PAST SIMPLE TENSE

We observed the Past Simple Tense with the Optimise groups at York School. We
observed the Past Simple with the B1 groups but we also revised the tense with the B1+ groups
and some individual students giving numerous examples and practicing different exercises in the
workbook and also using some other additional materials.

The Simple Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to use in English. If you already
know how to use the Present Tense, then the Past Tense will be easy.

In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started and finished at a definite
time in the past.

How to form the Past Tense in English

The main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in the past tense.

(The exception is the Past tense of “to Be”, which has two forms: was and were). This is totally
different from other languages such as Spanish, French, Italian etc. where you change the verb
ending for every subject.

For example: The past tense of the verb want is wanted.

Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects/pronouns.

I wanted

You wanted

He wanted

She wanted

It wanted

We wanted

They wanted

So you just have to learn one word to be able to use it in the past tense. In this case we just
needed to learn the one word wanted which can be used for all subjects (or people).

Past Tense Regular Verbs

To change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add –ED to the end of the verb.
play – played

cook – cooked

rain – rained

wait – waited

There are some exceptions with a slight change in spelling.

For example if the verb ends in –y and the previous letter is consonant then in the Past Tense we
have to change the letter –y in –i.

study - studied

Examples of sentences using regular verbs in the past tense

Last night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors complained.

It rained yesterday.

Angela watched TV all night.

John wanted to go to the museum last week.

Note: There are three different ways of pronouncing the –ed at the end of a verb in the past tense.

Negative sentences in the Past Tense

We use didn't (did not) to make a negative sentence in the past tense.

This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.

(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)

Compare the following:

Present: They don't live in Canada.

Past: They didn't live in Canada.

The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (the infinitive). The auxiliary
DIDN'T shows that the sentence is negative AND in the past tense.

NOTICE: The only difference between a negative sentence in the present tense and a negative
sentence in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.

Both don't and doesn't in the present tense become didn't in the past tense.
Compare the negative sentences in the examples below:

Present: You don't need a mechanic.

Past: You didn't need a mechanic.

Present: You don't walk to work.

Past: You didn't walk to work.

Present: He doesn't speak Japanese.

Past: He didn't speak Japanese.

Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense

I didn't want to go to the dentist.

She didn't have time.

You didn't close the door.

He didn't come to my party.

They didn't study so they didn't pass the test.

We didn't sleep well last night.

Questions in the Past Tense

We use” did” to make a question in the past tense.

This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.

(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)

Compare the following:

Present: Do they live in France?

Past: Did they live in France?

The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form ( the infinitive). The auxiliary DID
shows that the question is in the past tense.

NOTICE: The only difference between a question in the present tense and a question in the past
tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.

Both Do and Does in present tense questions become Did in past tense questions.

Compare the questions in the examples below:

Present: Do you need a doctor?

Past: Did you need a doctor?

Present: Do you ride your bike to work?

Past: Did you ride your bike to work?

Present: Does he live in Italy?

Past: Did he live in Italy?

We can also use a question word (Who, What, Why etc.) before DID to ask for more
information.

Did you study? – Yes, I did.

When did you study? – I studied last night.

Where did you study? – I studied at the library.

Examples of Questions in the Past Tense

Did you go to work yesterday?

Did they arrive on time?

Did she like the surprise?

Where did she go?

What did you do yesterday?

What did you say? - I didn't say anything.

Why did we have to come?

Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense

Irregular verbs are ONLY irregular in affirmative/positive sentences.

(An exception to this is with the verb TO BE in the Past Tense).

For example: The past tense of GO is WENT.

It does not end in –ED so it is considered irregular.

The word went is used for all subjects – I, you, we, they, he, she, it.

I went to the beach

He went to the park.

She went to the zoo.

They went to the library.

BUT, as we mentioned before, it is only in its irregular form (went) in sentences that are
affirmative/positive.

Compare the following using GO in the past tense.

They went to the beach

They didn't go to the beach --- Didn't shows that we are talking in the past tense.

Did they go to the beach? --- Did shows that we are talking in the past tense.

Another example with an irregular verb.

The past of EAT is ATE.

You ate my cake.

You didn't eat my cake.

Did you eat my cake?

Exercises:

1. Fill in the blanks below to complete the sentences. Study the boxes above.

1. I (eat)___________ dinner at six o’clock yesterday.

2. A: ___________ Helen (drive)___________ to work? B: Yes, she ___________.

3. My neighbor (buy)___________ a new car last week.

4. They (go)___________ to Italy on their last summer holiday.

5. A: ___________ they (swim)___________ at the beach? B: No, they __________.

6. My family and I (see)___________ a comedy movie last night.

7. First, we (do)___________ exercise, and then we (drink)___________ some water.

8. Suddenly, the animal jumped and (bite)___________ my hand.

9. What time (do)___________ you (get up)___________ this morning?

10. The Wright brothers (fly)___________ the first airplane in 1903.

11. I think I (hear)___________ a strange sound outside the door one minute ago.

12. When I was ten years old, I (break)___________ my arm. It really (hurt) __________.

13. The police (catch)___________ all three of the bank robbers last week.

14. How many times (do)___________ you (read)___________ that book?

15. Unfortunately, I (forget)___________ to (bring)___________ my money.

2. Simple Past (negative and affirmative)

1. Write these sentences in the past.

1. He goes to the swimming pool because he likes swimming.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

2. They have dinner at nine o´clock.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Adam runs 500 m

…………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Helen eats too many sweets.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

5. I buy the newspaper in the shop.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

6. We get up at eight o´clock and go to school.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Write the sentences in exercise 1 in the negative form.

1. …………………………………………………………………………………………

2. …………………………………………………………………………………………

3. …………………………………………………………………………………………

4. …………………………………………………………………………………………

5. …………………………………………………………………………………………

6. …………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Write about what Jim did and didn´t do yesterday, as in the examples.

1. Go to the bank (yes) 1. He went to the bank

2. Buy some shoes (no) 2. He didn´t buy any shoes.

3. Write to Sally (yes) ……………………………………..

4. Buy a shirt (yes) ……………………………………..

5. Have lunch with Adam (no) ……………………………………..

6. Write to Peter (yes) ……………………………………..

7. Go to the hospital (no) ……………………………………..

8. Have dinner with Susie (yes) ……………………………………..

9. