Wedding

Past tense in English past simple. Simple past tense in English (The Past Simple)

The Past Simple is used to express an action in the past. The formation of the affirmative form depends on whether the verb is correct or not. Irregular verbs have 3 forms that you will need to learn. If the verb belongs to this category, then the 2nd form of the verb is taken or V2: I woke up - I woke up, we made - we did, he sang - he sang.

Regular verbs are formed by adding the ending -ed to the stem of the verb: they laughed - they laughed, I typed - I typed, she cleaned - she cleaned.

negative form

The formation of Past Simple in the negative form occurs with the help of the auxiliary verb to do in Past Indefinite and the particle not, to which the infinitive of the semantic verb is added.

He did not write. - He didn't write.

We did not make. - We did not.

They didn't clean. - They didn't clean up.

note

The last sample shows an abbreviated form of negation, it is also reflected in oral speech.

Interrogative form

To ask a question, you just need to move did to the beginning of the sentence, the order of the rest of the words remains the same.

Did he write? Did we make? Did they clean?

Passive design

In the passive voice, the main verb in the 3rd form or the verb with the ending -ed is preceded by an auxiliary to be in the Past Simple. The table includes formulas for two voices for comparison.

Active and passive voice in Past Indefinite

Use cases

Explore the options for using the Past Simple. The rules say that given time refers to events that happened in the past. However, Past Simple Tense can be both in the context of the past and the present. It is used in the following cases.

To express a one-time action

The event happened once in the past. Often, the time of the action is indicated, usually it refers to the past tense, but the simple past tense also occurs with such adverbs of time as: tonight, this morning, today, etc.

I only passed exams two months ago. I passed my exams only two months ago.

I saw her in the school this morning. I saw her at school this morning.

The time of action can be implied in a situation by mentioning the place of events or other concomitant circumstances that can be expressed in Past Indefinite. The rules do not specify such options - you need to pay attention to the context itself.

She ate chocolate hearts in Paris. She ate chocolate hearts in Paris.

He called me at breakfast to tell the last news. He called me at breakfast to tell me the latest news.

There are cases when mentioning the time or place is not necessary, because. the speaker and the listener understand what the event is about.

I didn't understand what he said. “I didn't understand what he said.

He didn't mean to hurt her feelings. He didn't mean to offend her.

Question in Past Indefinite.

To express events that happened in a certain period

At the same time, the action itself has already ended, the period during which it took place is indicated. A period of time is usually indicated using adverbial phrases with the prepositions for, during and synonymous expressions.

Wed argue for 5 days. We argued for 5 days.

Last year I traveled to Brazil during my summer holidays. – Last year during the summer holidays I went to Brazil.

To Express Successive Events

Such examples can be found in the narrative.

I came there very early, then I cleaned the place and prepared everything. I got there very early, then cleaned up and got everything ready.

Actions in this case can be both one-time and take the entire period of time. In the latter case, the prepositional phrases for, from...to, during or the phrases all night, all day, etc. can be used in the phrase.

To indicate a repetitive action

In this case, as a rule, the circumstances of frequency are also used: never, now, often, for weeks, again, sometimes, etc.

You often reminded me of him. You often reminded me of him.

Sometimes he found this story too good to be true. “Sometimes he thought the story was too good to be true.

To express permanent action

In this case, the subject is given a general characteristic.

She wore her hair in a high ponytail. She wore a high ponytail.

note

The verb wear can be used not only with clothes, in English you can also “wear” hair, i.e. hairstyle.

He lived in Spain for 6 years and still didn't speak Spanish quite well. He lived in Spain for 6 years and still didn't speak Spanish very well.

Instead of Past Continuous

To express events happening at the moment in the past. Past long time is not used with state verbs and is replaced in these cases by Past Simple. Example sentences will help you better understand what is being said.

At that moment he wanted her to tell the truth. At that moment, he wanted her to tell the truth.

