Mia's English · Lesson 18

The old castle

A Sunday trip up the hill — and four little words for yesterday: went, saw, had, took.

0words you are learning
0to review today

Warm-up 🔁

Before the new story, let's bring back your words from the lessons before. The ones ready to review are waiting here — a little today, a little in a few days.

Up the hill 📖

Read it slowly. Say the words out loud.

On Sunday, the café was closed. Knock, knock! It was Tom. "Good morning, Mia! Come with me. I want to show you something."

They went up the hill behind the town. Up, up, up! Mia's legs were tired. "Is it far, Tom?" "Almost there!"

At the top, Mia saw it: an old castle with a big stone tower. "Wow!" she said. 🏰

Mia and Tom visit an old stone castle on a hill. Tom points up at a tower, and Mia looks amazed.

"This castle is five hundred years old," said Tom. "A king lived here. This is our town's little history."

They went inside. Mia saw the old walls, the little windows, and the green valley below. Everything was so quiet.

On the grass, they had a small picnic — bread, cheese, and a piece of Rosa's cake. 🥪

Then Mia took a photo of Tom at the castle gate. He stood very tall and very proud. "One more!" she laughed. 📸

Mia takes a photo of Tom, who stands proudly in front of the old castle gate.

That evening, Mia looked at her photos in bed. She smiled. "We went up the hill. I saw a castle. We had a picnic. I took ten photos. What a day!" 😊

Notice: Mia says went, saw, had, took — not goed or seed! Some verbs change completely when we talk about yesterday. Learn them next.

Your new words 🗂️

Tap a card to see its meaning. These eight join your review deck — next to the words from the lessons before.

The pattern: went, saw, had, took 🧩

You know worked and helped — verbs with -ed for yesterday. But some verbs are different. They change completely!

go → went  ·  see → saw
have → had  ·  take → took
We went to the castle.  ·  I saw a big tower.
We had a picnic.  ·  I took a photo.
Careful: not goed, not seed, not haved, not taked. These verbs have no -ed. Learn each one like a new word — your review deck will help.
🕰️ More practice: Talking about yesterdayOpen → 📚 The past simple, step by stepOpen →

Now you 🗣️

Think about your last weekend. Finish each sentence about YOU, then say it out loud.

Last weekend I went

I saw

I had

I took

Practise today's words

Tap to check yourself, then rate how well you knew each one.

Before you go

See you tomorrow. Today's words join the others in your Warm-up. Little by little, they become yours forever.

Act it out 🎭

Now YOU are in the story — in bed with your photos, and the phone rings.

🎬 The scene: Sunday evening. You look at your castle photos. Ring, ring — it is Ana, and she wants to hear everything.

Round 1 — you are Mia

Your teacher is Ana. Speak your lines — don't write them.

Ana: "Hi Mia! It's Ana! How was your Sunday?"

You: (say where you went — and with who)

Ana: "A castle! On the hill! Wow. Tell me — what was at the top?"

You: (say what you saw there — the big tower, the walls, and how old it all is)

Ana: "Beautiful! And food? You and food, Mia!"

You: (say what you had on the grass — and what was in it)

Ana: "Of course! Ha! And Tom — is he in your photos?"

You: (say how many photos you took — and where Tom stands in the best one)

Round 2 — swap!

Now YOU are Ana, and your teacher is Mia. But this time Mia went to the sea with Rosa — ask your questions and hear the new day.

Stuck? Look at your Words again, then come back and try once more.