ENGLISH LEARNING MATERIAL
Grade VIII – PSTS Gasal 2026/2027
Topics: Simple Past Tense, Recount Text, Narrative Text
PART 1: SIMPLE PAST TENSE
A. Definition
Simple Past Tense is used to talk about actions or events that happened in the past and are already finished.
B. Time Signals
yesterday
last night / last week / last month / last year
two days ago
in 2020
this morning
when I was young
C. Patterns
1. Verbal Sentences (using action verbs)
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | S + V2 + O/C | She went to the market yesterday. |
| Negative | S + did not + V1 + O/C | She did not go to the market yesterday. |
| Interrogative | Did + S + V1 + O/C? | Did she go to the market yesterday? |
2. Nominal Sentences (using was/were)
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | S + was/were + complement | I was at home last night. |
| Negative | S + was/were + not + complement | I was not at home last night. |
| Interrogative | Was/Were + S + complement? | Were you at home last night? |
Note:
Was → I, he, she, it
Were → you, we, they
D. Regular and Irregular Verbs
| V1 (Base) | V2 (Past) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| play | played | bermain |
| watch | watched | menonton |
| study | studied | belajar |
| visit | visited | mengunjungi |
| go | went | pergi |
| eat | ate | makan |
| see | saw | melihat |
| buy | bought | membeli |
| take | took | mengambil |
| write | wrote | menulis |
| read | read | membaca |
| swim | swam | berenang |
E. Dialogue Example
Dina: Hi, Rina! What did you do last weekend?
Rina: I went to the beach with my family.
Dina: That sounds fun! What did you do there?
Rina: We built sandcastles and swam in the sea. My father took some photos of us.
PART 2: RECOUNT TEXT
A. Definition
Recount text is a text that retells events or experiences that happened in the past.
B. Social Function
To inform the readers about past events.
To entertain the readers.
To retell someone’s experience.
C. Generic Structure
Orientation → introduces who, what, when, where.
Events → tells what happened in chronological order.
Reorientation → conclusion, personal comment, or feeling.
D. Language Features
Simple Past Tense (went, visited, bought, saw)
Action Verbs (played, walked, ate)
Time Connectives (first, then, after that, finally)
Specific Participants (I, my family, my friend)
Adverbs of Time (last week, yesterday, last holiday)
E. Example: Holiday in Bali
My Memorable Holiday in Bali
Last month, I went to Bali with my family. We stayed there for five days. It was an unforgettable holiday.
On the first day, we visited Kuta Beach. We watched the beautiful sunset and played in the sand. My little sister collected seashells. The next day, we went to Ubud Monkey Forest. We saw many monkeys and took photos with them.
On the third day, we visited Tanah Lot Temple. It is a famous temple on a rock in the sea. We also tried local food like babi guling and satay. The food was delicious.
On the last day, we went shopping at Krisna Souvenir Shop. I bought some T-shirts and key chains for my friends. We felt tired but happy.
It was a wonderful holiday. I hope I can visit Bali again someday.
Structure Analysis:
Orientation: Last month, I went to Bali with my family...
Events: On the first day... The next day... On the third day... On the last day...
Reorientation: It was a wonderful holiday. I hope I can visit Bali again someday.
F. Example: Natural Disaster
The Flood in My Village
Last month, there was a big flood in my village. It happened after three days of heavy rain. The river overflowed and water entered many houses.
The flood started on Monday night. My family and I were sleeping when we heard loud screams. Our neighbors shouted, "The water is coming!" We quickly woke up and saved our important documents and clothes.
The water was about one meter high. We moved to a nearby mosque for safety. Many people helped each other. Some volunteers came with boats to rescue the elderly and children.
The flood lasted for two days. After the water receded, we cleaned our houses. We threw away damaged furniture and washed the floors. We were sad but grateful that everyone was safe.
PART 3: NARRATIVE TEXT
A. Definition
Narrative text is a story that entertains the readers and teaches moral values.
B. Types of Narrative Text
Fable → animal story with a moral, e.g., The Ant and the Dove
Legend → story about the origin of a place, e.g., The Legend of Toba Lake
Fairy Tale → magical story, e.g., Cinderella
Myth → traditional story about gods or supernatural beings
C. Social Function
To entertain the readers.
To teach moral values.
To share cultural stories.
D. Generic Structure
Orientation → introduces characters, setting, and time.
Complication → the problem or conflict in the story.
Resolution → the problem is solved.
Coda / Moral (optional) → the lesson from the story.
E. Language Features
Simple Past Tense (lived, went, saw, said)
Adverbs of Time (once upon a time, long ago, one day)
Action Verbs (ran, jumped, shouted)
Direct Speech (She said, "I will help you.")
