







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 | |
|---|---|
| That was so easy, I can't believe it worked! | 완전 쉬웠어, 성공하다니 믿기질 않네! |
| You wanted to come here, I just helped you get the table! | 네가 여기 오고 싶어하길래, 테이블 구하는 방법 알려준 것 뿐이잖아! |
| I left it on this chair! | 이 의자 위에 뒀는데! |
| I wasn't complaining, I just wanted to let you know about it. | 불평을 한 게 아니라, 네가 알았으면 해서 말을 한 거잖아. |
| Why didn't you ask while you were on the phone then? | 그럼 통화 중에 질문을 하지 그랬어? |
| There was nothing wrong with you at the shop. | 상점에서는 아무 문제 없었는데. |
| The price is just about the same, but it was in much better condition. | 가격대는 거의 비슷한데, 훨씬 상태가 좋았다구요. |
| And... Your cat? I didn't know you had a cat! | 그리고... 당신 고양이인가요? 고양이가 있는 줄은 몰랐는데! |
| Didn't you forget something, dear? | 뭔가 깜빡한 건 없어, 자기? |
| Were you drunk or sober? | 너 술은 마셨어, 안 마셨어? |
| Sorry, but I have to say, we saw another house earlier today... | 미안하지만, 오늘 이전에 다른 집도 봤는데요... |
| Hmm, I guess it was about 5 or 6 months ago. | 흠, 5-6개월 정도 됐나. |
| Did you call this one near the station? | 역 근처에 여기는 전화해봤어? |
| I'm very surprised you didn't check the wine list before you ordered. | 와인 리스트 안 보고 주문하다니 놀랐는걸. |
| It was like quarter past seven or half past. | 7시 45분인가 7시 반인가 그쯤에. |
| We did it together only for one day, dear! | 같이 알아본 거라곤 딱 하루 뿐이라구, 자기! |
| We've been coming here since Pogo was a kitten. | 포고가 아기 고양이였을 적부터 데리고 왔거든. |
| I thought you turned it on when you went home. | 집에 가서 휴대폰 켠 줄 알았더니. |
| Of course, we all grew up together. | 물론이지, 다들 어릴 때 같이 자랐는걸. |
| And we just bumped into each other tonight. | 그러다 오늘밤 우연히 마주쳤어. |