Past Simple

Simple Past (Past Simple)

 Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

 

Form of Simple Past

	Form - with regular verbs: infinitive + -ed - with irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs Examples Affirmative sentences: regular verbs irregular verbs I played football. I went to the cinema. We visited Alaska last year. We were in Rome yesterday. Negative sentences: You must not negate a full verb in English. Always use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do) for negations. I   played football. I didn't play football. He didn't play football. Questions: Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do). Did you play football? Did he play football?

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed	Example
after a final e only add d	love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled	admit – admitted travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i	hurry – hurried

Use of Simple Past

• 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