Specific Characters (Cinderella, Toba, the ant)
F. Examples
1. Fable: The Ant and the Dove
Orientation: One day, an ant went to a river to drink. Unfortunately, it slipped and fell into the water. A dove was sitting on a tree nearby. She saw the ant in danger.
Complication: The ant struggled to stay alive. The dove quickly plucked a leaf from the tree and dropped it into the river. The ant climbed onto the leaf and floated safely to the bank.
Resolution: A few days later, a hunter came to the forest. He aimed his gun at the dove. The ant saw this and bit the hunter's foot. The hunter missed his shot, and the dove flew away safely. The dove thanked the ant for saving her life. They became good friends.
Moral Value: Kindness will be rewarded.
2. Legend: The Legend of Toba Lake
Orientation: Long ago, in North Sumatra, there lived a farmer named Toba. He was a lonely man. One day, he caught a big golden fish. The fish suddenly turned into a beautiful woman. Her name was Putri.
Complication: Toba married Putri, but she asked him never to tell anyone that she was once a fish. Toba agreed. They had a son named Samosir. Samosir was a lazy boy. One day, Toba got very angry because Samosir did not help him. Toba shouted, "You are the son of a fish!" Putri was very sad. She told Toba that he had broken his promise. Then, she disappeared.
Resolution: Suddenly, water came out from the ground. It flooded the whole village. Toba and Samosir drowned. The water became a big lake. People call it Toba Lake.
Moral Value: We must keep our promises. We should not be lazy.
3. Fairy Tale: Cinderella
Orientation: Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful girl named Cinderella. She lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters. They treated her badly. She had to do all the housework and could not go to parties.
Complication: One day, the king invited all young ladies to a ball at the palace. Cinderella wanted to go, but her stepmother did not allow her. She was very sad. Suddenly, a fairy godmother appeared. She used her magic to give Cinderella a beautiful dress, glass shoes, and a carriage. Cinderella went to the ball and danced with the prince. They fell in love. At midnight, Cinderella had to leave. She ran away and lost one of her glass shoes.
Resolution: The prince found the shoe and searched for the girl who owned it. Finally, he found Cinderella. They got married and lived happily ever after.
Moral Value: Goodness will be rewarded. Never give up on your dreams.
PART 4: LET'S PRACTICE
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct Simple Past Tense!
I ______ (go) to the zoo last Sunday.
She ______ (not / watch) the movie last night.
______ you ______ (visit) your grandmother yesterday?
They ______ (be) very happy at the party.
He ______ (buy) a new book two days ago.
B. Identify the structure of the text!
Read the text below and determine:
Orientation
Events
Reorientation
Last holiday, I went to Yogyakarta with my family. We visited Borobudur Temple and Malioboro Street. We also bought some souvenirs. It was a great holiday.
C. Answer the questions based on the narrative text!
The Legend of Toba Lake
Who are the characters in the story?
What did Toba promise to Putri?
What happened after Toba broke his promise?
What is the moral value of the story?
PENILAIAN SUMATIF TENGAH SEMESTER (PSTS) GASAL
KELAS VIII - BAHASA INGGRIS
KABUPATEN WONOGIRI
TAHUN PELAJARAN 2026/2027
A. PILIHAN GANDA (20 SOAL)
Read the following dialogue to answer questions 1-3!
Dina: Hi, Rina! What did you do last weekend?
Rina: I (1)... to the beach with my family.
Dina: That sounds fun! What did you do there?
Rina: We (2)... sandcastles and swam in the sea. My father (3)... some photos of us.
1. A. go
B. goes
C. went
D. gone
2. A. build
B. built
C. builds
D. building
3. A. take
B. takes
C. taking
D. took
Read the following dialogue to answer questions 4-5!
Andy: Did you watch the football match yesterday?
Beni: Yes, I did. I (4)... it with my brother at home.
Andy: Who won the match?
Beni: My favorite team (5)... the game. I was so happy.
4. A. watch
B. watches
C. watched
D. watching
5. A. win
B. wins
C. winning
D. won
6. Which sentence has the correct Simple Past Tense structure?
A. She go to school yesterday.
B. She went to school yesterday.
C. She goes to school yesterday.
D. She is going to school yesterday.
Read the following dialogue to answer questions 7-8!
Lisa: I heard you had a terrible experience last week.
Maya: Yes, I did. I lost my wallet on the bus.
Lisa: Oh no! What did you do?
Maya: I reported it to the driver and he helped me find it.
Lisa: So, did you find it?
Maya: Yes, luckily a passenger found it and gave it to the driver.
7. What can we infer from the dialogue?
A. Maya lost her wallet at school.
B. Maya found her wallet by herself.
C. Maya got her wallet back with help.
D. Maya never found her wallet.
8. The word "reported" in the dialogue has the same meaning as...
A. told
B. asked
C. gave
D. took
Read the following dialogue to answer questions 9-10!
Toni: Where did you go last holiday?
