What is Past Simple? Time Past Simple (paste simple) in English. Past Simple vs Present Simple

According to the method of formation of Simple Past/Past Indefinite, all verbs are divided into regular and irregular.

Affirmative form for regular verbs in the Simple Past Tense is formed by adding the ending to the base of the verb (to the infinitive without the particle to) -ed:

to work (to work)
Not worked. (He worked)

I cooked	We cooked
You cooked	You cooked
He / she / it cooked	They cooked

If the verb ends in -e, then it is only added -d.

to live (live)
He lived in Moscow. (He lived in Moscow.)

If the verb ends in -y, then the letter -y changes to -i and is added -ed.

to carry (carry) - Not carried. (He wore.)
to cry (cry) - Didn't cry. (He cried.)

If before -y there is a vowel, then no changes occur (to -y the ending is added -ed).

to play (play) - He played. (He played.)
to obey (obey) - He obeyed. (He complied.)

If there is a short vowel before the final consonant, then before the ending -ed the final vowel is doubled.

to stop - Not stopped. (He stopped.)
to travel (to travel) - Not travelled. (He traveled.)

Interrogative form formed using an auxiliary verb did for all persons, both singular and plural and infinitive without a particle to. The verb did comes before the subject.

Did are you going to the theater yesterday?
Did you go to the theater yesterday?

Using the Past Simple

Simple Past/Past Indefinite is used:

1. To express an action that was performed or occurred in the past at a certain time, to state the fact of an action in the past. The time of the action may or may not be specified. To indicate time with a verb in the Simple Past, the following time adverbials are very often used: yesterday - yesterday, the day before yesterday - day before yesterday, last week (month, year) - last week(last month, year), last time - last time, last time, two days (years) ago - two days (years) ago, in 1993 - in 1993 and so on.

I saw him yesterday. I saw him yesterday.
We met her two years ago. We met her two years ago.
The train was ten minutes late. The train was 10 minutes late.

2. To express a series of sequential actions in the past.

Didn't have his breakfast, took his bag, put on his hat and went out.
He had breakfast, took his briefcase, put on his hat and went out.

3. To express an action characteristic of a person or thing designated by the subject in the past. In such cases, adverbs of indefinite time are often used: usually - usually and etc.

Didn't usually take an umbrella. He usually took an umbrella.
They never smoked. They never smoked.

4. When asked about the duration of action.

When did you see her?
When did you see her?

5. To express an action whose time is not specified, but which occurred at a certain period of time in the past.

Not worked at a plant for 5 years.
He worked at the factory for 5 years. (And now it doesn't work.)

English uses tense to talk about events in the past Past Simple. The Past Simple is used when it is known when an action or sequence of actions occurred in the past.

Statement

Past Simple with the verb to be is formed as follows: to be is put in the past tense form: was in the singular and were in plural.

I was at home yesterday.

They were at home yesterday.

Negation

The negative form of the Past Simple tense is formed by adding the particle not: was not, were not. You can also use shortened forms: wasn't, weren't:

I was not at home yesterday. or I wasn't at home yesterday.

I wasn't at home yesterday.

They were not at home yesterday or They weren't at home yesterday

They weren't at home yesterday.

Questions

The interrogative form is formed according to the general rules: was or were is placed at the beginning of a sentence.

Was I at home yesterday?

Were are they at home yesterday?

Were they at home yesterday?

Time markers

When using the Past Simple, the following words are often used:

Time table Past Simple (Summary)

Look again at the Past Simple tense table and pay attention to the use was And were, as well as the construction of negative and interrogative sentences:

Statement			Negation		Question
	was	at home.		at home.	Was	at home?
	were	at home.		at home.	Were	at home?

In order to talk about events in the past, the Past Simple tense is used in English. The Past Simple is used when it is known when an action or sequence of actions occurred in the past.

The Past Simple with the verb to be is formed as follows: to be is put in the past tense form: was in the singular and were in the plural.

For example: I was at home yesterday. - I was at home yesterday. They were at home yesterday - They were at home yesterday.

This is one of the most commonly used tenses in the English language. Its second name is Indefinite. Past Simple describes events, facts and incidents that happened in the past.

The simple past belongs to a group of tenses that express temporal uncertainty.

