5.
Simple Past Tense
Structure:
Subject + Verb (v2) or irregular verb:
Example:
1. He completed the assignment.
2. I read the newspaper.
Simple past tense is used to express the actions that happened in the past or
happened one after the other. For example, The baby crawled.
Signal words
Last night
Yesterday
Last Monday
In 1998
An hour ago
Structure / Formula
Subject + V2 + Object
I solved the sum
Subject Simple Past (V2) Object
Positive Sentences
See the structure to make affirmative/positive sentences.
Subject + Past(V2) + Object
Examples of positive sentences
Julia made a sponge cake.
He went to the hill station.
Negative Sentences
We use ‘not’ after auxiliary verb to make the sentence negative.
Subject + did + not + Base form (V1) + object.
Examples of negative sentences.
Julia did not make a sponge cake.
He did not go to the hill station.
Question Sentences
To make the question, auxiliary verb come at the start of the sentence and question
mark at the end.
Did + subject + base form (V1) + object + ?
Examples of question sentences.
Did Julia make a sponge cake?
Did he go to the hill station?
USAGE EXAMPLES
Action that happened at definite time. She went to the park an hour ago.
Actions that happened one after the other. He ordered pizza. He received the pizza at home. He ate it.
The actions or states that finished in past. His mother used to wash his clothes.
Usage
Example Sentences
1. He drew the old man out of the ditch.
2. She used to wash clothes daily.
3. He wrote an interesting story.
4. The child completed his homework.
5. Did he live in this house?
6. His mother would wash clothes.
7. Did he write a letter?
8. We paid tribute to our national poet.
9. The boys recited the national anthem.
10. She did not sleep.
Exercise
1. He ______ not ______ a letter. (not write)
2. ______ we _____ the sum? (solve)
3. We _____ tribute to our national poet. (pay)
4. The boys _____ the national anthem. (recite)
5. They _____ my invitation. (accept)
6. _____ poor children _____ toys? (buy)
7. _____ he _____ the river? (swim)
8. He _____ badminton yesterday. (play)
9. The child’s mouth _____ on seeing the sweets. (water)
10. She ______ every challenge bravely. (face)
Answers
1. He did not write a letter.
2. Did we solve the sum?
3. We paid tribute to our national poet.
4. The boys recited the national anthem.
5. They accepted my invitation.
6. Did poor children buy toys?
7. Did he swim the river?
8. He played badminton yesterday.
9. The child’s mouth watered on seeing the sweets.
10. She faced every challenge bravely.
How much did you _______ me?
missed
miss
missing
He did not _______ me.
find
found
had found
The lion _______ after the zebra.
run
ran
running
My bike _______ out of order in the way.
go
gone
went
My grandma _______ tell a story.
used to
use to
using to
She _______ me in train.
meet
had met
met
I _______ your e-mail yesterday.
received
receive
receiving
When did you _______ Glasgow?
reached
reach
has reached
I _______ to talk to her.
want
wanting
wanted
She _______ her promise.
did fulfill
has fulfilled
fulfill
The firm _______ me certificate on a good
performance.
award
has awarded
awarded
It _______ yesterday morning.
drizzle
drizzled
was drizzling
The museum _______ ancient and historical
items.
bought
buy
has bought
She _______ English grammar rules.
study
studied
has studied
They _______ football yesterday.
play
has played
played
Answers
1. How much did you miss me?
2. He did not find me.
3. The lion ran after the zebra.
4. My bike went out of order in the way.
5. My grandma used to tell a story.
6. She met me in train.
7. I received your e-mail yesterday.
8. When did you reach Glasgow?
9. I wanted to talk to her.
10. She did fulfill her promise.
11. The firm awarded me certificate on a good performance.
12. It drizzled yesterday morning.
13. The museum bought ancient and historical items.
14. She studied English grammar rules.
15. They played football yesterday.