Also, the replacement of Continuous by Simple can occur with certain indefinite verbs. They can express thought processes, perception, feelings, emotions: remember, shine, gleam, lie, think, trust, etc. And substitution is also relevant in cases where events are treated as facts, and attention is focused precisely on circumstances, in which they occurred.

He talked very fast, as if he had no time at all. He spoke so fast as if he didn't have time at all.

The street lights went off, but the moon gleamed and he could see her window. The street lights went out, but the moon was shining and he could see her window.

The future time event is viewed from the past

This use of time is found in indirect speech and dependent structures. It can be found in concessive subordinate clauses, as well as time and conditions; at the same time, Future-in-the-Past or modal verbs can be in the main clause.

She would, if she thought it effective, lie to him. “She could lie if she thought it would be of any use.

Do the exercises in Past Simple - describe everything you see in the picture using the time you have learned.

Exercises Past Simple.

Remember that often, when using this tense, it is the very fact of the action that is important to the speaker and the conversation is not focused on the event as a continuing process.

Watch the video tutorial to consolidate the material:

Each language has its own characteristics. English is not one of the rare exceptions. On vivid examples of sentences in Past Simple (Simple Past Tense), one can consider from all sides not one, but many of its amazing features: temporary construction, articles, regular and irregular verbs, features of sentence construction.

What is the Simple Past Tense?

There are three tenses in English: present (Present), past (Past) and future (Future). In this it does not differ from our native language - Russian. However, just as each individual person has a set of his own individual qualities, so the English system of times differs from the Russian one by the presence of its own individual character - aspect. Depending on what kind of action we have before us - repetitive, long-term or completed, there are three aspects - Simple (Simple), Continuous (Long), Perfect (Perfect).

From this we can conclude that our today's "hero" Past Simple or Simple Past tense describes the usual, repetitive action that was committed in the past.

affirmative sentences

Each of the 12 temporary forms of the English language has its own grammatical formula of education. For Past Simple, it looks like this: subject + verb in 2nd form. And here we are faced with another feature of the language - regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs form the 2nd form with the help of the ending -ed: to invite - invited (invite - invited), to brush - brushed (brushed - brushed).

As for irregular verbs, the 2nd form can always be found in the 2nd column of irregular verbs: to have - had (to have - had), to blow - blew (to blow - blew).

Consider these rules using examples of Past Simple with regular and irregular verbs:

Negation

Negative sentences in Past Simple (Past Simple) are built according to the following formula: subject + did not + verb. It is impossible not to pay attention to another distinctive feature of the language - the auxiliary verb did. It does not translate into Russian. When negated, it “attaches” the negative particle not (not) to itself and “takes away” the past tense form from the main verb. This rule applies to all verbs, except to be - was / were (to be), which does without the support of an auxiliary verb. How this works in practice can be seen in examples of sentences in English with translation into Russian:

Question

In English, there are different types of questions: general (requiring a “yes” or “no” answer), special (begins with a question word), alternative (with a disjunctive union or (or) and others. They differ in structure from each other, but they are united by a common essence inherent only in English interrogative sentences - the reverse word order and the auxiliary verb before the subject: "did + subject + verb?", "was/were + subject?".

Such "time markers" as yesterday (yesterday), the day before yesterday (the day before yesterday), five years ago (five years ago), last month (last month) are clear signs that we have Past Simple (Simple Past Tense ).

What have we learned?

Examples of affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences in Past Simple (Past Simple) show better than any rules how they are built and what are their features.

Topic quiz

Article rating

Average rating: 4.4. Total ratings received: 144.

Hello! Today we continue to get acquainted with the temporary forms of the English language. Next in line is the simple past tense (indefinite), namely, the time of Past Simple, or as it is also called Past Indefenite. Our goal is to learn how to conjugate affirmative, interrogative and negative verbs in the Past Simple Tense, as well as to figure out when to use the Past Simple.