What is Past Simple used for?

before (before);
as soon as (as soon as);
untill (not yet);
after (after);
when (when).

Examples:

As soon as John graduated from the college, he found an appropriate work - As soon as John graduated from college, he found an appropriate job.
She was surprised when I saw her - She was surprised when I saw her.

As can be seen from the examples, the Past Simple is used in both parts.

Past Simple Rules

In most cases, to form the simple past you need to add a particle "ed" to the initial form of the verb. Irregular verbs have their own forms. There are spelling peculiarities of writing verbs with endings "ed".

Let's look at the basic writing rules:

If the verb ends in -y, and before -y, there is a consonant letter, then when writing -y is replaced by -i-.Example: try-tr ied ( try - tried).
If before -y there is a vowel letter, then no changes occur (stay – stay ed stay-stayed).
If the verb has one closed syllable (slap clap - slapped slapped).
Verbs consisting of several syllables (two or more) have a consonant at the end and a short vowel in front of it, then the last consonant should be doubled (with the stress falling on the last syllable). Example: (submit-submitted- give up - gave up).
If the verb ends with a consonant letter L (trave l travel - traveled traveled).

Education Past Simple

When forming this tense, you should start from whether the verb is regular or belongs to the category of irregular verbs.

First, let's look at the rules for forming the simple past tense of regular verbs.

It is necessary to form the second form of the verb. It is formed by adding the ending – ed to the verb (irregular ones have their own form). There are no changes in faces.

Affirmative sentences

Let's look at examples of the formation of the affirmative form:

I played - I played.
You played
He (she, it) played - He (she) played.
We played - We played.
They played - They played.

Interrogative sentences

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Past Simple with irregular verbs

I was not a student.
You were not a doctor.
He was not a boy.
It was not a hen.
We were not happy.
They were not upset.

Interrogative form:

Was I a student?
Were you a doctor?
Was he an engineer?
Are you happy?
Were they upset?

There are shortcuts for negative formsto be:

Wasn't
Weren't

Past simple exercises with answers

Exercise 1

Open the brackets in the sentence in the correct form:

John (to visit) his grandparents last Saturday.
She (to cook) a tasty breakfast yesterday.
Beth (to go) to sleep at 11 p.m.
What (he\to do) last Monday?
Alice (to stay) in her mothers’ flat the day before yesterday?
The performance of the song (to be) very good, we really (to enjoy) it.
My father usually (to take) a bus to the job.
I (not/to/speak) Italian five years ago.

Exercise 2

Choose the correct form of the verb to be:

Chef (to be) angry becauseshe (to be) late.
Their family (to live) on the fifth floor and they (to be) very friendly.
(To be) Alexander a clerk?
It (to be) cold enough to sit on the bench outside.
(To be) the supper tasty?
Tom (to be) at the bathroom when I (to call) him.
We (to be) so busy at work.
My parents (to be) upset because I (to fail) my exams last week/

Exercise 3

Expand the brackets into the correct form:

We (to see) how she (to go out) of the supermarket.
My grandfather (to work) in this corporation when he (to be) 25.
He (to become) King of England in 1899.
The prank was funny but no one (to laugh).
What exactly (they/ to watch)?
She (to take) children home yesterday at six o’clock.
He (not/to/add) salt in the soup. It (to be) insipid.

Exercise 4

Put the verbs in the past tense, not forgetting about the presence of regular and irregular verbs:

1 begin __________
change__________
cycle __________
hear __________
practice __________
awake __________
like __________
broadcast __________
shout __________
seek __________

Exercise 5

Today we will look at the last tense belonging to the Simple group in English grammar - Past Simple Tense. In English courses for adults from Easy Speak, our students begin to use this time already at the first level. It is translated into Russian as “simple past tense.” From the article you will learn when it is used, how it is formed, and how to construct negative and interrogative sentences in this tense.

When we use Past Simple

We use the simple past tense when we say:

1. About events or actions that occurred in the past and the time for which has expired. That is, the action or event is complete.
(he bought a car last year, they went on vacation last month, the meeting was last week)

2. About events or actions in the past that were repeated regularly, but are not happening now.
(she danced at school, we went to the gym last year)

3. About events in the past that happened one after another.
(they met, walked in the park, went to the cinema)

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How is the affirmative form of the Past Simple formed?

