2.1.1. Use the Past Indefinite of these irregular verbs to complete the sentences:

do	In the past we ..... more business with the Japanese than now.
grow	The company ..... very rapidly in its first 12 years.
become	We ...... a public company in 1985.
cut	We ..... our advertising budget because of the recession.
lend	The bank ..... us $45,000 to fund our expansion.
get	We ...... a big surprise when they made their offer.
take	They ...... a long time to make up their minds.
lose	We ...... the contract with the Polish oil-refinery plant.
run	Paula ...... the company from her home.
win	Last month we ...... an important order from the Government.
meet	I first ...... Roberto when we were working in Budapest.
make	Last year our Japanese branch ..... a small profit for the first time.
sell	Greenham Products ..... its old headquarters for $46 million.
rise	Profits ..... due to an improved management strategy.
spend	We ..... all of our advertising budget in the first six months.
fall	Our profits ..... last year, but things look much healthier now.
lead	TransWare, our main competitors, ..... the market throughout the 80's.
think	Our competitors ..... that we were going to increase our prices.

2.1.2. Complete these sentences with the following verbs in the Past Indefinite:

get, join, increase, study, phone, be, meet, start

1. The weather ...... terrible on Sunday.

2. I ..... her at the trade fair in Rotterdam.

3. I ..... work at seven o'clock this morning.

4. She ..... marketing at business school.

5. I ..... the company as a junior manager last December.

6. I ..... the 7-o'clock train from London.

7. They ...... their prices by over 20% last year.

8. Tina from Sales ..... when you were out.

2.1.3. Now use the sentences from exercise 2.1.2. To complete the conversations. Reproduce them.

1. So you know Esther? –Yes, ..... .

2. Did you do anything interesting this weekend? – Not really......, so we didn't go out.

3. Who do you recommend for the new job? – I think Julia would be ideal. ....., and she's had a lot of experience.

4. How long have you worked for Lawton's, Maria? – Only for a few months...... .

5. You look exhausted, Karen? – lt's not surprising ..... .

6. Are there any messages for me, Christina? – Yes,..... .

7. You're here early, Bill. – ..... . It only takes an hour and a half.

8. So you don't do much business with Silbert Systems now? – No. ..... . We find the competition much cheaper.