First, let's define what Past Simple Tense is. So, Past Simple Tense expresses actions or states that took place at some time in the past. At the same time, their duration, completeness, precedence in relation to another action, etc. are not indicated, i.e., the action is expressed as a fact.

The Past Simple tense is a tense form that is used to describe events that happened in the past. This tense is typical of both written and spoken language. Rules for the formation of the past tense in English

Rules for the formation of Past Simple Tense

And now let's move on to the main thing - the rules for the formation of Past Simple Tense in English.

Affirmative Past Simple Tense

Auxiliary verbs are not required to form the affirmative form of Past Simple Tense.

Regular verbs form the affirmative form of the Past Simple Tense by adding an ending -ed to the stem of the infinitive without a particle to. This applies to all persons, singular and plural.

Rules for pronunciation of the ending - ed:

1. after voiceless consonants, except for t → [t]
to work - worked
to help - helped

2. after voiced consonants, except for d, and after vowels → [d]
to answer [ˈɑːnsə] - answered [ˈɑːnsəd]
to open [ˈəʊpən] - opened [ˈəʊpənd]

3. after consonants t and d → [ɪd]
to land - landed [ˈlændɪd]
to want - wanted [ˈwɒntɪd]

Rules for adding the ending -ed:

1. If the verb ends in mute - e, then - e missed.
to hop e− hoped
to blam e— blamed

2. If the verb ends in -y, and before -y there is a consonant, then -y changes to -i.
to tr y— tr i ed to cr y— cr i ed

If before -y is a vowel, no change occurs.
to pla y— played

3. If a one-syllable verb ends in a consonant with a preceding short vowel, then the final consonant is doubled.
to sto p— sto pp ed

4. If a verb consisting of several syllables ends in a consonant with a preceding stressed vowel, then the final consonant is doubled.
to prefer r— prefe rr ed to permi t— permy tt ed

5. In such cases, the final consonant l doubles before both stressed and unstressed vowels.
to travel l— travel ll ed to compe l— compe ll ed

to walk

I walk ed in the forest.
you walk ed in the forest.
He/ She/ It walk ed in the forest.
We walk ed in the forest.
you walk ed in the forest.
they walk ed in the forest.

Irregular verbs form Past Simple Tense not according to the general rule, but with the help of the II main form of irregular verbs, which is also the same for all singular and plural persons. You can find a table of irregular verbs in the article Irregular verbs in English. Verb to be, in this case, is an exception, and we will return to it later. List of irregular verbs to understand in Past Simple Tense in the affirmative form:

I understood the question.
You understood the question.
He/She/It understood the question.
We understood the question.
You understood the question.
They understood the question.

Interrogative form Past Simple Tense

The interrogative form for both regular and irregular verbs in English is formed using the auxiliary verb did (Past Simple from to do) and the infinitive form of the main verb.

To form an interrogative form Past Simple auxiliary verb did is put first, followed by the subject, and the subject is followed by the infinitive of the main verb.

Regular Verb Conjugation Example to walk

Did I walk in the forest?
Did you walk in the forest?
Did he/ she/ it walk in the forest?
Did we walk in the forest?
Did you walk in the forest?
Did they walk in the forest?

Irregular verb conjugation example to understand in Past Simple Tense in interrogative form:

Did I understand the question?
Did
Did he/ she/ it understand the question?
Did do we understand the question?
Did do you understand the question?
Did do they understand the question?

Negative Past Simple Tense

Negative form in English, also formed with an auxiliary verb did, but already in combination with a negative particle not. So, the subject is put first, followed by the auxiliary verb did + negative particle not, and finally the infinitive of the main verb.

Auxiliary did usually merges into one with a particle not:
did not didn't

Regular Verb Conjugation Example to walk

I did not (didn"t) walk in the forest.
You did not (didn"t) walk in the forest.
He/She/It did not (didn"t) walk in the forest.
We did not (didn"t) walk in the forest.
You did not (didn"t) walk in the forest.
They did not (didn"t) walk in the forest.

