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Simple Past Tense
Explanation
What is Simple Past Tense?
Simple Past Tense is used to describe things that already happened or existed in the past. The aim of Simple Past Tense is to emphasize that the action is finished.
Examples:
- I ate an apple yesterday.
- My brother won a football match last year.
What are the forms of Simple Past Tense?
1. Basic form
I / He / She / It |
Subject + was / verb (in past tense) - I was a teacher, but I have quitted my job recently. - My sister went to see a doctor yesterday. |
You / We / They |
Subject + were / verb (in past tense) - You were late yesterday, I am still angry about it. - They held a party last Christmas. |
2. Negative form
There are two ways to make Simple Past Tense negative.
Subject + did not / didn’t + verb (in base form) - I didn’t see you in class yesterday. Where were you? - Kelvin did not show up in the singing contest last week. |
or
I / He / She / It |
Subject + was not / wasn’t - Judy was not happy about what happened last night. |
You / We / They |
Subject + were not / weren’t - You weren’t a member of the student union last year. Why are you joining now? |
3. Asking a question
There are two ways to ask a question in Simple Past Tense form.
Did + Subject + verb (in base form) - Did you watch the latest episode of “Stranger Things”? - Did you take my book? I can’t find it. |
or
I / He / She / It |
Was + Subject - Was I at the ceremony that day? |
You / We / They |
Were + Subject - Were you the one who called me yesterday? |
How to use Simple Past Tense?
Here is what Ben did today:
Do homework > Watch TV > Write diary > Sleep
Ben’s sister: Mum, I’m back! Where is Ben?
Ben’s mother: He is sleeping now. It’s too late for him.
Ben’s sister: I see. What did he do today?
Ben’s mother: He watched some TV and went to bed.
Ben’s sister: He didn’t have any homework?
Ben’s mother: He finished them before he watches TV.
Ben’s sister: Did he ask about me?
Ben’s mother: Yes, he did! He was worried about you as you are coming home late.
Ben’s sister: He is such a good boy!
Common regular verbs in Past Tense
Base Form |
Past Tense |
Base Form |
Past Tense |
Ask |
Asked |
Kick |
Kicked |
Call |
Called |
Laugh |
Laughed |
Enjoy |
Enjoyed |
Learn |
Learned |
Happen |
Happened |
Move |
Moved |
Invite |
Invited |
Need |
Needed |
Join |
Joined |
Open |
Opened |
Jump |
Jumped |
Pass |
Passed |
Joke |
Joked |
Place |
Placed |
Kill |
Killed |
Worry |
Worried |
Common irregular verbs in Past Tense
Base Form |
Past Tense |
Base Form |
Past Tense |
Be |
Was / Were |
Sing |
Sang |
Have |
Had |
Swim |
Swam |
Do |
Did |
Make |
Made |
Go |
Went |
Take |
Took |
Eat |
Ate |
Give |
Gave |
Write |
Wrote |
Become |
Became |
See |
Saw |
Come |
Came |
Get |
Got |
Say |
Said |
Pay |
Paid |
Draw |
Drew |
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