About Simple Past

 

SIMPLE PAST

ABOUT....

We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long. There can be a few actions happening one ofter another.

QUICK EXAMPLES:

I was sleepy.

He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago.

I went to the cinema, bought popcorn and watched a movie.

 USE....

1. Events in the past that are now finished
2. Situation in the past
3. A series of actions in the past

Use 1: Past actions that are now finished

The first use of the Past Simple to express actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long.

• John cut his finger last week. 
• I went to college 3 years ago.
• He ate the dinner 1 hour ago.
• I slept well last night

Use 2: Situation in the past

Another use of this tense is talk about situations in the past.

• I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore).

Use 3: A series of actions in the past

The Past Simple can also be used with a few actions in the past happening one after another.

• He entered a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests.

Form.....

Forming a sentence in the Past Simple is easy. To form a declarative sentence, all you need is the subject of the sentence (e.g. I, you, he, a dog) and the past form of your verb (e.g. was, talked, swam). Questions and negative sentences are only a little more difficult, because they require an auxiliary verb.

Declarative Sentences

Subject	+	Verb (past form)
e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.		e.g. walked, went, took, etc.

	Examples:
	I lived in New York for 10 years.
	Mike walked in, looked around and smiled to us.
	He married a woman who lived in the same village.
	I ate the cake yesterday.

Questions

DID	+	Subject	+	Verb (present form)
		e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.		e.g. go, make, have, etc.

	Examples:
	How long did he work there?
	Didthe telephone ring?
	Did you see that?

Negative Sentences

Subject	+	Didn't	+	Verb (present form)
e.g. he, she, a dog, etc.				e.g. go, make, have, etc.

	Examples:
	He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago.
	I wasn't at my grandma's when you came.
	He didn't get any good grades when he attended school.