Past Simple Grammar
What is the past simple tense?
The past simple tense is a tense we use in English to talk about things that happened in the past, before now.
It is used to talk about a completed action before now. Past simple is used to show that the action is already finished.
Examples:
I listened to what you said.
He exercised at the park yesterday.
They heard a loud sound.
Why do I use the past simple tense?
We use the past simple to talk about:
- something that happened one time in the past;
- something that happened a few times/many times in the past; and
- something that happened for a certain time period in the past (which is finished now).
1. Something that happened one time in the past.
Examples:
I went to bed early last night.
He ate pizza for lunch today.
2. Something that happened a few/many times in the past.
Examples:
3. Something that happened for a certain time period in the past (which is finished now).
Examples:
How do I make the past simple tense?
Positive sentences
When you make positive sentences with the past simple tense, we use one of these two structures.
1. Subject + past tense verb (verb 2)
2. Subject + was / were
Examples:
I (subject) listened (past tense verb) to what you said.
He was happy last night.
Negative sentences
When you make negative sentences with the past simple tense, we use one of these two structures.
1. Subject + did not + present tense verb (verb 1)
2. Subject + was not / were not
Examples:
I did not listen to what you said.
They were not happy last night.
Questions
When you make questions with the past simple tense, we use one of these two structures.
1. Did + subject + present tense verb (verb 1)
2. Was / were + subject
Examples:
How do I make past tense verbs (verb 2)?
What are some common past tense verbs?
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