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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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