e5 the past simple tense

The past simple tense

Typical forms of this tense are as in: mether. She met him.
I
I

the past simple tense

We use the past simple tense to talk about:

s7

single actions in the past.

He locked the door and
I

leftthe

house.

went out ond broughtthe cat bockin ogain.

wentthere.

Shewentthere. Because the past simple consists of one word only, the past simple tense of do, which is did, is used as the supporting auxiliarywhen you

habitual actions in the past, often with always, never, or often.

ln those days I alwayswentto Juliano'sfor lunch. I cycled in every day and that soon made me ftt.
I

wantto:

often visited Glasgow on business when I was in publishing.

askaquestion,
Did I meethim? Did shemeethim? Did I gothere? Did it gothere?

with

past actions where a definite time is mentioned. lt is often used a time expression such as ago or last month, when the action

is seen as

finished.

Some time ago now, I went to America for a month. Once upon a time there was a king in a faraway land.
I

make a negative statement using not,

I

saw Roger a littlewhile back. boughtthe microwave oyear ago.

did not meet her. did not go there. did not go there.

pointswherethe main action is broken.The restof the sentence

uses the past continuous tense to describe the past activity or action.
I wos clearing outthe garagewhen a car came downthe drive. Wewere leoving the house when the phone rong.

Hedid notmeether.
I

He

or make a response.
Did you see Jenny yesterday? - No, I didn't. Did Penny phone you ? -Yes, she did.