Irregular verb conjugation example to understand in Past Simple Tense in negative form:

I did not (didn"t) understand the question.
You did not (didn"t) understand the question.
He/She/It did not (didn"t) understand the question.
We did not (didn"t) understand the question.
You did not (didn"t) understand the question.
They did not (didn"t) understand the question.

And now, in order to make it easier for you to navigate with the Past Simple Tense construction, let's summarize all these rules in tables.

Conjugation table of regular verbs

Number	Face	affirmative form	Interrogative form	negative form
Unit h.	1 2 3	I walk ed you walk ed He/ She/ It walk ed	Did I walk? Did you walk? Did he/ she/ it walk?	I did not (didn"t) walk You did not (didn"t) walk He/She/It did not (didn"t) walk
Mn. h.	1 2 3	We walk ed you walk ed they walk ed	Did we walk? Did you walk? Did they walk?	We did not (didn"t) walk You did not (didn"t) walk They did not (didn"t) walk

Irregular verb conjugation table

Number	Face	affirmative form	Interrogative form	negative form
Unit h.	1 2 3	I understood You understood He/She/It understood	Did I understand? Did do you understand? Did he/ she/ it understand?	I did not (didn"t) understand You did not (didn"t) understand He/She/It did not (didn"t) understand
Mn. h.	1 2 3	We understood You understood They understood	Did do we understand? Did do you understand? Did they understand?	We did not (didn"t) understand You did not (didn"t) understand They did not (didn"t) understand

And now, as promised, we return to the verb exception to be. This verb acts as an auxiliary and forms interrogative and negative forms without did.

Verb conjugation table to be

Number	Face	affirmative form	Interrogative form	negative form
Unit h.	1 2 3	I was You were He/She/It was	Was I? Were you? Was he/she/it?	I was not (wasn "t) You were not (weren "t) He/She/It was not (wasn "t)
Mn. h.	1 2 3	We were You were They were	Were we? Were you? Were they?	We were not (weren "t) You were not (weren "t) They were not (weren "t)

Past Simple Tense is used

1. When expressing facts that happened in the past that are not related to the present. Most often, the relation of an action or state to a certain period in the past tense becomes clear from the context (the content of the sentence or neighboring sentences).

I read this book in London - I read this book in London. (The circumstance in London indirectly indicates the time of the action.)
I called for help, but no one answered - I called for help, but no one answered (The verbs called, answered express a sequence of actions.)
I'm sorry I was out when you called - I'm sorry, I was absent when you called. (The relative clause when you called indicates the time.)

Very often in sentences in Past Simple Tense there are circumstances of time:

yesterday - yesterday
last night - last night
last week - last week
last month - last month
last year - last year
last summer - last summer
the other day - on another day
in 1945 - in 1945

As well as phrases with adverbs ago:

five minutes ago
an hour ago
two years ago

Where did you travel last year? Where did you travel last year?
I was born in 1982— I was born in 1982.
They were here ten minutes ago They were here ten minutes ago.

Interrogative adverbs when And how can also indicate the past tense.

how did it happen? - How did it happen?
When did you begin your studies? - When did you start your studies?

2. When expressing ordinary or repetitive actions in the past that are not related to the present:

Last summer I often swam in pool - Last summer I often swam in the pool.
When you were ill I went to see you every other day - When you were sick, I visited you every day.

Note that you can also use the construction to express repeated actions in the past. used + infinitive.
We used to see each other very often when I was young - We saw each other very often when I was young.

used + infinitive it is also used when expressing a habitual or long-term action in the past (usually distant).
In his childhood he used to be capricious - As a child, he was capricious.

3. When expressing a property or action that characterized the subject in the past.

She was very thin when she was a small girl - She was very thin when she was a little girl.

4. In additional subordinate clauses in indirect speech, with the condition that the verb in the main clause is in Past Simple Tense.

Not said he lived in Moscow - He said that he lives in Moscow.
I told him I wasn't there - I told him that I was not there.

