Simple Past Tense

We use the simple past tense for events that happened or started andcompleted in the past and that have no
relation with the present.

We use the simple past tense:
to describe an action that occurred in the past or at a specified time or the time is easily understood
or already implied.
Example: We finished our final exam an hour ago. (NOT: We havehad finished our final exam an
hour ago.!
Example: "y grandfather played for the #ellow $ornless %ull football team.
Example: & ate a big spicy piece of pi''a for my brea(fast.

for an action that began and ended in the past.
Example: The dangerous criminal was recaptured after three months on the run.

to refer to an action completed regardless of how recent or distant in the past.
Example: )lexander %ell invented the telephone in *+,-.
Example: "y brother joined the circus as a clown last wee(.

for an action done repeatedly. habitually or at regular times in the past.
Example: We saw the movie /Titanic/ several times at the cinema.
Example: %rian was always a heavy drin(er in the old days.
Example: $e phoned his mother every Sunday until her death.

for a state in the past.
Example: & felt very tired after a couple of games of tennis.

for a short event or action that comes or follows one after the other.
Example: We looked left and we looked right. Then we crossed the road.

to place emphasis on what we say. especially in response to some remar(.
Example: 0#ou didn't seem to help much.0 0& did help to clear the room of all the unwanted
things.0

to tal( about someone who has died.
Example: )rthur was a highly respected science1fiction writer.
Example: $e left all his money to charity.

in providing details or information about events that happened subse2uent to news reports which.
when first reported. are usually expressed in present perfect tense.
Example: 3egotiations with the insurgent forces have broken down. The leader of the insurgent
forces blamed the government for the brea( down. ) government spo(esman said the insurgent
forces made unreasonable demands.

Regular and irregular verbs
We form the simple past tense of most verbs by adding ed to the verb. These verbs are called regular
verbs. "ost verbs are regular verbs.
The simple past tense of some verbs does not end in 4ed. These verbs are the irregular verbs.
The simple past tense irregular verbs can only be used in the positive. not negative.
5or example: $e (ept all his money in the ban(. (NOT: $e did not (ept all his money in the ban(.!
Examples of regular verbs:

Simple
Past
add added
hand handed
join joined
show showed
talk talked

There are many irregular verbs. Examples of irregular verbs are:

Simple
Past
bite bit
catch caught
go went
see saw
steal stole
teach taught

The simple past tense of some irregular verbs does not change at all.
Past simple
beat beat
cut cut
hurt hurt
put put
shut shut

Regular verbs and irregular verbs as expressed in the affirmative and negative
Regular verbs:
)ffirmative 4 $e cycled to wor(.
3egative 4 $e did not cycle to wor(. (NOT: $e did not cycled to wor(.!
!rregular verbs
)ffirmative 4 $e stole her purse.
3egative 4 $e did not steal her purse. (NOT: $e did not stole her purse.!
3ote that was and were are forms of the verb be. "as is the simple past tense of am and is and is used with
the pronouns &. he. she and it. and with singular nouns. "ere is the simple past tense of are and is used with
the pronounsyou. we and they. and with plural nouns.

Regular verbs in simple past tense forms:
"ost verbs when expressed in the simple past tense are formed by adding 4ed to the end of the verbs. These
verbs are called regular verbs. Examples: (iss 4 (issed6 touch 4 touched.
&f a verb ends with 4e. only 4d is added to change its tense to past simple. Example: live 4 lived
&f a verb ends in 4ie. add 4d. Examples: lie 4 lied6 belie 1 belied
&f a verb ends in:
a vowel # y$ just add ed. Examples: employ 4 employed6 buoy 4 buoyed
a consonant # y$ change the y to i and then add ed. Examples: cry 4 cried6 pry 4 pried.
one vowel # one consonant and is a one%syllable verb$ double the consonant and add ed. Example: step 1
stepped6 chop 1 chopped6 can 1 canned
one vowel # one consonant$ double the consonant only if the second syllable of a two%syllable verb is
stressed (e.g..pre5E7 % preferred! but not if the first syllable of a two1syllable verb is stressed (e.g.. W83der 1
wondered!
two consonants$ just add ed Examples: pull 4 pulled6 scold 1 scolded
two vowels # one consonant$ don't double the consonant$ add edExamples: peep 4 peeped6 lea( 1 lea(ed6
raid 1 raided

