© Pearson Education Limited

Simple past tense

She wrote the book in … / …

ago.
Last year / Once I did …

© Pearson Education Limited

In this lesson, you will learn to use the simple
past tense and time adverbials to talk about past
activities or events.
The simple past
We use the simple past tense to talk about actions
completed in the past.
Best
Write
r
Awar
d

2012 2015 now (2018)

He won an award in
2015.
We can also use … ago
with the simple past tense.
The simple past
We use the simple past tense to talk about actions
completed in the past.
Best
Writer
Award

2012 2015 now (2018)

2018 – 2015 = 3 years

He won an award in 2015.

in + a point in time
He won an award three years ago.
The simple past
Other words that we usually use with the simple past tense
include last … and once.

Last year,I did badly in my tests.

We could also add a comma here.

Once, I fell off my bike and broke my

leg.
Quick check

1. Fill in the blank.

became (become) a
My uncle _________
pilot 20 years ago.
Quick check

2. Fill in the blank.

won (win) her first gold

Judy ______
medal last year.
Quick check

3. Fill in the blank.

2012

Once Mr Gio and his family

travelled (travel) to Vietnam .
__________
Quick check

4. Fill in the blanks.

2016
gave (give) birth to my
Mom _______
two years ago.
baby sister ____________

2018
(now)
Well done!
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the following for permission to reproduce copyright photographs:

Imagemore Co., Ltd

blueskyimage. 123rf.com
Bloomicon.Shutterstock
imtmphoto. 123rf.com
pistolseven. Shutterstock
Rido. Shutterstock
Tatyana Vyc. Shutterstock
wavebreakmedia. Shutterstock
rabbit75123. 123rf.com
auremar. Shutterstock
Mega Pixel. Shutterstock
Margie Hurwich. Shutterstock
2xSamara.com. Shutterstock
deklofenak. 123rf.com
MJTH. Shutterstock
justmeyo. 123rf.com
nattanan726. Shutterstock
Sozaijiten
michaeljung. Shutterstock
highwaystarz. 123rf.com

Every effort has been made to trace copyright, but in the event of any accidental infringement, we
shall be pleased to come to a suitable arrangement with the rightful owner.

© Pearson Education Limited