SIMPLE PAST

The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

 

Form of Simple Past

 

Affirmative sentences:

Always use the same form of the verb no matter what the subject is.

regular verbs	irregular verbs
I played football.	I went to the supermarket.

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Negative sentences:

Always use the auxiliary DID no matter what the subject is.

regular verbs	irregular verbs
I did not play football.	I did not go to the supermarket.

NOTE: Short forms in negative sentences in the Simple Past are used quite often.

regular verbs	irregular verbs
I didn't play football.	I didn't go to the supermarket.

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Questions:

Always use the auxiliary DID no matter what the subject is.

regular verbs	irregular verbs
Did you play football?	Did I go to the supermarket?

 

Questions without question words in the Simple Past

 

Auxiliary	Subject	Verb	Rest	Yes/No	Subject	Auxiliary (+ n't)
Did	Max	play	football?	Yes,	he	did.
				No,	he	didn't.
Did	you	watch	the film yesterday?	Yes,	I	did.
				No,	I	didn't.

Remeber the verb TO BE does not take auxiliaries

To be	Subject		Rest	Yes/No	Subject	Auxiliary (+ n't)
Were	you		in Leipzig last week?	Yes,	I	was.
				No,	I	wasn't.

In the simple past for irregular verbs we use the past form (list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add “-ed”.

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.
  
  

 

Signal Words of Simple Past

• yesterday, before, ago, in 1990, the other day, on their holiday, last night, last Friday, last weekend, last year, etc. 

 CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO PRACTISE SIMPLE PAST

EXERCISE 1

EXERCISE 2

EXERCISE 3

EXERCISE 4

EXERCISE 5

EXERCISE 6

EXERCISE 7

EXERCISE 8

EXERCISE 9

And... if explanation has not been enough and you need more, watch these slides Simple Past Tense View more PowerPoint from IES