Simple Past

Grammar
Simple Past
• The simple past (also called past simple, past indefinite or preterit) is a verb tense which is
used to show that a completed action took place at a specific time in the past. The simple past
is also frequently used to talk about past habits and generalizations. Read on for detailed
descriptions, examples, and simple past exercises.
 Simple Past Form To Be–
Affirmative
• The simple past using verb to be is a bit different
from the rest:

• Subject + Verb to Be in Past Simple +

Complement

• I was sad last week.

• You/we/they were in the park yesterday.
• He/she/it was right there.
 Simple Past Form To Be– Negative

• The simple past using verb to be is a bit different from

the rest:

• Subject + Verb to Be in Past Simple + not +

Complement

• I was not/wasn’t sad last week.

• You/we/they were not/weren’t in the park yesterday.
• He/she/it was not/wasn’t right there.
Simple Past Form To Be – Yes/No
Questions

• The simple past yes/no questions are formed using

the auxiliary verb to be. The main verb must be in
base form. For this, the structure of simple past
form is:

• Was/Were + Subject + Complement + ?

• Was she better than me in Math?

Yes, she was./No, she wasn’t.
Were we at the supermarket yesterday?
Yes, we were./No, we weren’t.
 Simple Past Form To Be –
Wh-Questions
• The simple past wh-questions are formed using a wh-
word and the verb to be. The main verb must be in
base form. For this, the structure of simple past form is:

• Wh-word + Was/Were + Subject + Complement + ?

• When was she at the restaurant?

Where were you?
Simple Past Form
• The simple past is formed using the verb + ed. In
addition, there are many verbs with irregular past forms.
Questions are made with did and negative forms are
made with did not.
• Statement: You called Debbie.
• Question: Did you call Debbie?
• Negative: You did not call Debbie.
Simple Past Form -
Affirmative

• The simple past is formed using the verb +

ed. In addition, there are many verbs with
irregular past forms. The structure of simple
past in affirmative form is:

• Subject + Verb in Past Simple +

Complement

• I met my wife in 1983.

We went to Spain for our holidays.
They got home very late last night.
 Simple Past Form -
Negative
• The simple past in negative is formed using
the auxiliary verb did not/didn’t. The main
verb has to be in base form. The structure of
simple past in negative form is:

• Subject + did not / didn’t + Verb in Base

form + Complement

• They didn't go to Spain this year.

We didn't get home until very late last night.
I didn't see you yesterday.
Simple Past Form –
Yes/No Questions
• The simple past yes/no questions are
formed using the verb did. For this, the
structure of simple past in affirmative form
is:

• Did + Subject + Verb in Base Form +

Complement + ?

• Did she play tennis when she was younger?

Yes, she did./No, she didn’t.
Did you live abroad?
Yes, you did./No, you didn’t.
Simple Past Form – Wh-Questions

• The simple past wh-questions are formed

using a wh-word and the auxiliary verb did.
The main verb must be in base form. For this,
the structure of simple past form is:

• Wh-word + Did + Subject + Verb in Base

Form + Complement + ?

• When did you meet your wife?

Where did you go for your holidays?
Simple Past Form – Wh-Questions

• Who questions, usually use the verb conjugated in past simple and
avoid using the auxiliary verb:

• Who + Verb in Past Simple + Complement + ?

• Who discovered penicillin?

Who wrote Don Quixote?
Simple Past Uses

• action in the past taking place once, never or several times. Example:
He visited his parents every weekend.
• actions in the past taking place one after the other. Example:
He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
• action in the past taking place in the middle of another action. Example: When
I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
• if sentences type II (If I talked, …). Example: If I had a lot of money, I would
share it with you.
Signal Words of Simple Past

• yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday

• If-Conditional Type II (If I talked, …)