&'sed to&
We use the expression used to to refer to a past habit or situation that no longer exists. We use
the infinitive without to after /used to./
Example:
I used to chase butterflies, but now I don't see any
butterfly around
!NOT: I used to to chase butterflies, "

She used to be scared of spiders, but now she keeps a
pet spider
#id you used/use to li$e in a houseboat%

Professor &rabby is ne$er used to people arguing with
him

The passive form
We use the passive form of the simple past tense when the action is done to the subject. &t is formed by
using was(were # past participle.
8ften the doer of the action is not mentioned or (nown.
Example: 9ast night the police station was bro(en into.
Sometimes we use the preposition /by/ to mention the person or thing that did the action.
Example: That old mighty tree was once struc( by lightning.
When the same sub:ect is used with two passive verbs. we leave
http://www.myenglishgrammar.com/simple-past-tense.html
Simple Past Tense
English Grammar
The Simple Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to use in
English.
If you already know how to use the Present Tense, then the Past Tense will
be easy.
In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started and
finished at a definite time in the past.
How to form the Past Tense in English
The main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in
the past tense.
(The exception is the ast tense of To !e, which has two
forms" was and were#
This is totally different from other languages such as $panish, %rench,
Italian etc. where you change the verb ending for every subject.
%or example" The past tense of the verb want is wanted.
Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects&pronouns.
I wanted
'ou wanted
(e wanted
$he wanted
It wanted
)e wanted
They wanted
$o you just have to learn one word to be able to use it in the past tense. In
this case we just needed to learn the one word wanted which can be used
for all subjects (or people#.
Past Tense Regular Verbs
To change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add *E+ to
the end of the verb.
play * played
cook * cooked
rain * rained
wait * waited
There are some exceptions with a slight change in spelling which you can
see here"
$pelling of words ending in E+.
Examples of sentences using regular verbs in the past
tense
,ast night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors complained.
$he issed me on the cheek.
It rained yesterday.
-ngela watched T. all night.
/ohn wanted to go to the museum.
0ote" There are three different ways of pronouncing the *ed at the end of a
verb in the past tense.
)e recommend reading our guide about the pronunciation of *E+ at the end of
words.
!egative sentences in the Past Tense
)e use didn"t #did not$ to make a negative sentence in the past tense.
This is for regular -0+ irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and 1odal .erbs such as Can#
2ompare the following"
resent" They don"t live in 2anada.
ast" They didn"t live in 2anada.
The main verb (live in the example above# is in its base form (of the
infinitive#. The auxiliary DIDNT shows that the sentence is negative -0+ in
the past tense.
03TI2E" The only difference between a negative sentence in the present
tense and a negative sentence in the past tense is the change in the
auxiliary verb.
!oth don"t and doesn"t in the present tense become didn"t in the past
tense.
2ompare the negative sentences in the examples below"
resent" 'ou don"t need a mechanic.
ast" 'ou didn"t need a mechanic.
resent" 'ou don"t walk to work.
ast" 'ou didn"t walk to work.
resent" (e doesn"t speak /apanese.
ast" (e didn"t speak /apanese.
Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense
I didn"t want to go to the dentist.
$he didn"t have time.
'ou didn"t close the door.
(e didn"t come to my party.
They didn"t study so they didn"t pass the test.
)e didn"t sleep well last night.
%uestions in the Past Tense