The past simple tense (Past Simple Tense) is not particularly difficult. The most difficult thing is to learn the II form of all irregular verbs, which I advise you to do. You can't do without knowing these forms! Good luck in learning English!

Examples of affirmative sentences translated into Past Simple. In the article, I have prepared simple suggestions, you can practice with children, students of 3rd and senior grades. Also, here I posted interrogative and negative sentences. All examples are from native English speakers.

Simple sentences translated into Past Simple

1. I had a doll. I had a doll.
2. Yesterday was Sunday. Yesterday was Sunday.
3. We listened to fairy tales. We listened to stories.
4. Mark watched cartoons. Mark watched cartoons.
5. My mom cooked a cake. My mom made a cake.

6. My dog was black. My dog was black.
7. We played outside. We played outside.
8. He liked my toys. He liked my toys.
9. They asked a teacher. They asked the teacher.
10. She helped her mom. She helped her mother.

Past Simple sentences with irregular verbs

1. We went to the zoo. We went to the zoo.
2. A cat ate. The cat ate.
3. My mom bought a doll. My mom bought a doll.
4. I took my toy. I took my toy.
5. We drink a lemonade. We drank lemonade.

6. Kate saw a rainbow. Katya saw a rainbow.
7. You draw a nice house. You drew a beautiful house.
8. They made nice flowers. They made beautiful flowers.
9. The dog run after the cat. The dog ran after the cat.
10. He told me his secret. He told me his secret.

Past Simple - sentences for high school with translation

1. I understood what the teacher said. I understood what the teacher said.
2. We had seven lessons on Monday. On Monday we had seven lessons.
3. I was at the gym last Sunday. Last Sunday I was at the gym.
4. I downloaded mp3 files on the Internet. I downloaded mp-3 files from the internet.
5. She spoke English pretty well. She spoke good English.

6. David worked all Saturday. David worked all Saturday.
7. We watched black and white movies. We watched black and white films.
8. They came here for a week. They came here for a week.
9. He traveled around the world. He traveled the world.
10. She created her own company. She created her own company.

1. I learned English. I studied English.
2. He played football. He played football.
3. We washed our hands. We washed our hands.
4. They cleaned my room. They cleaned my room.
5. She cooked spaghetti. She cooked spaghetti.

6. We baked a cake. We baked a cake.
7. I brushed my hair. I combed my hair.
9. He fixed his bike. He fixed his bike.
10. She dried her hair. She washed her hair.

1. I read a book. I was reading a book.
2. I drew a picture. I drew a picture.
3. I wrote a message. I wrote a letter.
4. I took a nap. I dozed.
5. I rode my bike. I rode a bike.

6. I swam. I swam.
7. I ate ice-cream. I ate ice cream.
8. I drank water. I drank water.
9. I went to the movies. I went to cinema.
10. I read an article. I read the article.

Past Simple examples of interrogative sentences with translation

1. Did she eat sushi? Did she eat sushi?
2. Where were they lost? Where are they lost?
3. What did he create? What did he create?
4. Who ate candies? Who ate the candy?
5. Did you boil the water? Have you boiled the water?

6. Did they usually take the subway to school? Do they usually go to Skoda by subway?
7. Did Mary watch a movie last night? Did Mary watch a movie last night?
8. When did you go to Moscow? When did you go to Moscow?
9. Did she book our flights? She booked us a flight?
10. Did you make a dinner? Have you cooked dinner? 5. You didn't come to my birthday party. You didn't come to my birthday.