When forming the Past Simple, we always look at the verb, as it will change. There are two types of verbs in English: right and wrong.

Depending on the verb, the past tense is formed as follows:

if the verb is correct, we add ending -ed(cook - cooked);
if the verb is irregular, we put it in second form (see - saw).

There is no rule by which we can determine the correct or irregular verb in front of us. You can only find out by looking it up in a dictionary or remembering it.

The same goes for forms of irregular verbs. You need to memorize them or look them up in the dictionary. The Past Simple formation scheme is as follows:

The one we are talking about + a regular verb ending in ed or the 2nd form of an irregular verb.

I
You
We	worked
They	slept
She	went
He
It

For example

I went to the cinema yesterday.
I went to the cinema yesterday.

She moved last year
She moved last year.

They married three years ago.
They got married three years ago.

Verb endings -ed in the Past Simple

There are a few caveats when adding the -ed ending to regular verbs.

If the verb ends in -e, then it is added to the verb -d only:

chang e- chang ed- change;
clos e- clos ed— close.

If the verb ends to a consonant, in front of which stands stressed vowel, then the consonant is doubled:

sto p-sto pped- stop;
ba n-ba nned- forbid.

Exceptions: verbs ending in -x and -w:

fi x-fi xed- fix;
flo w-flo wed- leak.

Note: V British English, when a verb ends in -l, it is doubled regardless of where the stress falls:

travel l- travel lled- travel.

American version:

travel l- travel led- travel.

If the verb ends in -y and there is a consonant before it, then y changes to i+ed:

cr y-cr ied- cry;
tr y- tr ied- sample.

Important: If there is a vowel before -u, then the ending -ed is added without change letters:

sta y-sta yed- stay;
pla y- pla yed- play.

Companion words Past Simple

These are clue words that help determine that this is the simple past tense:

yesterday,
last week / month / year,
in 1989 (2000, 2012, etc.) year,
two (three, four, etc.) days/month/years ago.

Examples

I saw him five days ago.
I saw him five days ago.

She watched this film yesterday.
She watched this film yesterday.

They lived in England in 1999 year.
They lived in England in 1999.

Negative sentences in Past Simple

Negation is formed using auxiliary verb did(this is the auxiliary verb do, but in the past form) and particles not. In this case, the semantic verb is used in the initial form.

The combination did + not will be our particle “ Not". For example, he did not participate in the exhibition, they did not go to the club yesterday.

The scheme for constructing a negative sentence in the Past Simple is as follows:

The one we are talking about + did + not + verb in the initial form.

I
You
We			work
They	did	not	sleep
She			go
He
It

Important point: The auxiliary verb did already shows that the sentence is in the past tense, so it itself verb in a sentence(run/jump/work) we do not put in the past tense, but use the initial form. That is, we do not put it in the 2nd form and do not add the ending ed.

Why do you need to show twice that this is the past tense?

Didn't swim yesterday.
He didn't swim yesterday.

NOT: He didn't swam yesterday.

For example

They did not work last summer.
They didn't work last summer.

She did not run yesterday.
She didn't run yesterday.

What abbreviation can you use?

We can shorten the negative particle not as follows.

Did + not = didn’t

We didn't win this battle.
We didn't win this battle.

Interrogative sentences in Past Simple

The construction of questions in the Past Simple is the same as in other tenses of this group (Simple). To ask a question, you need to put the auxiliary verb did first in the sentence. The semantic verb, as in negation, is not put in the past tense, but its initial form is used. There is no need to add the ending -ed.

Did + the person in question + the initial form of the verb.

	I
	you
	they	work?
Did	we	sleep?
	he	go?
	she
	it

Statement

He called me last week.
He called me last week.

They bought a new car.
They bought a new car.

Question

Did he called you last week?
Did he call you last week?

Did they buy a new car?
Did they buy a new car?

Short positive answer contains the auxiliary verb did, which replaces the action itself.

Yes, he did.
Yes, he called.

Yes, they did.
Yes, they bought it.

Complete positive answer is constructed as an affirmative sentence.

Yes, he called me last week.
Yes, he called me last week.

Yes, they bought a new car.
Yes, they bought a new car.

Short negative answer contains the auxiliary verb did and the negative particle not.

