We make the past simple by just adding E D on to the end of the infinitive verb.
In this case, the infinitive is create and create already has an E on the end.
So we just add D, create, created.
So they created the band where?
In Liverpool in the UK in 1960.
OK, so we've got a when there too in 1960 and that's when they were teenagers.
That's right, just about 1960.
Often people think it's difficult to say dates in English, but actually it's quite easy.
We can divide the date in the middle and say it in two separate numbers, 1960.
And that was when they were teenagers.
What's a teenager, Mark?
It's a young person who is between the ages of 13 and 19.
That's right, exactly.
An adolescent, we could call them as well.
Let's continue. At the beginning, the band didn't have the same name.
They were called the Quarrymen.
Good. So here we have another example of the past simple.
The band didn't have the same name.
This is the past simple in the negative form.
And to make that, we just use the auxiliary verb, the helping verb, didn't.
And we put it in front of the infinitive verb.
Didn't have. OK, so they didn't have the same name.
They had a different name.
They were called the Quarrymen.
After a few months, George Harrison joined the band.
They changed their name to the Beatles and they went to Hamburg in Germany to play in bars and clubs.
Here, we have three more examples of the past simple.
George Harrison joined the band.
That's a regular, past simple verb, join plus ED.
They changed their name to the Beatles.
That is similar to created in the first phrase.
Change already ends in E, so we just add D.
OK, that makes sense, but what about went?
Yes, went is an irregular verb.
So that means it doesn't follow the same structure as the other verbs.
Went is the past simple form of go.
It's very different from the verb go.
So we don't say they goad to Hamburg.
We say they went to Hamburg.
It's irregular. OK, so they went to Hamburg in Germany to play in bars and clubs.
Let's continue. In 1962, they fired their drummer because they didn't think he was very good.
Good. They fired their drummer.
First of all, what does fire mean, Mark?
They dismissed their drummer.
They told the drummer that he didn't have a job.
Good. And the drummer is the person who plays the drums in the band and fired.
It's in the past simple as well.
So they fired their drummer because they didn't think he was very good.
Didn't think is the negative form of the past simple.
Again with didn't. Then they found Ringo Starr and the band was complete.
Good. So they found Ringo Starr.
This is another example of an irregular verb in the past simple.
And the infinitive form is find.
So I found in the present.
I found in the past.
OK, so the band was complete.
We have another irregular verb there.
That's right. To be is irregular.
And we looked at the past form of to be in the previous episode.
Exactly. OK, let's go on.
They released their first album Please, Please Me in 1963.
And soon they were famous all over the world.
Good. They released their first album released again.
It's the past simple and it's a regular verb and their first album.
Please, Please Me. Have you listened to this album, Mark?
I have listened to this album and I think it's great, but I prefer their later albums.
Oh, I think I prefer their earlier albums.
Interesting. OK, and soon they were famous all over the world.
Yes, they were famous in many, many countries in the world.
OK, the love and excitement of their fans was called Beatlemania.
Yes, I remember seeing some video clips and some pictures of Beatles fans.
Fans are people who love the Beatles and they looked very, very excited when they saw them.
That's right. Their fans screamed and cried at the Beatles concerts.
And some of them even thought that the band had supernatural powers.
Yes, lots to talk about in this phrase.
Their fans screamed and cried.
Maybe when you see a horror film, you scream, or when you see a spider or something scary, you scream.
And they cried. So when you are sad or emotional, you cry.
So screamed is regular.
We add edie. But what about cried?
Yes, cried is a little different.
The infinitive of cry is c -r -y.
But when we change it to the past simple, we remove the y and we add i -e -d.
So the past simple verb is spelt c -r -i -e -d.
And this works the same way as, for example, to try.
That's right, exactly right.
T -r -y in the infinitive and T -r -i -e -d in the past simple.
OK, so their fans screamed and cried at the Beatles concerts.
And some of them even thought that the band had supernatural powers.
Yes, so here we have two irregular verbs in the past simple.
The first one is thought.
So the infinitive of thought is think.
Think in the present and thought in the past.
And the other irregular verb here?
Yes, the other irregular verb is had.
And that comes from have.
I have in the present.
I had in the past. And what are supernatural powers, Josie?
So a power is something that you can do.
If we think of a superhero, the things that they can do are their powers, the special things they can do.
For example, Superman can fly.
That is his power. And supernatural, that means more than natural, not natural.
OK, so we are going to take a short break and we'll be back in just a moment to read through the rest of our text.
Each episode of the Coffee Break English podcast is free and you can use our podcast to help you improve your English.
But there's more. That's right.
We have a full course available on our website which will help you make faster progress and understand everything much better.
For every lesson we offer videos, bonus audio recordings, lesson notes with exercises and vocabulary lists in lots of languages.
All this is available on the Coffee Break Academy.
So visit coffeebreakacademy .com OK, we are talking about the Beatles today.
That's right. And we're also talking about the past simple tense.
Before we continue with the text, let's practice the past simple a little bit, Mark.
That sounds like a good idea.
OK, so what did you do last night, Mark?
Last night I watched the TV and read a book.
That sounds very relaxing.
It was. What did you do last night, Josie?
Last night I cooked dinner and I called my mum on the phone.
How was your mum? She was fine.