Sari: I went to Yogyakarta with my family.
Toni: What did you visit there?
Sari: We visited Borobudur Temple and Malioboro Street.
Toni: (9)...?
Sari: Yes, I bought some souvenirs for my friends.
9. A. Did you buy anything there
B. Do you buy anything there
C. Are you buying anything there
D. Will you buy anything there
10. A. What is your favorite food
B. How was your holiday
C. When did you go there
D. Who did you go with
Read the following text to answer questions 11-15!
My Memorable Holiday in Bali
Last month, I went to Bali with my family. We stayed there for five days. It was an unforgettable holiday.
On the first day, we visited Kuta Beach. We watched the beautiful sunset and played in the sand. My little sister collected seashells. The next day, we went to Ubud Monkey Forest. We saw many monkeys and took photos with them.
On the third day, we visited Tanah Lot Temple. It is a famous temple on a rock in the sea. We also tried local food like babi guling and satay. The food was delicious.
On the last day, we went shopping at Krisna Souvenir Shop. I bought some T-shirts and key chains for my friends. We felt tired but happy.
It was a wonderful holiday. I hope I can visit Bali again someday.
11. What is the text about?
A. The writer's daily activities
B. The writer's holiday in Bali
C. The writer's favorite food
D. The writer's school activities
12. How long did the writer stay in Bali?
A. Three days
B. Four days
C. Five days
D. Six days
13. What is the purpose of the text?
A. To describe Bali in general
B. To retell the writer's past experience
C. To tell how to go to Bali
D. To persuade people to visit Bali
14. The word "unforgettable" in the text means...
A. very boring
B. very memorable
C. very tiring
D. very sad
15. What did the writer buy at Krisna Souvenir Shop?
A. Food and drinks
B. T-shirts and key chains
C. Seashells and photos
D. Babi guling and satay
Read the following text to answer questions 16-20!
The Ant and the Dove
One day, an ant went to a river to drink. Unfortunately, it slipped and fell into the water. The ant struggled to stay alive. A dove was sitting on a tree nearby. She saw the ant in danger.
The dove quickly plucked a leaf from the tree and dropped it into the river. The ant climbed onto the leaf and floated safely to the bank.
A few days later, a hunter came to the forest. He aimed his gun at the dove. The ant saw this and bit the hunter's foot. The hunter missed his shot, and the dove flew away safely.
The dove thanked the ant for saving her life. They became good friends.
16. What did the ant do near the river?
A. It played with the dove
B. It went to drink water
C. It looked for food
D. It built a nest
17. How did the dove help the ant?
A. She gave the ant some food
B. She took the ant to her nest
C. She dropped a leaf into the river
D. She called other animals for help
18. What can we infer from the story?
A. The dove was afraid of the ant
B. The hunter killed the dove
C. The ant and the dove became enemies
D. The ant wanted to help the dove
19. What is the moral value of the story?
A. Don't talk to strangers
B. Kindness will be rewarded
C. Never go near the river
D. Hunting is dangerous
20. "The dove thanked the ant for saving her life." The word "her" refers to...
A. The ant
B. The dove
C. The hunter
D. The river
B. PILIHAN GANDA KOMPLEKS (10 SOAL)
Choose all correct answers (more than one answer)!
Read the following sentences to answer questions 1-2!
She went to the market yesterday.
They played football last Sunday.
He go to school by bus.
I am watch TV last night.
1. Which sentences have the correct Simple Past Tense structure? (Choose 2 answers)
A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 2
C. Sentence 3
D. Sentence 4
2. Which sentences have incorrect Simple Past Tense structure? (Choose 2 answers)
A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 2
C. Sentence 3
D. Sentence 4
Read the following text to answer questions 3-5!
A Trip to the Zoo
Last Sunday, my family and I went to the zoo. We left home at 7 a.m. and arrived at the zoo at 8 a.m. The zoo was very crowded.
First, we visited the elephant area. The elephants were very big and friendly. Then, we went to see the lions. They were sleeping under a tree. After that, we watched the monkeys. They were jumping and playing.
At noon, we had lunch at the zoo restaurant. We ate fried rice and drank fresh juice. In the afternoon, we went home. We were tired but happy.
3. What information can we get from the text? (Choose 3 answers)
A. The writer went to the zoo last Sunday
B. The elephants were very big and friendly
C. The writer went to the zoo alone
D. The lions were sleeping under a tree
4. Which parts belong to the orientation of the recount text? (Choose 2 answers)
A. Last Sunday, my family and I went to the zoo
B. We left home at 7 a.m. and arrived at the zoo at 8 a.m.
C. We ate fried rice and drank fresh juice
D. We were tired but happy
5. What is the purpose of the text? (Choose 2 answers)
A. To retell the writer's experience
B. To entertain the readers
C. To inform about a past event
D. To describe how to go to the zoo
Read the following text to answer questions 6-10!
