Past Simple Tense

1. Use of the Simple Past

1.1. actions finished in the past

I visited Berlin last week.

1.2. series of completed actions in the past

First I got up, then I had breakfast.

1.3. together with the Past Progressive/Continuous
The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in progress in the past.

They were playing cards, when the telephone rang.

1st action → Past Progressive → were playing
2nd action → Simple Past → rang

2. Signal words

• yesterday
• last week
• a month ago
• in 2010

3. Form

regular verbs → infinitive + ed
irregular verbs → 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs

4. Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Simple Past – regular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I cleaned my room.	not possible
You cleaned your room.
He cleaned his room.

4.2. Affirmative sentences in the Simple Past – irregular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I went home.	not possible
You went home.
He went home.

4.3. Negative sentences in the Simple Past

Do not negate a main verb in English. Always use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do) and the infinitive of the verb for negations.

There is no difference between regular and irregular verbs in negative sentences.

Long forms	Contracted forms
I did not clean the room.	I didn't clean the room.
You did not clean the room.	You didn't clean the room.
He did not clean the room.	He didn't clean the room.

4.4. Questions in the Simple Past

You need the auxiliary did and the infinitive of the verb.

Long forms	Contracted forms
Did I play football?	not possible
Did you play football?
Did he play football?

1. be as a main verb

Pronouns	Affirmative sentences	Negative sentences	Questions
I, he, she, it	I was in Rome.	I was not in Rome.	Was I in Rome?
we, you, they	They were in Rome.	They were not in Rome.	Were they in Rome?

2. do as a main verb

Pronouns	Affirmative sentences	Negative sentences	Questions
I, he, she, it, we, you, they	I did exercises.	I did not do exercises.	Did I do exercises?

3. have as a main verb

Pronouns	Affirmative sentences	Negative sentences	Questions
I, he, she, it, we, you, they	I had a book.	I did not have books.	Did I have books?

Complete the story. Use the verbs in the brackets:

1.

Last year I (go) on holiday. I (drive) to the sea with my friend. On the first day we (look) at the beautiful buildings and (eat) in lots of restaurants. The next day (be) very hot so we (drive) to the sea. We (leave) our clothes in the car and (sunbathe) and (swim) all day. At six o’clock we (walk) to our car, but the car (be) there. We (buy) some clothes and (go) to the Police Station. The police (be) nice and we (sleep) in the police station.

Make negative sentences (x) or questions (?) using the PAST TENSE:

EG:	he / stay in a hotel.(x) -He didn’t stay in a hotel.
EG:	you / learn speak Italian when you were in Italy.(?) -Did you learn to speak Italian when you were in Italy?
1.	she / like (x) the film
2.	I / use / the school computer yesterday (x)
3.	they / arrive home late yesterday (?)
4.	you / ask her for Caroline’s address (?)
5.	he / enjoy the concert in the park (x)
6.	we / talk about school at all (x)

Read the text. Write the questions below about Sara’s holiday:

	Last September Sara went to Bali. She went by plane and stayed in a big hotel. It was very hot, so she swam every day. In the evenings she went to different restaurants, the food was very good. She met some nice people and every night she danced with them at the disco. She was happy because she wasn’t alone.
EG:	Where did she go? ………………………………………………. Bali.
1.	- Last September.
2.	- By plane.
3.	- In a big hotel.
4.	- It was very hot.
5.	- She swam.
6.	- It was very good.
7.	- Some nice people.

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