WE COULDN’T CATCH A TRAIN BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LATE
This topic teaches you how to talk about missed transportation and giving reasons using the past simple tense. You will practice how to express events that didn’t happen and explain why.
📌 Examples:
We couldn’t catch a train because it was too late.
I didn’t get the bus because I woke up late.
He missed the flight because he got stuck in traffic.
🖊️ GRAMMAR (with examples)
✅ Past Simple (Negative + Reason):
We didn’t get the train.
They didn’t arrive on time.
She didn’t take the bus.
✅ Modal Verb: Couldn’t (past of can’t):
We couldn’t catch the train.
He couldn’t get to the station.
✅ Because (to give a reason):
We missed it because we were late.
He stayed home because he was sick.
✅ Time Expressions in the Past:
yesterday, last night, this morning, an hour ago
📖 VOCABULARY (10 words with definition)
Catch – To get on a train, bus, or plane.
Miss – To not catch something (like a train).
Late – Not on time.
Train – A type of transportation on rails.
Schedule – A plan of times for transport.
Rush – To hurry.
Station – A place where trains stop.
Traffic – Many cars on the road.
Delay – Something that makes you late.
Alarm – A clock that wakes you up.
📝 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
We missed the train.
It was too late.
We got there late.
We couldn’t catch it.
The train had already left.
What time does the train leave?
✅ SENTENCES
Positive:
We caught the train on time.
He arrived at the station early.
They got to the platform quickly.
She took the early train.
I found the correct schedule.
Negative:
We couldn’t catch the train.
She didn’t arrive on time.
They didn’t find the station.
He didn’t set his alarm.
I didn’t check the time.
Questions:
Did you catch the train?
Why didn’t you get on time?
Could you find the station?
What time was the train?
Were you late yesterday?
Answers:
No, we couldn’t catch it.
Because it was too late.
Yes, I found the station.
The train left at 8:00 a.m.
I was late by 10 minutes.
💬 CONVERSATION
Tom: Hey, did you get to the museum yesterday?
Jake: No, we couldn’t catch the train. It was too late.
Tom: Oh no! What happened?
Jake: We left home late and got stuck in traffic.
Tom: That’s bad luck. Did you go later?
Jake: No, we decided to stay home instead.
Tom: Maybe next time set an alarm earlier!
Jake: Yes, definitely!
📖 READING
"A Missed Train and a Lesson Learned"
Last Saturday, Emma and her brother planned to visit the zoo. They checked the train schedule the night before. But in the morning, they woke up late. They rushed to get ready and ran to the train station. Unfortunately, they couldn’t catch the train. It left five minutes before they arrived. Emma was sad, but her brother said, “Let’s take the bus instead!” They went to the zoo by bus and still had a fun day.
Comprehension Questions:
Where were Emma and her brother going?
→ To the zoo.Why did they miss the train?
→ Because they woke up late.Did they catch the train?
→ No, they didn’t.What did they do instead?
→ They took the bus.Was their day ruined?
→ No, they had a fun day.
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