)e use did to make a 4uestion in the past tense.
This is for regular -0+ irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and 1odal .erbs such as Can#
2ompare the following"
resent" &o they live in %rance5
ast" &id they live in %rance5
The main verb (live in the example above# is in its base form (of the
infinitive#. The auxiliary DID shows that the 4uestion is in the past tense.
03TI2E" The only difference between a 4uestion in the present tense and
a 4uestion in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
!oth &o and &oes in present tense 4uestions become &idn"t in past tense
4uestions.
2ompare the 4uestions in the examples below"
resent" &o you need a doctor5
ast" &id you need a doctor5
resent" &o you ride your bike to work5
ast" &id you ride your bike to work5
resent" &oes he live in Italy5
ast" &id he live in Italy5
)e can also use a 4uestion word ()ho, )hat, )hy etc.# before +I+ to ask
for more information.
+id you study5 * 'es, I did.
'hen did you study5 * I studied last night.
'here did you study5 * I studied at the library.
6ead more about short answers in the past tense.
Examples of %uestions in the Past Tense
&id you go to work yesterday5
&id they arrive on time5
&id she like the surprise5
)here did she go5
)hat did you do yesterday5
)hat did you say5 7 I didn8t say anything.
)hy did we have to come5
(rregular Verbs in the Past Tense
Irregular verbs are 30,' irregular in affirmative&positive sentences.
(-n exception to this is with the verb T3 !E in the ast Tense#.
%or example" The past tense of 93 is )E0T.
It does not end in *E+ so it is considered irregular.
The word went is used for all subjects * I, you, we, they, he, she, it.
I went to the beach
(e went to the park.
$he went to the :oo.
They went to the library.
!;T, as we mentioned before, it is only in its irregular form (went# in
sentences that are affirmative&positive.
2ompare the following using 93 in the past tense.
They went to the beach
They didn8t go to the beach 777 Didnt shows that we are talking in
the past tense.
+id they go to the beach5 777 Did shows that we are talking in the
past tense.
-nother example with an irregular verb.
The past of E-T is -TE.
'ou ate my cake.
'ou didn8t eat my cake.
+id you eat my cake5
Present vs Past Tense Summary )hart
http://www.grammar.cl/english/past-tense.htm
To *e + Past Tense
English Grammar !otes
To *e + ,ffirmative
Sub-ect To *e Examples
I was I was tired this morning.
'ou were 'ou were very good.
(e was (e was the best in his class.
$he was $he was late for work.
It was It was a sunny day.
)e were )e were at home.
'ou were 'ou were on holiday.
They were They were happy with their test results.
To *e + !egative Sentences
The negative of To *e can be made by adding not after the verb (was or
were#.
Sub-ect To *e Examples
I was not I was not tired this morning.
'ou were not 'ou were not cra:y.
(e was not (e was not married.
$he was not $he was not famous.
It was not It was not hot yesterday.
)e were not )e were not invited.
'ou were not 'ou were not at the party.
They were not They were not friends.
To *e + !egative )ontractions
The can make negative contractions of the verb To *e in the ast tense by
joining the verb (was or were# and n.t (e.g. were not < weren=t#. )e don=t
make a contraction of the sub-ect and the verb (e.g. I was#.
I was not tired this morning. 36 I wasn.t tired this morning.
'ou were not cra:y. 36 'ou weren.t cra:y.
(e was not married. 36 (e wasn.t married.
$he was not famous. 36 $he wasn.t famous.
It was not hot yesterday. 36 It wasn.t hot yesterday.
)e were not invited. 36 )e weren.t invited.
'ou were not at the party. 36 'ou weren.t at the party.
They were not friends. 36 They weren.t friends.
> 0otice that we don=t have contractions for To *e in ast Tense affirmative
sentences.
To *e + %uestions
To create 4uestions with To *e, you put the Verb before the Sub-ect.
,ffirmative
'ou were happy.
Subject Verb

