Project updates: using the past simple tense

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for B1 learners explores Project updates: using the past simple tense through a real audio recording. Across 11 interactive exercises, you'll develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, practical communication, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Grammar focus: Past simple tense with examples and practice
• Real-world phrases for reporting progress in a team meeting
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings
• Error correction to sharpen grammar awareness
• A reading passage to practise newly learned language

Ready to practise? This interactive lesson includes vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension exercises — all based on real English content.

Start the lesson

Lesson activities (11 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
3. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the audio recording, with definitions and usage notes.
4. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary. Drag and drop or type your answers.
5. Grammar — Study Past simple tense — explanation, examples, and key rules.
6. Error correction — Find and fix the mistake in each sentence — a great grammar workout.
7. Practical English — Learn phrases for reporting progress in a team meeting — ready to use in real conversations.
8. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
9. Reading — Read a short passage on the topic and answer comprehension questions.
10. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the audio recording:

• run into a problem — to experience a difficulty or problem unexpectedly
• meet a deadline — to finish a task or project by the agreed time or date
• on track — making progress as planned and likely to achieve the final goal
• key takeaway — the main point or most important piece of information to remember
• get something off the ground — to start a new project or business successfully

Grammar

This lesson focuses on Past simple tense.

We use the past simple tense to talk about actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past. It is very common in business reports and project updates because you are describing tasks and events that are already completed.

Examples from the lesson:

• Last quarter, the sales team developed a new strategy. — We add '-ed' to most regular verbs to form the past simple.
• We didn't receive the final data until Friday. — For negative sentences, use 'didn't' + the base form of the verb (e.g., 'receive', not 'received').
• Did the project meet all its initial goals? — For questions, use 'Did' + subject + the base form of the verb (e.g., 'meet', not 'met').

Key rules:

• Use for finished actions with a specific past time reference (e.g., yesterday, last week, in May).
• Remember to learn common irregular verbs, like 'began', 'wrote', 'sent', and 'met'.
• Common mistake: Avoid using the past form of the verb in questions and negatives with 'did' or 'didn't'.

Practical English

Reporting progress in a team meeting

Here are some natural-sounding phrases you can use in a weekly meeting to talk about your work. They will help you give a clear and professional update to your team.

Phrases you'll learn:

• "'Just a quick update from my side...'" — a simple way to start your report.
• "'We made good progress on...'" — to report positive developments.
• "'We've hit a small issue with...'" — to introduce a problem or challenge.
• "'My plan for this coming week is to...'" — to state your next steps.
• "'I could use a second pair of eyes on...'" — to ask for help or feedback.

Ready to practise? This interactive lesson includes vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension exercises — all based on real English content.

Start the lesson