PAST SIMPLE

Past Simple Tense

Definition, Functions, Structure, Rules, and Examples

I. Definition

• Used to describe actions/events that happened and finished in the past.
• Can refer to single events, habits, facts, or sequences.
• Action is complete with a clear start and end.

II. Structure – Positive/Affirmative

• Regular verbs: Subject + V2 → I worked yesterday.
• Irregular verbs:  Subject + V2 → She went to school.

III. Structure - Negative

Subject + did not (didn't) + base verb/V1.

Example: I didn’t work yesterday.

Note:

The main verb stays in base form because 'did' shows past.

IV. Structure - Questions

Did + subject + base verb?

Example: Did you go to the party?

V. Uses of Past Simple

1. Completed actions in the past. (Happened once or several times, and are finished.)

Example: They watched a movie last night.

2. Past habits or repeated actions. (Often used with adverbs of frequency.)

Example: I always walked to school when I was a kid.

3. Past facts or truths. (True in the past, but no longer necessarily true.)

Example: Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago.

4. Sequence of events in the past. (Describing a story or events in order.)

Example: I woke up, brushed my teeth, and went to work.

VI. IMPORTANT NOTES

1. Adverb of frequency (common in past habits)

• Always → I always walked to school when I was a kid.
• Usually → We usually went camping in the summer.
• Often → She often visited her grandparents.
• Sometimes → They sometimes stayed up late on weekends.
• Rarely → We rarely ate out when I was young.
• Never → I never watched horror movies back then.

2. Regular Verbs Rules

• Add -ed (work → worked, play → played).
• If verb ends in -e: add -d (love → loved).
• If verb ends in consonant + y: change y to i (study → studied).
• CVC pattern: double final consonant (stop → stopped)

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4. Irregular Verbs Rules

• Change form completely (go → went, eat → ate).
• Some change partially (buy → bought).
• Must be memorized.

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