The Legend of Toba Lake
Long ago, in North Sumatra, there lived a farmer named Toba. He was a lonely man. One day, he caught a big golden fish. The fish suddenly turned into a beautiful woman. Her name was Putri.
Toba married Putri, but she asked him never to tell anyone that she was once a fish. Toba agreed. They had a son named Samosir.
Samosir was a lazy boy. One day, Toba got very angry because Samosir did not help him. Toba shouted, "You are the son of a fish!" Putri was very sad. She told Toba that he had broken his promise. Then, she disappeared.
Suddenly, water came out from the ground. It flooded the whole village. Toba and Samosir drowned. The water became a big lake. People call it Toba Lake.
6. Where did the story take place? (Choose 2 answers)
A. North Sumatra
B. In a village
C. In a city
D. In a school
7. Who are the characters in the story? (Choose 3 answers)
A. Toba
B. Putri
C. Samosir
D. The hunter
8. What did Toba promise to Putri? (Choose 2 answers)
A. To never tell anyone about her secret
B. To take care of her
C. To keep the secret that she was once a fish
D. To catch more fish
9. What happened after Toba broke his promise? (Choose 2 answers)
A. Putri disappeared
B. Water flooded the village
C. Toba became rich
D. Samosir became a fish
10. What is the moral value of the story? (Choose 2 answers)
A. We must keep our promises
B. We should not be lazy
C. We must not tell lies
D. We should catch fish
C. MENJODHONGKAN (10 SOAL)
Match the words in Column A with the correct past tense verbs in Column B!
Read the following text and complete the blanks!
My Holiday in Bali
Last year, I (1)... to Bali with my family. We (2)... there by plane. The journey (3)... about two hours.
On the first day, we (4)... at a hotel near Kuta Beach. Then, we (5)... to the beach and (6)... the sunset. It was beautiful.
The next day, we (7)... Ubud Monkey Forest. We (8)... many monkeys there. We also (9)... some traditional food. Finally, we (10)... home after five days. It was a great holiday.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. go | A. ate |
| 2. travel | B. bought |
| 3. take | C. went |
| 4. stay | D. saw |
| 5. walk | E. stayed |
| 6. watch | F. took |
| 7. visit | G. traveled |
| 8. see | H. walked |
| 9. eat | I. visited |
| 10. buy | J. watched |
D. ISIAN SINGKAT (10 SOAL)
Read the following text to answer questions 1-10!
The Flood in My Village
Last month, there was a big flood in my village. It happened after three days of heavy rain. The river overflowed and water entered many houses.
The flood started on Monday night. My family and I were sleeping when we heard loud screams. Our neighbors shouted, "The water is coming!" We quickly woke up and saved our important documents and clothes.
The water was about one meter high. We moved to a nearby mosque for safety. Many people helped each other. Some volunteers came with boats to rescue the elderly and children.
The flood lasted for two days. After the water receded, we cleaned our houses. We threw away damaged furniture and washed the floors. We were sad but grateful that everyone was safe.
1. What is the text about?
Answer: _______________________________________________
2. What is the purpose of the text?
Answer: _______________________________________________
3. When did the flood happen?
Answer: _______________________________________________
4. What caused the flood?
Answer: _______________________________________________
5. How high was the water?
Answer: _______________________________________________
6. Where did the writer and family go for safety?
Answer: _______________________________________________
7. Who came to rescue the elderly and children?
Answer: _______________________________________________
8. How long did the flood last?
Answer: _______________________________________________
9. Which part of the text is the orientation?
Answer: _______________________________________________
10. Write two past tense verbs (regular and irregular) from the text!
Answer: _______________________________________________
E. URAIAN (5 SOAL)
Read the following text to answer questions 1-5!
Cinderella
Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful girl named Cinderella. She lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters. They treated her badly. She had to do all the housework and could not go to parties.
One day, the king invited all young ladies to a ball at the palace. Cinderella wanted to go, but her stepmother did not allow her. She was very sad.
Suddenly, a fairy godmother appeared. She used her magic to give Cinderella a beautiful dress, glass shoes, and a carriage. Cinderella went to the ball and danced with the prince. They fell in love.
At midnight, Cinderella had to leave. She ran away and lost one of her glass shoes. The prince found the shoe and searched for the girl who owned it. Finally, he found Cinderella. They got married and lived happily ever after.
1. What is the text about? Describe the general description of the text!
Answer: _______________________________________________
2. Why did Cinderella's stepmother not allow her to go to the ball?
Answer: _______________________________________________
3. What can we infer from the story about the fairy godmother?
Answer: _______________________________________________
4. "They fell in love." The word "They" refers to...
Answer: _______________________________________________
5. What is the moral value of the story? Explain!
Answer: _______________________________________________