The simple

past tense

The simple past is a verb tense which

is used to show that a completed
action took place at a specific time in
the past.
USES:
When do we use the Simple Past tense?
 USE 1 Completed Action in the Past. - Use the simple
past to express the idea that an action started and
finished in the past.

Examples:

 She washed her car.

 I had a great time in the party.

 We saw a movie yesterday.

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions. - We use the
simple past to list a series of completed actions in the
past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

Examples:
 I finished to work, walked to the beach, and found a
nice place to swim.
 He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the
hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.
 Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the
eggs?
USE 3 Duration in the Past. - The simple past can be used
with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A
duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions
such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year,
etc.

Examples:

 I lived in Brazil for two years.

 They sat at the beach all day.

 We talked on the phone for

thirty minutes.
USE 4 Habits in the Past. - The simple past can also be
used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. To
make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often
add expressions such as: always, often, usually, when I
was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

 I studied French when I was a child.

 She always did her homework on time when she

was a student.

 We ate junk food almost every day last month.

USE 5 together with the past progressive/ continuous.-
The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in
progress in the past.

 They were playing cards when the telephone rang.

1st action → Past Progressive → were playing
2nd action → Simple Past → rang

 While Dennis was reading outside, it started to rain.

1st action → Past Progressive → was reading
2nd action → Simple Past → started
How do we form the simple
past tense . . .?

English has two types of verbs in the past tense:

 Regular verbs
 Irregular verbs
Regular verbs are verbs that ….

…end with –ed

Simple Form Past Tense
Walk
Live
Clean
Irregular verbs are verbs that . . . .
…DON’T end with –ed.

Simple Form Past Tense

become became
give gave
drive drove
forget forgot
For regular verbs, simply use the –ed form of the verb in
an affirmative sentence.

We worked together
I called the police.
For irregular verbs, simply use the correct past
tense.
Last week, I sent you a letter. (send)

The students had an English exam. (have)

For negative sentences, USE

I didn´t study for my exams.

They didn´t bring the flowers

For Yes/No questions, USE

Did you come yesterday?

Did you hear the noise?
ANSWERING YES/NO QUESTIONS.- We have two
options:
Did you finish your homework?
Yes, I did or No, I didn´t.

PAST SIMPLE OF THE VERB TO BE

I was
You were
He/She/It was
You were
We were
They were

Last week, my parents were at work.

Yesterday, I was sick.
Negative sentences with the verb “to be”. – We use:

Yes/No question using “to be”.- When we ask yes/no

questions with the verb “to be” it always appears first.

Was he there?

Yes, he was or No, he was not.

Were they at party yesterday?

No, they were not or Yes, they were.