Good to know. And notice there when we asked each other what we did last night, the structure of this question is we need to use an auxiliary verb like we do in the present simple to make questions.
In the present simple we use do, for example, what do you do?
And in the past simple we use did, which is the past simple of do.
What did you do last night?
OK, shall we continue with the text?
Between 1963 and 1970 the Beatles made 13 albums and even some films.
Good. So here we have the verb made, which is the past simple of make.
OK. In 1970, after an incredible career of 10 years, the band decided they didn't want to continue making music together and they separated.
Yes. Another long phrase here.
So in 1970 after an incredible career, what does incredible mean?
It means unbelievable, wonderful, amazing.
That's right, very, very good.
The band decided they didn't want to continue.
Decided is the past simple, it's a regular verb, and didn't want that's a negative past simple.
And separated is just another past simple.
That's right. Let's continue.
The four Beatles all had successful solo careers, and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are still making music today, although they are quite old now.
Good. So the four Beatles all had, had, as we saw before, I think, is the past simple of have.
It's irregular. They had successful solo careers.
Josie, what does successful mean?
So success as a noun, success is something good that comes maybe in your life or your work, like money or happiness or becoming famous like the Beatles.
OK, so they had successful solo careers when they sang on their own.
That's right, when they sang alone.
And at the end of this phrase, they had successful solo careers and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are still making music today, although they are quite old now.
What does although mean?
It's very similar to but.
That's right. It's an alternative way to say but.
And the pronunciation of although is quite difficult.
We spell it A -L -T -H O -U -G -H.
This O -U -G -H, that's quite difficult to pronounce sometimes.
There are different ways to pronounce it depending on the word.
That's right. Many different ways for now.
Although, just remember although.
OK, John Lennon died in 1980 after he was shot by a Beatles fan in New York and George Harrison died later in 2001.
Yes, so John Lennon died.
Died is a regular verb in the past simple.
In 1980, after he was shot by a Beatles fan, he was shot with a gun.
And George Harrison died later in 2001.
I see 2001, but I think in certain places that would be said differently.
That's right. We can also say 2001 without the and.
And that's the same for all of the years from 2001 to 2021.
2021 or 2021. They are the same.
OK, let's continue on.
The Beatles are still very famous today and there are many books and films about their amazing story.
In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine decided that their album, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was the best album of all time.
Good. Rolling Stone magazine decided, decided, regular past simple verb, that Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was the best album.
Best means the number one, the top, very, very good of all time.
So the the best album in history.
The Beatles were actually inspired by another singer, Elvis Presley.
When they were teenagers in Liverpool, they loved Elvis and they wanted to be famous for their music, just like him.
Good. Another two regular past simple verbs here.
They loved Elvis and they wanted to be famous for their music.
And the final sentence, Mark.
Well, their dreams came true.
That's right. And came is an irregular verb.
The infinitive is come.
So I come in the present.
I came in the past.
And what does their dreams came true mean, Mark?
They were able to achieve everything they wanted to.
That's right. It means the things that they dreamed about, that they wanted to be famous like Elvis.
Those dreams, they became reality, their real life.
Mark, my final question for today.
Who do you prefer, the Beatles or Elvis?
I think I prefer the Beatles.
Me too. I'm a big Beatles fan, so that was the correct answer from you.
OK, let's listen again to Susan reading the whole text.
Over to you, Susan.
I'm sure you know the Beatles.
They are one of the most famous pop bands in the world.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney created the band in Liverpool in the UK in 1960, when they were teenagers.
At the beginning, the band didn't have the same name.
They were called the Quarrymen.
After a few months, George Harrison joined the band.
They changed their name to The Beatles and they went to Hamburg in Germany to play in bars and clubs.
In 1962, they fired their drummer because they didn't think he was very good.
Then they found Ringo Starr and the band was complete.
They released their first album, Please, Please Me, in 1963.
And soon they were famous all over the world.
The love and excitement of their fans was called Beatlemania.
Their fans screamed and cried at the Beatles concerts and some of them even thought that the band had supernatural powers.
Between 1963 and 1970, the Beatles made 13 albums and even some films.
In 1970, after an incredible career of 10 years, the band decided they didn't want to continue making music together and they separated.
The four Beatles all had successful solo careers and Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are still making music today, although they are quite old now.
John Lennon died in 1980 after he was shot by a Beatles fan in New York and George Harrison died later in 2001.
The Beatles are still very famous today and there are many books and films about their amazing story.
In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine decided that their album, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, was the best album of all time.
The Beatles were actually inspired by another singer, Elvis Presley.
When they were teenagers in Liverpool, they loved Elvis and they wanted to be famous for their music, just like him.
Their dreams came true.
OK, that's it for this episode of Coffee Break English.
If you would like to find out more about the Beatles and about the simple past tense, then you can use the lesson notes and bonus materials available on the Coffee Break Academy.
Just go to coffeebreakacademy .com.
That's right, Mark.
And if you'd like to practice your English, you can also do so on social media.
Just search for Coffee Break English on Facebook and on Instagram, where we post regular language challenges and cultural information.
And this week we'll be asking you about what music you like listening to.
OK, we'll be back again soon with another text.
Next time we'll be looking at the USA.
For now, thank you and happy coffee breaking.
See you soon.