%uestion )ere you happy5
Verb Subject
,ffirmative %uestion
I was late 'as ( late5
'ou were sick. 'ere you sick5
(e was surprised. 'as he surprised5
$he was from Italy. 'as she from Italy5
It was a big house. 'as it a big house5
)e were ready. 'ere we ready5
'ou were early. 'ere you early5
They were busy. 'ere they busy5
To *e + Short ,nswers
In spoken English, we usually give short answers in response to 4uestions.
)as he from /apan5 7 'es, he was (from /apan#. The last part (from
/apan# is not necessary. )e use shorts answers to avoid repetition, when
the meaning is clear.
%uestion Short ,nswers// Short ,nswers
)as I late5 'es, you were. 0o, you weren=t.
)ere you sick5 'es, I was. 0o, I wasn=t.
)as he surprised5 'es, he was. 0o, he wasn=t.
)as she from Italy5 'es, she was. 0o, she wasn=t.
)as it a big house5 'es, it was. 0o, it wasn=t.
)ere we ready5 'es, we were. 0o, we weren=t.
)ere you early5 'es, we were. 0o, we weren=t.
)ere they busy5 'es, they were. 0o, they weren=t.
>> )ith To *e, )e don=t use contractions in affirmative short answers.
http://www.grammar.cl/Past/To_Be.htm
How do we use the Past
Simple Tense?
We use the past simple tense to talk about an action or a situation - an
event - in the past. The event can be short or long.
Here are some short events with the past simple tense:
The car exploded at 9.30am yesterday.
he went to the door.
We did not hear the telephone.
!id you see that car"
past present future

The action is in the
past.

Here are some long events with the past simple tense:
# lived in $an%kok &or '0 years.
The (urassic period lasted about )* million years.
We did not sin% at the concert.
!id you watch T+ last ni%ht"
past present future

The action is in the
past.

,otice that it does not matter how lon% a%o the event is: it can be a
&ew minutes or seconds in the past- or millions o& years in the past.
.lso it does not matter how lon% the event is. #t can be a &ew
milliseconds /car explosion0 or millions o& years /(urassic period0. We
use the past simple tense when:
the event is in the past
the event is completely finished
we say /or understand0 the time and1or place o& the event
#n %eneral- i& we say the time or place o& the event- we must use the
past simple tense2 we cannot use the present per&ect.
Here are some more examples:
# lived in that house when # was youn%.
He didn3t like the movie.
What did you eat &or dinner"
(ohn drove to 4ondon on 5onday.
5ary did not go to work yesterday.
Did you play tennis last week"
# was at work yesterday.
We were not late /&or the train0.
Were you an%ry"
,ote that when we tell a story- we usually use the past simple tense.
We may use the past continuous tense to 6set the scene6- but we
almost always use the past simple tense &or the action. 4ook at this
example o& the be%innin% o& a story:
6The wind was howlin% around the hotel and the rain was pourin%
down. #t was cold. The door opened and (ames $ond entered.
Hetook off his coat- which was very wet- and ordered a drink at the
bar. He sat down in the corner o& the loun%e and 7uietlydrank his...6
This pa%e shows the use o& the past simple tense to talk about past
events. $ut note that there are some other uses &or the past simple
tense- &or example in conditional or if sentences.
http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_past_u.htm
Simple Past Tense
( sang
The simple past tense is sometimes called the preterite tense. )e can use several
tenses to talk about the past, but the simple past tense is the one we use most often.
In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the simple past tense, followed by a
4ui: to check your understanding"
$tructure" how do we make the simple past tense5
;se" how do we use the simple past tense5
$imple ast ?ui:
How do we mae the Simple Past Tense0
To make the simple past tense, we use"
past form only
or
auxiliary did 1 base form
(ere you can see examples of the past form and base form for irregular verbs and
regular verbs"

V2
base
V3
past
V4
past participle

regular
verb
wor
explode
lie
wored
exploded
lied
worked
exploded
liked
The past form for
all regular verbs
ends in 7ed.
irregular
verb
go
see
sing
went
saw
sang
gone
seen
sung
The past form for
irregular verbs is
variable. 'ou need
to learn it by heart.
'ou do not need the past
participle form to make the
simple past tense. It is shown
here for completeness only.

