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 | |
---|---|
I hope I didn't make you wait long. | 너무 오래 기다리게 만든 게 아니면 좋겠는데. |
Then when I got there, I called her again, but she didn't answer! | 도착한 다음에 다시 전화를 했는데, 또 안 받았어! |
The first appointment was at 07:30 in the morning! | 첫 약속이 아침 7시 반에 잡혔다고! |
You, too, I hope you found the house easily. | 저도요. 집은 찾아오기 어렵지 않으셨길 바라요. |
But unfortunately, they didn't! | 안타깝게도, 안 그런 거지! |
But I lost all of my pictures and contacts on my phone. | 휴대폰에 사진첩이랑 연락처가 날라갔잖아요. |
Today Rebecca called me about... | 오늘 레베카가 나한테 전화를 해서는... |
Bye Toby, it was nice talking to you! | 잘 있어요 토비, 만나서 반가웠어요! |
Oh sorry, I didn't ask you what you wanted. | 아 미안, 뭘 마시고 싶은지 안 물어봤다. |
You nearly gave me a heart attack! | 심장 떨어지는 줄 알았다! |
I can't believe you, where did you get it from? | 말도 안돼, 어디서 난 거야? |
Hm, you didn't tell me that before! | 엥, 미리 안 말해 줬잖아! |
I just got here mate, about 5 minutes ago. | 방금 왔다구 친구, 한 5분 전에. |
Very funny, I think you just killed some time there. | 대단히 재밌으시네요. 너 그냥 시간 죽이다 온 거지. |
I found out we didn't have many things in the fridge. | 냉장고에 든 게 별로 없더라고. |
It was nice meeting you. | 만나서 반가웠어요. |
Hey, I just got an idea where to put the bed! | 나 침대 어디로 둘지 생각 났어! |
We've been coming here since Pogo was a kitten. | 포고가 아기 고양이였을 적부터 데리고 왔거든. |
We also tried to find a house for you a couple of weeks ago. | 그리고 몇 주 전에 너희 집을 구하려고 같이 알아보기도 했고. |
I left it on this chair! | 이 의자 위에 뒀는데! |