No, he did not.
No, he didn't call.

No, they did not.
No, they didn't buy it.

Complete negative answer is constructed as a negative sentence.

No, he did not call me last week.
No, he didn't call me last week.

No, they did not buy a new car.
No, they didn't buy a new car.

Special questions in the Past Simple

When we ask a question with the following question words:

what,
when,
where,
which,

Question word + did + the person in question + verb in the initial form?

		I
When		you
Where		they	work?
What	did	we	meet?
Why		she	buy?
		he
		it

Let's look at examples.

Why did did you steal this thing?
Why did you steal this thing?

When did she sell her phone?
When did she sell her phone?

What did do they buy?
What did they buy?

So, we've looked at the simple past tense, which is actually not that simple. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments below the article.

Also, if you haven't done this yet, I advise you to read about other times of the Simple group:

Now let's move on to practice.

Exercise to consolidate Past Simple

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. He built his house in 1997.
2. They went to a concert last month.
3. Did you give her a gift yesterday? Yes, I gave her a gift yesterday.
4. We didn't see each other last week.
5. My friend broke her phone last year.
6. The children didn’t go to camp last summer.
7. Why did he move?
8. Did you go hiking last weekend? No, we didn't go.

Write your answers in the comments, and I will definitely check them.

Past Simple(simple past) is one of the most common tenses in the English language. By using Past Simple we can convey events that happened in the past, and in some cases, events in the present. Therefore, at any level of English proficiency, you will learn something new about Past Simple.

How is the past simple formed?

Statement

In order to form Past Simple, we add an ending to the verb -ed, if the verb is correct ( work – worked, learn – learned, ask – asked). If the verb is irregular, then we look for the form for Past Simple in the second column. Most likely, at first it will be difficult for you to immediately determine which verb is in front of you. You will find the irregular verb in the table. If it's not there, it's correct.

In the article “” you will learn about a method that will help you memorize irregular verbs easily and quickly.

Negation

In a negative sentence in Past Simple auxiliary verb appears did(second form of irregular verb do) and particle not. In an English sentence, only one verb can be in the past tense, so as soon as did, the main verb takes the form of the infinitive without a particle to (go, look, feel).

In colloquial speech did And not combine to form a shortened form didn't:

He didn't tell.
We didn't discuss.

Question

To ask a question in Past Simple, we put it first did, followed by the subject, then the main verb.

The verb to be in the Past Simple

As you already know from the article “”, to be is an irregular verb, so you need to remember the past tense form. But in the past tense it does not have one form, like all other verbs, but two: was(for singular nouns and pronouns) and were(for plural nouns and pronouns).

In denial was (were) combines with not and forms the shortened form:

I wasn't at work.
They weren't happy.

For your convenience, we have divided all functions Past Simple into three groups according to the level of English language proficiency: elementary (green frame), intermediate (yellow frame), advanced (red frame). This way you can learn exactly those functions that correspond to your level.

Using the Past Simple

First level

Let us immediately note that the main functions Past Simple And Present Simple match up. We only need to transfer the action from the present to the past.

Past Simple shows a fact in the past or a single action that ended in the past.
Words that indicate the duration of the action are often used here: yesterday(yesterday), two weeks ago(two weeks ago), the other day(the other day), a long time ago(for a long time), last month(last month), in 2010 (in 2010), on Monday(on Monday), during my holidays(during the holidays), etc. These words must necessarily denote a completed period of time.

I saw him yesterday. - I saw his yesterday. (single action in the past, yesterday already ended)

The Titanic sank in 1912. - Titanic sank 1912. (fact)

He went to Italy last month. - He traveled to Italy last month.

Words indicating the duration of the action may not be used in this feature.

She spoke to him in a low voice. - She is quiet spoke with him. (single action in the past)

Aivazovsky painted"The Ninth Wave". – Aivazovsky wrote painting "The Ninth Wave". (fact)

Also Past Simple used to describe a condition in the past.

