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 | |
---|---|
Nope, my shoes and trousers just got a little bit wet. | 응, 그냥 신발하고 바지가 좀 젖었어. |
What kind of coffee did you get me? | 커피는 뭘로 사왔어? |
Then my phone rang and I went to the garden to talk. | 그때 전화가 와서 통화하러 안뜰로 갔어요. |
What the f*ck! I didn't know that! | 뭐야 미친! 몰랐잖아! |
I just got here mate, about 5 minutes ago. | 방금 왔다구 친구, 한 5분 전에. |
I didn't know what to say, I didn't want to be rude, actually. | 뭐라고 말해야 할지 몰랐어, 사실 무례하게 굴고 싶진 않았어. |
Then we found the wallet with nothing left in it. | 그리고 다시 찾았더니 돈이 탈탈 털린 상태였죠. |
Anyway, did you have any problems with that girl before? | 아무튼, 전에는 저 여자랑 문제 있었던 거 없었어? |
I just wanted to talk to you alone. | 그냥 둘이 얘기하려던 거였지. |
I sent you the link... | 링크 보냈어... |
You didn't tell me what? | 뭘 말 안해줬어? |
Oh god... It was a nightmare for me today! | 으 세상에... 오늘 정말 끔찍했어! |
My housemates once had a dog, too. | 우리 하우스메이트들도 예전에 개를 길렀거든. |
Yes sure, you promised to take me to Brighton Pier. | 물론이지, 네가 브라이튼 부두 보여주기로 약속했잖아. |
An old lady came out and shouted at me very angrily! | 웬 할머니가 나와서 나한테 호통을 치셨다고! |
It was a total disaster! | 완전 대재앙이었어요! |
What brought you to London? | 너는 왜 런던에 있어? |
No, I couldn't, I went to Sainsbury's, they didn't have it. | 못 찾았어, 세인즈버리에도 갔는데, 없더라고. |
So I snore everyday... Why didn't you tell me that before? | 그럼 매일 곤다는 소리구나... 왜 진작에 말을 안해줬어? |
I didn't say monthly! I meant paying 100 more each daily... | 월 단위라고 안 그랬지! 매일 100파운드씩 더 내면 된다는 거였지... |