Past Simple

We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long. There can also be a few actions happening one after another. Generally, there are two important facts to remember about this tense:

- Irregular verbs
- Questions and negative sentences, unlike the positive ones, preserve the base form of the verb (Did you go there?)

Copernicus was the first to be sure that the Sun, rather than the Earth, is the center of the Solar System.

* often referred to as short actions in the past
** often referred to as long action in the past

Subject	+	Verb + ed or an irregular form
I/a dog etc.		worked/went/saw

 

I saw two colorful fishes in the lake yesterday (Use 1)

He entered a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests. (Use 3)

Mary tried the soup but it was too hot to eat. (Use 1)

I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore) (Use 2)

They saw us playing football. (Use 1)

He married a woman who lived in the same village. (Use 1)

Auxiliary verb	+	Subject	+	Verb
did		I/a cat/me and my brother		go/take

How long did he work there? (Use 2 or Use 1)

Did the telephone ring? (Use 1)

Did you see that? (Use 1)

Subject	+	Auxiliary verb	+	Verb
I/a cat etc.		didn't		go/take

 

He didn't learn any Italian when he was in Italy two year ago (Use 2)

I wasn't at my grandma's when you came (Use 1)

He didn't get any good grades when he attended school (Use 3)

I met my old friend from school yesterday and she looked really weird.

Check your understanding!

Present Perfect or Past Simple

Past Simple or Past Continuous