They were friends many years ago. - They were friends many years ago. (they are not friends now)

That museum had a great collection of paintings. - In that museum was huge collection of paintings. (currently the museum does not have a huge collection)
We use Past Simple to talk about old habits and repetitive actions. These actions have occurred many times in the past, but are no longer being done. Such sentences may contain adverbs often(often), sometimes(Sometimes), always(always) etc.
We took evening courses two years ago. - We went for evening courses 2 years ago. (currently we do not take evening courses)

He always bought newspapers on Sunday. - He always bought newspapers on Sundays. (he doesn't do that now)
- We can also use the construction if we are talking about old habits.
We use Past Simple when we tell a story or list several events that happened one after another in the past.
She came in, sat at the table, and started writing. - She came in, villages at the table and started write.

He entered the cafe, he ordered a cup of tea and a piece of cake. - He has entered in the cafe, ordered a cup of tea and a piece of pie.

Where else is the Past Simple found?

Average level

We use Past Simple to tell the details of some news or some event that happened in our lives. We report the news itself in time Present Perfect. We can use other past tenses to give details, but Past Simple is used in these cases more often than others.
I"ve hurt my leg. I fell off a ladder when I was repairing the roof. My telephone rank unexpectedly. - I hurt my leg. I fell from the stairs when I was fixing the roof, because suddenly rang telephone.

I've got this job. It was a hard and exhausting interview, but it turned out that I was a perfect applicant. – I got this job. This was difficult, exhausting interview, but it turned out that I am the ideal candidate.
Past Simple used in subordinate tenses after conjunctions after(after), before(before), when(When), until(not yet) as soon as(as soon as). In such a sentence Past Simple shows a completed action in the past.
As soon as she graduated from the university, she found a suitable job. – As soon as she graduated university, she found a suitable job.

He was astonished when I told him the news. - He was amazed When I reported him this news.

Complex cases of using Past Simple

High level

Past Simple, as well as Present Simple, used in conditional sentences after the conjunction if(If). Past Simple we need to form conditional sentences of the second type ( Second Conditional). The situation in this type of conditional refers to the present or future tense. Such a sentence implies an unrealistic condition: that is, the probability that the condition will be satisfied is extremely small. Second Conditional is constructed as follows:
If he had enough money, he would buy that car. – If him was enough money he I would buy this car. (now he has no money, if he had, he would buy a car)

If I wanted to lose weight, I would eat less bread. – If I wanted lose weight, I I would eat less bread. (but I don't want to lose weight)

If in the condition we encounter a verb to be, then we will use the form were for all persons and numbers.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't rush into a decision. – If I were if I were you, I I wouldn't rush with a solution. (but I'm not in your shoes)

If she were on her vacation, she would spend it in Australia. – If she was she's on vacation would spend him in Australia. (but she's not on vacation right now)
- You can refresh your knowledge about conditional sentences in the article “”.
We use Past Simple after I wish(literally – I want, I wish). Offers with I wish express regret: we want to show that something we want does not happen the way we want, or does not happen at all.
I wish- this is the main clause, it remains unchanged, followed by a subordinate clause. We use it in a subordinate clause Past Simple, if action is implied in the present or future. We connect I wish and subordinate clause that(what, to), but in conversation this conjunction is most often omitted.

I wish translated in two ways: “sorry” and “how I wish.” If we start with “sorry,” then we translate the sentence the other way around: a statement in English becomes a negation in Russian, a negation in English becomes a statement in Russian.

I wish that I lived near the sea. – It's a pity, what am I I don't live near the sea. / How I wish I could live near the sea.

I wish that I knew what to do about the problem. – It's a pity, what am I Don't know, How to solve this problem. / How I wish I knew, How to solve this problem.

With verb to be we use form were for all persons and numbers. But in colloquial speech you can hear was, and this will not be considered an error.

I wish you were here. – It's a pity, What you Here No. / I wish I could, to You Here was.

I wish he were a friend of mine. – It's a pity, What he is not My friend. / I wish I could, to he was my friend.
We use Past Simple after construction It is time(it's time), it tells us that the action should have been performed, but it has not yet been done. Past Simple in this case denotes a situation occurring in the present or future. If we want to put more emotion into a statement, we can say: It is high time / It is about time(it’s high time, it’s about time).
It is time we left for the station. The train leaves in two hours. – It's time us drive the station. The train leaves in two hours.

It is high time you settled down and found a job! – It's time you already undertake for intelligence and find work!

Past Simple is one of the most common and easiest to understand tenses in the English language. It occurs in speech even more often than the present tense, and the range of its functions is very wide.

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