Simple Past Tense

English Grammar
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Simple Past Tense
English Grammar
The Simple Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to use in
English.
If you already know how to use the Present Tense, then the Past Tense will
be easy.
In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started and
finished at a definite time in the past.
How to form the Past Tense in English
The main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in
the past tense.
(The exception is the ast tense of To !e, which has two
forms" was and were#
This is totally different from other languages such as $panish, %rench,
Italian etc. where you change the verb ending for every subject.
%or example" The past tense of the verb want is wanted.
Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects&pronouns.
I wanted
'ou wanted
(e wanted
$he wanted
It wanted
)e wanted
They wanted
$o you just have to learn one word to be able to use it in the past tense. In
this case we just needed to learn the one word wanted which can be used
for all subjects (or people#.
Past Tense Regular Verbs
To change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add *E+ to
the end of the verb.
play * played
cook * cooked
rain * rained
wait * waited
There are some exceptions with a slight change in spelling which you can
see here"
$pelling of words ending in E+.
Examples of sentences using regular verbs in the past
tense
,ast night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors complained.
$he issed me on the cheek.
It rained yesterday.
-ngela watched T. all night.
/ohn wanted to go to the museum.
0ote" There are three different ways of pronouncing the *ed at the end of a
verb in the past tense.
)e recommend reading our guide about the pronunciation of *E+ at the
end of words.
!egative sentences in the Past Tense
)e use didn"t #did not$ to make a negative sentence in the past tense.
This is for regular -0+ irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and 1odal .erbs such as Can#
2ompare the following"
resent" They don"t live in 2anada.
ast" They didn"t live in 2anada.
The main verb (live in the example above# is in its base form (of the
infinitive#. The auxiliary DIDNT shows that the sentence is negative -0+ in
the past tense.
03TI2E" The only difference between a negative sentence in the present
tense and a negative sentence in the past tense is the change in the
auxiliary verb.
!oth don"t and doesn"t in the present tense become didn"t in the past
tense.
2ompare the negative sentences in the examples below"
resent" 'ou don"t need a mechanic.
ast" 'ou didn"t need a mechanic.
resent" 'ou don"t walk to work.
ast" 'ou didn"t walk to work.
resent" (e doesn"t speak /apanese.
ast" (e didn"t speak /apanese.
Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense
I didn"t want to go to the dentist.
$he didn"t have time.
'ou didn"t close the door.
(e didn"t come to my party.
They didn"t study so they didn"t pass the test.
)e didn"t sleep well last night.
%uestions in the Past Tense
)e use did to make a 4uestion in the past tense.
This is for regular -0+ irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and 1odal .erbs such as Can#
2ompare the following"
resent" &o they live in %rance5
ast" &id they live in %rance5
The main verb (live in the example above# is in its base form (of the
infinitive#. The auxiliary DID shows that the 4uestion is in the past tense.
03TI2E" The only difference between a 4uestion in the present tense and
a 4uestion in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
!oth &o and &oes in present tense 4uestions become &idn"t in past tense
4uestions.
2ompare the 4uestions in the examples below"
resent" &o you need a doctor5
ast" &id you need a doctor5
resent" &o you ride your bike to work5
ast" &id you ride your bike to work5
resent" &oes he live in Italy5
ast" &id he live in Italy5
)e can also use a 4uestion word ()ho, )hat, )hy etc.# before +I+ to ask
for more information.
+id you study5 * 'es, I did.
'hen did you study5 * I studied last night.
'here did you study5 * I studied at the library.
6ead more about short answers in the past tense.
Examples of %uestions in the Past Tense
&id you go to work yesterday5
&id they arrive on time5
&id she like the surprise5
)here did she go5
)hat did you do yesterday5
)hat did you say5 7 I didn8t say anything.
)hy did we have to come5
(rregular Verbs in the Past Tense
Irregular verbs are 30,' irregular in affirmative&positive sentences.
(-n exception to this is with the verb T3 !E in the ast Tense#.
%or example" The past tense of 93 is )E0T.
It does not end in *E+ so it is considered irregular.
The word went is used for all subjects * I, you, we, they, he, she, it.
I went to the beach
(e went to the park.
$he went to the :oo.
They went to the library.
!;T, as we mentioned before, it is only in its irregular form (went# in
sentences that are affirmative&positive.
2ompare the following using 93 in the past tense.
They went to the beach
They didn8t go to the beach 777 Didnt shows that we are talking in
the past tense.
+id they go to the beach5 777 Did shows that we are talking in the
past tense.
-nother example with an irregular verb.
The past of E-T is -TE.
'ou ate my cake.
'ou didn8t eat my cake.
+id you eat my cake5
Present vs Past Tense Summary )hart