The structure for positive sentences in the simple past tense is"
subject @ main verb
past
The structure for negative sentences in the simple past tense is"
subject @ auxiliary verb @ not @ main verb
did base
The structure for 5uestion sentences in the simple past tense is"
auxiliary verb @ subject @ main verb
did base
The auxiliary verb did is not conjugated. It is the same for all persons (I did, you did,
he did etc#. -nd the base form and past form do not change. ,ook at these examples
with the main verbs go and wor"
sub-ect auxiliary verb main verb
@
I went to school.
'ou worked very hard.
7
$he did not go with me.
)e did not work yesterday.
5
+id you go to ,ondon5
+id they work at home5
Exception6 The verb to be is different. )e conjugate the verb to be (I was, you
were, he&she&it was, we were, they were#A and we do not use an auxiliary for
negative and 4uestion sentences. To make a 4uestion, we exchange the subject and
verb. ,ook at these examples"
sub-ect main verb
@
I, he&she&it was here.
'ou, we, they were in ,ondon.
7
I, he&she&it was not there.
'ou, we, they were not happy.
5
)as I, he&she&it right5
)ere you, we, they late5
How do we use the Simple Past Tense0
)e use the simple past tense to talk about an action or a situation 7 an event 7 in the
past. The event can be short or long.
(ere are some short events with the simple past tense"
The car exploded at B.CDam yesterday.
$he went to the door.
)e did not hear the telephone.
+id you see that car5
past present future

The action is in the past.
(ere are some long events with the simple past tense"
I lived in !angkok for ED years.
The /urassic period lasted about FG million years.
)e did not sing at the concert.
+id you watch T. last night5
past present
future

The action is in the past.
0otice that it does not matter how long ago the event is" it can be a few minutes or
seconds in the past, or millions of years in the past. -lso it does not matter how long
the event is. It can be a few milliseconds (car explosion# or millions of years
(/urassic period#. )e use the simple past tense when"
the event is in the past
the event is completely finished
we say (or understand# the time and&or place of the event
In general, if we say the time or place of
the event, we must use the simple past
tenseA we cannot use the present perfect.
(ere are some more examples"
I lived in that house when I was young.
(e didn=t lie the movie.
)hat did you eat for dinner5
/ohn drove to ,ondon on 1onday.
1ary did not go to work yesterday.
&id you play tennis last week5
I was at work yesterday.
)e were not late (for the train#.
'ere you angry5
0ote that when we tell a story, we usually use the simple past tense. )e may use
the past continuous tense to Hset the sceneH, but we almost always use the simple
past tense for the action. ,ook at this example of the beginning of a story"
HThe wind was howling around the hotel and the rain was pouring down. It was cold.
The door opened and /ames !ond entered. (e too off his coat, which was very
wet, and ordered a drink at the bar. (e sat down in the corner of the lounge and
4uietly dran his...H
This page shows the use of the simple
past tense to talk about past events. !ut
note that there are some other uses for
the simple past tense, for example in
conditional or if sentences.
https://www.google.com.my/!"simple#past#tense#notes#
Simple Past Tense 748 by &ennis 9liver

$imple Past Tense %

In English, the simple past tense is used for finished
actions or situations that began and ended before
now 'here are three ways to make simple past tense
(ne way is what happens with the $erb be: am and
is change to was and are changes to were ) second
way is what happens with regular verbs: most regular
$erbs add - d or - ed to the base !simple" form, but
some $erbs ending in y change i and then add - ed
'he third way is for irregular verbs
******************************
The $imple Past: &rregular 'erbs

&rregular verbs do not make their past tense by adding
- d or - ed or by changing y to i and adding ed Instead,
they make their past forms in se$eral ways:
+

,or some irregular $erbs, the simple and past
forms are the same -ere are a few examples:
$imple
beat
bet
burst
cost
cut
hit
hurt
let
put
set

Past
beat
bet
burst
cost
cut
hit
hurt
let
put
set

.