6. He didn't chop the onions. He didn't cut the onion.
5. Tom didn't know that. Tom didn't know about it.
7. My father didn't take a taxi to the airport. Father didn't take a taxi to the airport.
8. We didn't live in America. We didn't live in America.
9. Mark and David were not excellent students in high school. Mark and David weren't good students in high school.
10. He didn't eat spicy food when he lived in China. When he lived in China, he didn't eat spicy food.

affirmative form

Subject + Infinitive without to ending -ed (form past simple for irregular verbs)

1. The lesson finished 5 minutes ago - The lesson ended 5 minutes ago.

finished - infinitive finish + ending -ed
ago (ago ago) - an adverb indicating the use of Past Simple

2. I invited them to the party - I invited them to a party (before).

invited - infinitive invite + ending -ed

3. She paid for the tickets last week - She paid for the tickets last week.

paid - Past Simple form wrong pay verb
last week - indicates the use of Past Simple

negative form

Subject + did + not + Infinitive without to

1. I did not buy any milk yesterday - Yesterday I did not buy milk.

not - negative particle
buy - infinitive without to

2. My friend did not pick me up - My friend did not pick me up.

did - auxiliary verb to do in the Past Simple form
not - negative particle
pick up - infinitive without to

3. Last summer they did not go on holiday - They did not go on vacation last summer.

did - auxiliary verb to do
not - negative particle
go - infinitive without to

Interrogative form

did + Subject + Infinitive without to

1. Did they sing that funny song? Did they sing that merry song? (general question)

first
sing - infinitive without to

2. Did you teach her to read? Did you teach her to read? (general question)

did - the auxiliary verb to do in the Past Simple form is on first place to form a question
teach - infinitive without to

3. Why did she stop visiting you? Why did she stop visiting you? (special question)

did - auxiliary verb to do stands after question word why and front subject
stop - infinitive without to

#2 Cases of using Past Simple

1. To express an action that happened at a certain moment in the past. Used with the following words and expressions: yesterday - yesterday, last week (month, year, etc.) - last week (last month, year, etc.), a week ago (an hour ago, a year ago, etc.) - week (hour , a year ago, the other day– the other day, in 2014 – in 2014, and some others.

Someone knocked at the door half an hour ago - Someone knocked on the door half an hour ago.
It snowed yesterday - It snowed yesterday.

The time of the action can also be expressed subordinate clause.

I noticed him when he called my name - I noticed him when he called me by my name (when he called my name is a subordinate clause).
My brother learned to swim when he was on holiday - My brother learned to swim when he was on vacation (when he was on holiday - subordinate clause).

2. For expression row past actions in the order in which they occurred.

They opened the door and entered the house - They opened the door and entered the house.
We went to the cinema, watched a film, then popped to a cafe and grabbed a couple of drinks - We went to the cinema, watched a movie, then popped into a cafe and grabbed a couple of drinks.

3. For expression regular, repetitive actions in the past.

When my sister was little she cried every day - When my sister was little, she cried every day.
At my previous workplace we had a staff meeting every Friday - At my previous workplace, staff meetings were held every Friday.

#3 Verb TO BE in Past Simple

linking verb TO BE It has two forms in Past Simple:

was(used with nouns or pronouns in the form of the 1st or 3rd person singular);
were(used with nouns and pronouns in the form of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person plural).

I was very busy yesterday - Yesterday I was very busy.
They were in Rome in 2010 - They were in Rome in 2010.

At education negative And interrogative sentences with linking verb TO BE auxiliary verb did not used.

Was she in the office last Monday? Was she in the office last Monday?
Did she be in the office last Monday?
Were you tired? – Were you tired?
Did you be tired?
The weather was not so nice as last time - The weather was not as good as last time.
The weather did not be so nice as last time
Probably they were not at home when you came - Perhaps they were not at home when you arrived.
They probably didn't be at home when you came

#4 Regular and irregular verbs

When using Past Simple, special attention should be paid to the formation of forms of the semantic verb. In English, verbs are divided into correct And wrong.

TO correct verbs include those verbs that form the Past Simple tense by adding the ending -ed to the stem of the verb. TO wrong verbs include verbs that form the Past Simple tense in other ways.

She cut her finger when she was cooking dinner - She cut her finger when she was cooking dinner.
Everyone stood up when the teacher entered the classroom - Everyone stood up when the teacher entered the classroom.