Reports on Two Deaths

May 14, 2026, 15:25
AustraliaSociety

Introduction

Courts are looking at how two men died. One man was a boy in Belfast. One man was an adult in Queensland.

Main Body

A boy died in Belfast in 2020. He was fourteen years old. He died in a water pipe. Police looked at his phone. He did not have internet data, so his messages did not send. He had one strange phone call to his own number. In Queensland, a man named Nathan Brosnan disappeared in 2021. He was thirty-five years old. Police did not find his body. They think he knew bad people and used drugs. Nathan's sister does not agree. She says he was not sick. She thinks other people killed him.

Conclusion

Both cases are not finished. The court in Queensland will meet in late July.

Learning

🕒 Talking about the Past

In this story, we see a lot of words that tell us things already happened.

The Magic Word: DID When we want to say 'no' or ask a question about the past, we use did not (or didn't).

  • He did not have internet data.
  • Police did not find his body.

The Pattern: Did not + Action Word (Normal Form)

Wait! Look at the change: When we say 'yes' (positive), the word often changes. When we say 'no' (negative), the word stays simple.

  • Positive: He died (Past form) →\rightarrow Negative: He did not die (Normal form)
  • Positive: He knew (Past form) →\rightarrow Negative: He did not know (Normal form)

Quick List for A2 learners:

  • Was →\rightarrow Was not
  • Had →\rightarrow Did not have
  • Sent →\rightarrow Did not send

Vocabulary Learning

court (n.)
A place where judges decide cases.
Example:The court will meet in late July.
disappeared (v.)
To suddenly stop being seen or found.
Example:Nathan Brosnan disappeared in 2021.
knew (v.)
To have knowledge or information about something.
Example:They think he knew bad people.
drugs (n.)
Substances that can change how a person feels or acts.
Example:Police think he used drugs.
sister (n.)
A female sibling.
Example:Nathan's sister does not agree.
agree (v.)
To have the same opinion as someone else.
Example:She does not agree with her brother.
sick (adj.)
Not feeling healthy or well.
Example:He was not sick.
killed (v.)
To cause someone to die.
Example:Other people killed him.
meet (v.)
To come together with someone at a certain place and time.
Example:The court will meet in late July.
late (adj.)
Happening after the expected time.
Example:The court will meet in late July.