,or many irregular $erbs, the simple and
past forms ha$e different $owels -ere
are a few examples:
$imple
arise
become
begin
break
choose
dig
draw
eat
fall
feed
find
fly
forget
free/e
get
gi$e
hide
hold
know
lead
lie
meet
ride
ring
rise
take

Past
arose
became
began
broke
chose
dug
drew
ate
fell
fed
found
flew
forgot
fro/e
got
ga$e
hid
held
knew
led
lay
met
rode
rang
rose
took
tear
wea$e
tore
wo$e

0

,or many irregular $erbs, the simple $erb
and the past form ha$e di((erent endings
!and often different vowels":
$imple
bend
bring
build
buy
catch
creep
do !does"
feel
ha$e !has"
lose
make
mean
pay
say
seek
sleep
spend
stand
teach
tell
think

Past
bent
brought
built
bought
caught
crept
did
felt
had
lost
made
meant
paid
said
sought
slept
spent
stood
taught
told
thought

1

) few irregular $erbs ha$e more than one
past form -ere are a few examples:
$imple
dream
fit
kneel
leap
light
shine
speed
spit
wake

Past
dreamed, dreamt
fit, fitted
knelt, kneeled
leaped, leapt
lit, lighted
shone, shined
sped, speeded
spit, spat
woke, waked

2

,or a few irregular $erbs, one past form
tends is more common in )merican English
and a different one is more common in
3ritish English:
'erb
burn
lean
learn
smell
spoil

)merican
burned
leaned
learned
smelled
spoiled

British
burnt
leant
learnt
smelt
spoilt

4

'he common irregular $erb go has a completely
different past form:
$imple
go

Past
went

********************************************

$pecial Notes:
+

'he simple and past forms of read ha$e the same
spelling, but they are pronounced differently:
simple: read !pronounced the same as reed"
past: read !pronounced the same as red"

.

'here are no easy rules to help you learn the past
forms for irregular $erbs 5uickly 6nfortunately,
you will ha$e to memori/e them7
http://www.eslca(e.com/grammar/simple_past_tense*%.html
Simple Past Tense 738 by &ennis 9liver


$imple Past Tense +

English uses $erbs in the simple past tense to refer to
actions, situations, or e$ents that are (inished and that
happened be(ore now 'here are three ways to form
simple past tense in English (ne way is what happens
with the $erb be: it uses the special forms was and were
)nother way is what happens with regular $erbs
!'hey are called regular because they all add the same
ending88ed88or some $ariation on it"
******************************
The $imple Past: ,egular 'erbs

,egular $erbs make their past tense by adding - d, - ed,
or !if the $erb ends in a consonant 9 y", changing the y
to i and then adding - ed
Examples:
)dd -d:

baked, cared, eased, filed, greased,
hated, liked, piled, raced, sei/ed,
smiled, typed, whee/ed, whined

-hange y
to i and
add -ed:

apply : applied;
bury : buried;
cry : cried;
fry : fried;
hurry : hurried;
marry : married;
pry : pried;
spy : spied
try : tried
$ary : $aried
worry : worried

)dd -ed:

other regular $erbs:
asked, belonged, clapped,
dialed, filled, guessed,
hopped, looked, marked,
needed, pulled, reached,
started, touched, $iewed,
washed, yelled, /ipped
******************************************

$pecial Notes:
+

)dd only - d if a regular $erb ends in one or more
vowels, a single consonant !except .", and e See
the examples abo$e

.

If a regular $erb ends in a single vowel and a single
consonant !except .", double the consonant before
you add 8ed:
beg : begged; clap : clapped; fan : fanned;
hop : hopped; jog : jogged; mar : marred;
pin : pinned; rip : ripped; slam : slammed;
tan : tanned; whip : whipped; /ip : /ipped
&ompare these $erbs:
hop : hopped and hope : hoped;
pin : pinned and pine : pined
file : filed and fill : filled;
like : liked and lick : licked

0

If a regular $erb has two or more syllables, if the
$erb ends in l or r, and if the last syllable is stressed,
double the l or r before you add 8ed:
comp/l : compelled;
conf/r : conferred;
contr0l : controlled;
def/r : deferred;
fulf1l : fulfilled;
pref/r : preferred;
prop/l : propelled
If a regular $erb has two or more syllables, if the
$erb ends in l or r, and if the last syllable is not
stressed, do not double the l or r, before you add 8ed:
c2ncel : canceled;
h0nor : honored;
s3ffer : suffered;
tr2$el : tra$eled
Note that 3ritish spelling does not use this rule

