1 · Tell the story · Past simple
Write the verb in brackets in the past simple.
Once, a swagman (camp) beside a billabong.
He (sit) under a coolibah tree.
He (sing) while he (wait) for his billy to boil.
A jumbuck (come) down to the water to drink.
The swagman (grab) it and (put) it in his tuckerbag.
The squatter (ride) up on his horse with three troopers.
The swagman (jump) into the billabong.
The troopers never (catch) him alive.
People say they (hear) his ghost singing.
2 · Irregular verbs
These verbs don’t take -ed. Write the past form.
sing →
come →
ride →
catch →
drink →
spring →
take →
hear →
3 · Say it · The three -ed sounds
/t/ after p, k, s, sh, ch · /d/ after most other sounds · /ɪd/ after t and d
Say each verb aloud, then choose its ending sound.
camped
grabbed
waited
jumped
watched
arrived
shouted
drowned
boiled
Talk about it
- Was the swagman a hero or a thief? Why?
- Why do you think many Australians love this song so much?
- Is there a famous folk song from your country? What story does it tell?