Simple Past
Finished actions in the past: “She worked.”
Practice Simple Past freeThe lesson
An action that started and finished in the past
Ask yourself:
Did this happen yesterday, last week, last year, or at a specific time in the past?
Structure:
Subject + Verb (V2) + Object
When do we use it?
- Finished actions in the past: I visited my aunt last week.
- A series of past actions: He opened the door, walked in and sat down.
- Past habits: We played cricket every evening as kids.
- Past states: She was happy in that school.
How do we form it?
Regular verbs: add -ed → worked, played
Irregular verbs: learn the special forms → go → went, see → saw, eat → ate
| Type | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| All subjects | She worked | She didn't work | Did she work? |
| Verb be | I / he / she / it was, you / we / they were | wasn't / weren't | Was he...? Were you...? |
Spelling of -ed
- Ending in -e: add -d → lived
- Consonant + y: change to -ied → studied
- Short consonant-vowel-consonant: double the last letter → stopped
Remember
After did / didn't, use the base verb: Did she go? (not “went”).
Time words
yesterday, last night, last week, two days ago, in 2015, when I was young
Common Simple Past mistakes
I watch a film yesterday.
I watched a film yesterday.
Use the past form of the verb for finished actions.
She didn't went to school.
She didn't go to school.
After did / didn't, use the base verb.
Do you saw him?
Did you see him?
Past questions use Did + base verb.
We goed to Goa last year.
We went to Goa last year.
Go is irregular; its past form is went.
He stoped the car.
He stopped the car.
Double the last letter in short consonant-vowel-consonant verbs.
Practice questions like these
Pick the right form. In the app you get instant checking, hints and your score.
1. you see the news last night?
- Did
- Do
- Have
- Were
2.I a movie with my friends last night.
- watches
- watched
- watch
- am watching
3.They football in the park last Sunday.
- played
- plays
- have played
- play