In English, unlike Russian, there are 16 verb tenses. Most language learners find tenses to be the hardest topic in grammar. But if you know how and when to use them, then there will be no difficulties, and it will be easier to learn English. Consider in this article Past Simple - rules and examples that will help you better understand this time.
When is "Paste Simple" used?
Past Simple, or Past Simple Tense - simple past tense in English, denoting a repeated or single action in the past. It is formed by using the ending -ed for regular verbs and changing the root for irregular ones in affirmative sentences. But it also happens that the verb does not change and has the same form in the simple past, perfect past and participle II. Therefore, the form of irregular verbs in the past tense must be learned by heart. Distinguishing a correct verb from an incorrect one is very simple - if the verb is not on the list of irregular ones, then it is correct. There are about 200 irregular verbs in English, and each of them has 3 forms - simple past, perfect past and participle II. But there is no need to learn all 200 verbs, since only half of them are in active use.them.
Every tense in English has time markers - these are adverbs indicating when an action happened. In Past Simple it is:
- ago - ago;
- last - last;
- yesterday - yesterday;
- the day before yesterday - the day before yesterday;
- the other day - one of these days;
- in + year.
In British English, adverbs of time are used at the end of a sentence. It is allowed to use at the beginning of a sentence, which is undesirable, and it is considered a gross mistake to use it in the middle of a sentence.
Auxiliary verb in Past Simple is the past form of the verb do - did, which is used in negative and interrogative sentences.
But this rule does not apply to the verb to be - to be, in which all 3 forms - affirmation, negation and question - are formed using the verb to be.
Below, consider examples of Paste Simple with translation in the formation of affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.
Affirmative sentences
Affirmative sentences in English in Past Simple are formed in 2 ways:
regular verbs have the ending - ed;
work - worked;
call - called;
use - used.
for the wrong ones, the root itself changes
break - broke;
put - put;
get - got.
How do verbs conjugate in Past Simple? Examples will help you understand this issue.
I called - I called.
You called - You called.
He called - He called.
She called - She called.
It called - He/She/it called/la/lo.
We called - We called.
They called - They called.
How is the verb to be used in Past Simple? Examples of the following sentences will help you understand this issue.
I was a pupil (I was / was a student / student).
You were a pupil (You were / were a student / student).
He was a pupil.
She was a pupil.
We were a pupil (We were students).
They were a pupil (They were students).
The verb to be is irregular and in Past Simple has 2 forms - was for 1, 2, 3 singular and were - for 1, 2, 3 person plural.
In this example, the sentence with the pronoun it is missing, since it refers to inanimate objects, and they cannot be students. The pronoun it refers to the singular and with it the verb to be has the form was.
It was an interesting film.
Negative sentences
Negation is formed with did and particle not. Two options are possible on the letter: did not and didn’t, but the latter is more often used.
How is a question formed in Past Cipml? Examples:
I didn't work.
You didn't work (You didn't work).
He didn't work.
She didn't work.
It didn't work (He/She/It didn't work/la/lo).
We didn't work (We didn't work).
They didn't work.
For the verb to be, the form in Past Simple would be:
I wasn't here yesterday (I wasn't here yesterday).
You weren't here yesterday.
He wasn't here yesterday (He wasn't here yesterday).
She wasn't here yesterday (She wasn't here yesterday).
It wasn't here yesterday (He/she wasn't here yesterday).
We weren't here yesterday (We weren't here yesterday).
They weren't here yesterday (They weren't here yesterday).
Interrogative sentences
The question is formed using did according to the following formula:
The formula presented in the picture demonstrates how questions are posed in Past Simple. The examples below will help you better understand and reinforce it.
Did I call? - Did I call?
Did you call? - Did you call?
Did he call? -Did he call?
Did she call? - Did she call?
Did it call? - Did she/she/it call/la/lo?
Did we call? - Did we call?
Did they call? - Did they call?
If there are so-called Wh-questions in the sentence, then did will be used after them. Let us consider in more detail their use in Past Simple. Examples:
Did you go to the school yesterday? - Did you go to school yesterday?
Did Henry buy his car twoyears ago? - Henry bought the car 2 years ago?
When did they call you? - When did they call you?
A variant is possible not only with did, but also didn’t.
Didn't they help you? - They didn't help you?
Didn't Sarah and John go to the birthday party? - Sarah and John didn't go to the birthday party?
Didn’t his daughter call him? - His daughter didn't call him?
With wh-questions and other questions, the auxiliary verb is used after the question.
When did they go to the office? - When did they go (went) to the office?
Where did they live when he was a small boy? - Where did they live when he was a little boy?
How many questions did you ask? - How many questions did you ask?
In the same way, the verb to be is formed in the Past Simple form. Examples:
Was he at school yesterday? - Was he at school yesterday?
Were you in Italy 2 years ago? - You (you) were (were) in Italy two years ago?
Was Peter in the birthday? - Was Peter at the party?
Who was this man with you? - Who was this man with you?
When were you in India? - When were you (you) been (was) in India?
When learning English, there will be no problems with grammar and in particular with Past Simple. Rules and examples for understanding grammar are the best helpers.