1

If a regular $erb ends in a consonant and y !or if
the final syllable of a regular $erb ends in this way",
change the y to i and then add 8ed:
apply : applied; bury : buried; cry : cried;
copy : copied; defy : defied; fry : fried;
falsify : falsified; hurry : hurried; modify : modified;
pity : pitied; 5ualify : 5ualified; reply : replied;
spy : spied; supply : supplied; try : tried

2

If a regular $erb ends in a vowel and y !or if the
final syllable of a regular $erb ends in this way",
do not change the y to i and then add 8ed:
annoy : annoyed; dismay : dismayed; enjoy : enjoyed;
obey : obeyed; play : played; stay : stayed

4

If a regular $erb ends in ., add only 8 ed #o not
double the .:
box : boxed; fax : faxed; mix : mixed; tax : taxed

<

=egular $erbs ending in other spelling patterns usually
add 8ed
********************
http://www.eslca(e.com/grammar/simple_past_tense*+.html
The Past Simple Tense
The past simple tense is most o&ten used &or the &ollowin%:
- 8or actions that happened in the past
- #n reported speech
- #n conditional sentences
How to &orm the past simple
For actions that happened in the past
The past simple is the most usual tense &or talkin% about thin%s that happened or have
&inished be&ore now. +ery o&ten we use a word or expression o& &inished time with this
tense. #n the &ollowin% example sentences the expressions o& &inished time are shown in
bold:
he came to 9ermany two years ago.
#t rained every day &or a week on my vacation.
:olumbus discovered .merica in 1!".
# played tennis at the weekend.
# didn3t see you yesterday. Were you in school"
5y mother went shoppin% on Saturday but she didn3t buy anythin%.
# &elt embarrassed when the teacher asked an easy 7uestion but # didn3t know the
answer.
The weather was bad this afternoon; so we didn3t have a picnic as planned.
How did you do that"
!id you see the &ilm on T+ last night"
Why didn3t you do your homework"
; #n this sentence the speaker is talkin% in the evenin%- so &or her this afternoon is
&inished time.
#n reported speech
#n reported speech it is common to shi&t the tense back. o &or example- i& someone said
somethin% to you in the present tense- you would report it in the past tense. 4ook at
these examples. #n each case the &irst sentence is direct speech and the second sentence
is in reported speech. The verbs in the past simple &orm are shown in bold.
he said: 6# live in 8rank&urt.6
he told me she lived in 8rank&urt. ;
He said: 6# can speak < lan%ua%es.6
He said he could speak < lan%ua%es.
The new %irl said: 65y &ather is a millionaire=6
The new %irl told me her &ather was a millionaire but # don3t believe her=
he said: 65y mother doesn3t like 9erman &ood.6
he said her mother didn$t like 9erman &ood.
He said: 6# don3t &eel well.6
He said he didn$t &eel well.
he asked: 6!o you like >4 lessons"6
he asked me i& # liked >4 lessons.
The teacher said: 6!o you know the answer"6
The teacher asked me i& # knew the answer.
; #t is common in modern spoken >n%lish to %&T chan%e the tense i& you believe that
what someone told you is still true. o- &or example- we could say:
he said she lives in 8rank&urt.
he told me her mother doesn3t like 9erman &ood.
#n conditional sentences
The past simple tense is used in conditional * sentences. Have a look at some examples
be&ore readin% the explanation about what the conditional * is. The verbs in past simple
&orm are shown in bold.
# would help you i& # had time=
#& # were the teacher # would %ive lots o& homework every day=
What would you buy i& you won a lot o& money"
#& you 'ought a calculator- you wouldn3t have to borrow mine all the time=
#& you didn$t eat so much ?unk &ood- you would be a lot &itter=
# would be much happier i& you didn$t do that=
The past simple /conditional *0 is used in these sentences to express the idea o&
somethin% that is not true or that the speaker thinks is unlikely to happen. o- in the
&irst 3 sentences above- the interpretations would be:
# don3t have time ..
# am not the teacher ..
# don3t think it is likely you will win a lot o& money ..
http://esl.(is.edu/grammar/rules/pastsimp.htm