In English we use the past simple tense to talk about finished actions in the past.
We use 'did' as an auxiliary verb in negatives and questions and we often use the past simple with past time phrases such as 5 minutes ago, yesterday, last week, in the 1980s, and when I was a child.
Notes for use of past simple :
In English, to change verbs to the past tense, we add '-ed' to regular verbs. For example;
work --> worked
live --> lived
walk --> walked
If the verb ends in 'e', we drop the 'e' before adding '-ed'. For example;
dance --> danced
smile --> smiled
phone --> phoned
If the verb ends in a vowel + consonant, we double the last consonant. For example;
stop --> stopped
tag --> tagged
plan --> planned
If the verb has more than one syllable, we double the consonant at the end only if the last syllable is stressed. For example;
prefer --> preferred
permit --> permitted
regret --> regretted
If the last syllable of the verb is not stressed, we do not double the last consonant. For example;
visit --> visited
happen --> happened
develop --> developed
In British English, verbs ending in 'l' double the 'l' before '-ed' whether the last syllable is stressed or not. For example;
travel --> travelled
cancel --> cancelled
If the verb ends in a 'y' or a 'w', we do not double it when we add '-ed'. For example;
stay --> stayed
play --> played
sew --> sewed
In English we do not double the consonant if the verb has two vowels before the last consonant. For example;
boil --> boiled
explain --> explained
In English we also do not double the consonant if the verb ends in two consonants. For example;
help --> helped
start --> started
However, irregular verbs change to completely different words in the past tense. For example;
go --> went
take --> took
know --> knew
The table below shows the different forms of past simple :
Example Verb : live | I / You / We / They / He / She / It |
Positive | ... lived. |
Negative | ... didn't live. |
Questions | Did ... live? |
Short answers | Yes, ... did. / No, ... didn't. |
For the verb 'to be' we use 'was' and 'were'' in the past simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.
Verb : Be | I / He / She / It | You / We / They |
Positive | ... was ... | ... were ... |
Negative | ... wasn't ... | ... weren't ... |
Questions | Was ... ... ? | Were ... ...? |
Short answers | Yes, ... was. / No, ... wasn't. | Yes, ... were. / No, ... weren't. |
Past Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Past Simple :
Negative Examples of Past Simple :
Question Examples of Past Simple :
Past simple example sentences | |
---|---|
Yes, I finally found one! | Sì, finalmente l’ho trovato! |
I knew it was too good to be true! | Sapevo che era troppo bello per essere vero! |
While I finished doing things here by myself! | Mentre io finivo di fare le cose qui da sola! |
We did it together only for one day, dear! | Lo abbiamo fatto insieme solo per quella giornata, caro! |
Because a girl had an argument with Diego? | Perché una ragazza ha litigato con Diego? |
We also tried to find a house for you a couple of weeks ago. | Abbiamo anche provato a trovare una casa per te un paio di settimane fa. |
Anyway, I called the girl again, and of course, she didn't answer. | Ad ogni modo, ho chiamato di nuovo la ragazza, e naturalmente, non rispondeva. |
Bye Toby, it was nice talking to you! | Ciao Toby, è stato bello conoscerti! |
I saw a coffee shop just outside the station. | Ho visto un caffè proprio fuori dalla stazione. |
How did you know that? | Come facevi a saperlo? |
Oh, by the way, one of my best friends from Australia called me... | Oh, a proposito, mi ha chiamato uno dei miei migliori amici dall’Australia… |
I'm still shocked... I can't believe what I just heard! | Sono ancora sotto shock… Non riesco a credere a quello che ho sentito! |
Dude, I heard you shagging till late last night. | Bello, ti ho sentito darci dentro fino a tardi ieri notte. |
I didn't have any time to eat anything. | Non ho avuto tempo per mangiare nulla. |
After hearing that, she decided to leave suddenly. | Quando ha sentito ha deciso di andarsene all’improvviso. |
We talked on the phone before. | Abbiamo parlato al telefono prima. |
Why didn't you tell me that before? | Perché non me lo hai detto prima? |
What kind of coffee did you get me? | Che tipo di caffè mi hai preso? |
Didn't they call you when you didn't show up at 11:00? | Non ti hanno chiamata quando non sei arrivata alle 11:00? |
I see... at least you weren't far from home. | Capisco… Almeno non eri distante da casa. |