• 18 December, 2024
• 91
• Grammar
• A2 Pre-intermediate

Past simple – Form and use

Form

The Past Simple tense is used to describe actions or events that were completed in the past. It is commonly formed as follows:

Affirmative Sentences

• Regular verbs: Add -ed to the base form of the verb. Example: I walked to school yesterday.
• Irregular verbs: Use the unique past form of the verb. Example: She ate dinner at 7 PM.

Negative Sentences

To form negative sentences, use "did not" (or "didn’t") followed by the base form of the verb:

• Example: They didn’t watch the movie.
• They didn’t watched the movie. (Incorrect: The base form, not the past form, is used after "did not.")

Questions

To ask questions, place "Did" at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and the base form of the verb:

• Example: Did he finish his homework?
• Did he finished his homework? (Incorrect: Use the base form of the verb after "Did.")

Use

1. Completed Actions in the Past

The Past Simple is used for actions or events that happened and finished in the past. The time of the action is often mentioned.

• Example: I visited Paris last summer.
• I visit Paris last summer. (Incorrect: Use the past form "visited.")

2. Past Habits

It can describe habits or routines in the past.

• Example: She played tennis every weekend.
• She play tennis every weekend. (Incorrect: Use the past form "played.")

3. Events in a Story

The Past Simple is often used to describe the main events in a story in chronological order.

• Example: He entered the room, turned on the light, and sat down.
• He enter the room, turned on the light, and sit down. (Incorrect: All verbs should be in the past form.)

4. Situations True in the Past

It can also describe states or facts that were true in the past.

• Example: My grandparents lived in a small village.
• My grandparents lives in a small village. (Incorrect: Use the past form "lived.")

Common Mistakes

• Using the past form of the verb after "did" in negatives or questions. Example: Did he went? (Incorrect). Correct: Did he go?
• Forgetting to use "-ed" for regular verbs. Example: She walk to school. (Incorrect). Correct: She walked to school.