







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 | |
|---|---|
| No, I couldn't, I went to Sainsbury's, they didn't have it. | 못 찾았어, 세인즈버리에도 갔는데, 없더라고. |
| Then the wine bottle broke, etcetera... | 근데 와인병이 깨지고, 기타 등등... |
| Did you get yourself a cappuccino, too? | 네 것도 카푸치노 사왔어? |
| Welcome, tonight we reserved one of our best tables for you! | 어서오세요, 두분을 위해서 가장 좋은 테이블 중 하나를 맡아드렸어요! |
| Did you see any fire or smoke around? | 주변에 불이나 연기 난 건 봤어? |
| But I really wanted to go there tonight. | 그치만 오늘 밤 꼭 거길 가고 싶었는데. |
| I know, I also didn't expect it to be your favourite movie. | 알아, 네가 제일 좋아하는 영화일 줄은 몰랐는데. |
| Yes sure, you promised to take me to Brighton Pier. | 물론이지, 네가 브라이튼 부두 보여주기로 약속했잖아. |
| Really, when did you wake up? | 어라, 언제 일어났는데? |
| Nope, those are the days when I slept alone... | 그게 아니고, 그 날들은 내가 혼자 잤으니까... |
| Didn't they call you when you didn't show up at 11:00? | 11시에 안 가니까 전화 안 왔어? |
| Today Rebecca called me about... | 오늘 레베카가 나한테 전화를 해서는... |
| Yeah, everything is fine, I just came here to... | 아뇨, 문제는 없고요, 무슨 일인가 하면... |
| I'm his friend from London, as he mentioned! | 얘기한 것처럼, 런던에서 온 "친구"니까요! |
| It seems you checked the production date. | 제조일자를 확인하신 것 같아요. |
| Hey, I just got an idea where to put the bed! | 나 침대 어디로 둘지 생각 났어! |
| Of course, we all grew up together. | 물론이지, 다들 어릴 때 같이 자랐는걸. |
| It's good you called me before you came today. | 오시기 전에 전화하셔서 정말 다행이네요. |
| I can't believe that, you were a very nice couple! | 믿을 수 없어. 정말 잘 어울리는 한 쌍이었는데! |
| Anyway, what did you say to the old lady? | 아무튼, 그럼 그 할머니한테는 뭐라고 했어? |