Simple Past Tense

We

use

the simple

past

tense for

events

that happened or started and

completed in the past and that have no relation with the present. We use the simple past tense:

to describe an action that occurred in the past or at a specified time or the time is easily understood or already implied.

Example: We finished our final exam an hour ago. (NOT: We have/had finished our final exam an hour ago.) Example: My grandfather played for the Yellow Hornless Bull football team. Example: I ate a big spicy piece of pizza for my breakfast.

for an action that began and ended in the past.

Example: The dangerous criminal was recaptured after three months on the run.

to refer to an action completed regardless of how recent or distant in the past.

Example: Alexander Bell invented the telephone in 1876. Example: My brother joined the circus as a clown last week.

for an action done repeatedly, habitually or at regular times in the past.

Example: We saw the movie 'Titanic' several times at the cinema. Example: Brian was always a heavy drinker in the old days. Example: He phoned his mother every Sunday until her death.

for a state in the past.

Example: I felt very tired after a couple of games of tennis.

for a short event or action that comes or follows one after the other.

Example: We looked left and we looked right. Then we crossed the road.

to place emphasis on what we say, especially in response to some remark.

Example: "You didn't seem to help much." "I did help to clear the room of all the unwanted things."

to talk about someone who has died.

Example: Arthur was a highly respected science-fiction writer. Example: He left all his money to charity.

in providing details or information about events that happened subsequent to news reports which, when first reported, are usually expressed in present perfect tense.

Example: Negotiations with the insurgent forces have broken down. The leader of the insurgent forces blamed the government for the break down. A government spokesman said the insurgent forces made unreasonable demands. Regular and irregular verbs

We form the simple past tense of most verbs by adding ed to the verb.

These verbs are called regular verbs. Most verbs are regular verbs.

The simple past tense of some verbs does not end in ed. These verbs are the irregular verbs.

The simple past tense irregular verbs can only be used in the positive, not negative.

For example: He kept all his money in the bank. (NOT: He did not kept all his money in the bank.)

Examples of regular verbs: Simple Past added handed joined showed talked

add hand join show talk

There are many irregular verbs. Examples of irregular verbs are: Simple Past bit caught went saw stole taught

bite catch go see steal teach

The simple past tense of some irregular verbs does not change at all.

beat cut hurt

Past simple beat cut hurt

put shut

put shut

Regular verbs and irregular verbs as expressed in the affirmative and negative. Regular verbs: Affirmative He cycled to work. Negative He did not cycle to work. (NOT: He did not cycled to work.) Irregular verbs Affirmative He stole her purse. Negative He did not steal her purse. (NOT: He did not stole her purse.) Note that was and were are forms of the verb be. Was is the simple past tense of am and is and is used with the pronouns I, he, she and it, and with singular nouns. Were is the simple past tense of are and is used with the pronounsyou, we and they, and with plural nouns. Regular verbs in simple past tense forms: Most verbs when expressed in the simple past tense are formed by adding ed to the end of the verbs. These verbs are called regular verbs. Examples: kiss kissed; touch touched.

If a verb ends with e, only d is added to change its tense to past simple. Example: live lived

If a verb ends in ie, add d. Examples: lie lied; belie - belied If a verb ends in:

a vowel + y, just add ed. Examples: employ employed; buoy buoyed

a consonant + y, change the y to i and then add ed. Examples: cry cried; pry pried. one vowel + one consonant and is a one-syllable verb, double the consonant and add ed. Example: step - stepped; chop - chopped; can - canned one vowel + one consonant, double the consonant only if the second syllable of a two-syllable verb is stressed (e.g.,preFER - preferred) but not if the first syllable of a two-syllable verb is stressed (e.g., WONder - wondered) two consonants, just add ed. Examples: pull pulled; scold - scolded two vowels + one consonant, don't double the consonant, add ed. Examples: peep peeped; leak - leaked; raid - raided

"Used to" We use the expression used to to refer to a past habit or situation that no longer exists. We use the infinitive without to after 'used to.'
Example: I used to chase butterflies, but now I don't see any butterfly around. (NOT: I used to to chase butterflies, .....) She used to be scared of spiders, but now she keeps a pet spider. Did you used/use to live in a houseboat? Professor Crabby is never used to people arguing with him.

The passive form We use the passive form of the simple past tense when the action is done to the subject. It is formed by using was/were + past participle.

Often the doer of the action is not mentioned or known.

Example: Last night the police station was broken into.

Sometimes we use the preposition 'by' to mention the person or thing that did the action.

Example: That old mighty tree was once struck by lightning.

When the same subject is used with two passive verbs, we leave out the pronoun and the verb in the second part of the sentence.

Example: The pickpocket was beaten up and then handed over to the police. (We leave out 'he was' between 'then' and 'handed'.)

The simple past tense and the past continuous tense

We use the simple past tense to show a complete action and the past continuous tense to show an action in progress.

Example: Last night I stepped on a snake and it bit my leg. (simple past - complete actions) Example: At eleven o'clock last night, I was looking for my car key. (past continuous action in progress)

We use the simple past and past continuous tenses together to indicate an action happened while another was in progress.

Example: I was running away from a dog when I knocked an old lady to the ground. (past continuous and simple past tenses knocked an old lady in the middle of running away.)

The simple past tense and the past perfect tense

When the simple past and past perfect tenses are used together in a sentence, the past perfect tense is used for something that happened earlier.

Example: He filled the case with cartons of orange juice. (Only one action; a simple past tense is used.) After he had filled the case with cartons of orange juice, heloaded it into the van. (Both past perfect and simple past tenses are used. The action that happened earlier is expressed in the past perfect tense had filled.)

Note the usage:

a) When I arrived, the pet show started. b) When I arrived, the pet show had started. c) I arrived before he delivered the opening address. d) I arrived before he had delivered the opening address. e) Nobody asked any question until he explained the procedure. f) Nobody asked any question until he had explained the procedure. In (a), the meaning is the same as: I arrived just in time for the show. In (b), the meaning is the same as: I missed the initial part of the show. (c) and (d): there is no difference in meaning. (e) and (f): there is no difference in meaning.

When one action followed another, the past perfect tense is not used. The simple past tense is used for both events.

Example: When Jack saw Jill, he waved to her. (NOT: When Jack had seen Jill, he waved to her.)