Using Simple Past Tense
The simple past tense is used to show actions that happened in past times. It is generally used with specified past times such as yesterday/last night/a week ago/last Friday/etc. English users should be aware that the simple past tense involves past tense verbs, and must pay attention to the spelling of their past tense forms, especially when irregular verbs are used in their English sentences. Read these examples and pay attention to the words within brackets.
I went to the supermarket last evening. ("went" is the past tense of "go")
Tom broke the vase this morning. ("broke" is the past tense of "break")
"go" and "break" are known as irregular verbs. Note the change in spelling when they are in their past tense forms.
The simple past tense can also be used in past tense sentences to indicate a person's past habits/hobbies/likes/status/etc.
John was in Grade 5 last year. ("was" is the past tense of "is")
Laura liked eating biscuits when she was 3 years old. ("liked" is the past tense of "like") (Note that there is no change in spelling. Only "d" is added. Therefore, "like" is a regular verb)
The simple past tense is also used in past tense stories/compositions. The following short story shows the usage of the simple past tense. The words in bold and italics are the past tense verbs.
Henry went to the library yesterday. When he was on his way home, he saw an accident. A truck and a van collided into each other. Henry thought it was a gruesome sight. The truck driver's bloody body got jammed in the driver's seat. The van driver sustained head injuries and was still alive when the ambulance arrived at the scene. Henry shuddered at the sight of the accident victims and decided to get away from the crowd. He walked home fast, trying to get that horrible sight out of his mind.
The simple past tense may be used with the simple present tense in the same sentence. These sentences show the usage of both simple past tense and simple present tense in the same sentence. Note that the phrase "but now" can be used as the connector. Also note that the comma (,) must be included before the word "but".
Jane was in the sitting room a while ago, but now she is in the kitchen.
(was - simple past tense) (is - simple present tense)
Peter played a lot of tennis a year ago, but now he plays basketball.
(played - simple past tense) (plays - simple present tense)
The simple past tense in negative sentences involves "did not". Once "did not" or the contraction form "didn't" is used, the verb that follows after "did not"/"didn't" must be the infinitive (present tense verb).
Examples:
I went to the supermarket last evening. (positive sentence)
I did not/didn't go to the supermarket last evening. (negative sentence)
I did not/didn't went........... (X)
Henry completed all his assignments last week. (positive sentence)
Henry did not/didn't complete all his assignments last week. (negative sentence)
Henry did not/didn't completed.............. (X)
In "yes" or "no" questions Note that the questions begin with "Did"
Did you go to the supermarket last evening? Yes, I did. or No, I didn't.
Did Henry complete all his assignments last week?
Yes, he did. or No, he didn't.
Did you went........... (X) Did Henry completed............. (X)
The simple past tense is also used in sentences that involve the past perfect tense.
Click on "References" to view the past perfect tense and pay attention to the usage of the simple past tense in the example sentences.
I went to the supermarket last evening. ("went" is the past tense of "go")
Tom broke the vase this morning. ("broke" is the past tense of "break")
"go" and "break" are known as irregular verbs. Note the change in spelling when they are in their past tense forms.
The simple past tense can also be used in past tense sentences to indicate a person's past habits/hobbies/likes/status/etc.
John was in Grade 5 last year. ("was" is the past tense of "is")
Laura liked eating biscuits when she was 3 years old. ("liked" is the past tense of "like") (Note that there is no change in spelling. Only "d" is added. Therefore, "like" is a regular verb)
The simple past tense is also used in past tense stories/compositions. The following short story shows the usage of the simple past tense. The words in bold and italics are the past tense verbs.
Henry went to the library yesterday. When he was on his way home, he saw an accident. A truck and a van collided into each other. Henry thought it was a gruesome sight. The truck driver's bloody body got jammed in the driver's seat. The van driver sustained head injuries and was still alive when the ambulance arrived at the scene. Henry shuddered at the sight of the accident victims and decided to get away from the crowd. He walked home fast, trying to get that horrible sight out of his mind.
The simple past tense may be used with the simple present tense in the same sentence. These sentences show the usage of both simple past tense and simple present tense in the same sentence. Note that the phrase "but now" can be used as the connector. Also note that the comma (,) must be included before the word "but".
Jane was in the sitting room a while ago, but now she is in the kitchen.
(was - simple past tense) (is - simple present tense)
Peter played a lot of tennis a year ago, but now he plays basketball.
(played - simple past tense) (plays - simple present tense)
The simple past tense in negative sentences involves "did not". Once "did not" or the contraction form "didn't" is used, the verb that follows after "did not"/"didn't" must be the infinitive (present tense verb).
Examples:
I went to the supermarket last evening. (positive sentence)
I did not/didn't go to the supermarket last evening. (negative sentence)
I did not/didn't went........... (X)
Henry completed all his assignments last week. (positive sentence)
Henry did not/didn't complete all his assignments last week. (negative sentence)
Henry did not/didn't completed.............. (X)
In "yes" or "no" questions Note that the questions begin with "Did"
Did you go to the supermarket last evening? Yes, I did. or No, I didn't.
Did Henry complete all his assignments last week?
Yes, he did. or No, he didn't.
Did you went........... (X) Did Henry completed............. (X)
The simple past tense is also used in sentences that involve the past perfect tense.
Click on "References" to view the past perfect tense and pay attention to the usage of the simple past tense in the example sentences.
By Susan L
On 12/11/2009 09:12:00 PM
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View More Articles... On 12/11/2009 09:12:00 PM
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