Level 3Technology

The Night Spotify Almost Died

Grammar: Past simple

A Level 3 English lesson exploring technology.

technologypast simple

What's in this lesson

A Level 3 (intermediate) ESL lesson on technology, practising past simple. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.

From the reading: The Night Spotify Almost Died

In 2006, Daniel Ek was a 23-year-old entrepreneur in Stockholm, Sweden. He was frustrated. Millions of people downloaded music illegally, and the music industry lost billions of dollars every year. Ek believed he could fix the problem, so he started building an app. He called it Spotify.

Vocabulary

  • was
  • downloaded
  • lost
  • believed
  • started
  • called
  • did not go
  • tried
  • refused
  • did not trust

Grammar: Past Simple

Past simple — positive
Ek started Spotify in 2006. — regular verb: add -ed
Past simple — negative
The labels did not agree at first. — use did not + base form

Discussion questions

  1. Have you ever used an app that changed how you spend your free time?
  2. Do you think one person can really change an entire industry?
  3. What is the most important quality for someone starting a new business?

The Night Spotify Almost Died

Grammar: Past simple

What's in this lesson:

Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.

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