The Lost Wallet
Practice the simple past with a small mystery and a kind ending.
Highlighted words show the simple past.
One ordinary trip to the grocery store became a story Daniel never forgot.
Last Saturday, Daniel went to the grocery store after lunch. He bought some fruit, paid for his food, and walked home. When he reached his apartment, he looked for his wallet—but it was gone. He checked every pocket and searched his shopping bags twice.
Daniel hurried back to the store. A cashier smiled when she saw him and held up the missing wallet. Another customer found it near the entrance and gave it to her. Daniel thanked them both and felt incredibly relieved. That evening, he wrote a kind review for the store.
UNDERSTAND THE TENSE
Why the Simple Past?
Use the simple past for completed actions at a finished time in the past.
Three examples from the story
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Daniel went to the store.
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A customer found the wallet.
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He wrote a kind review.
One quick challenge
Change to the past: “Daniel goes to the store.”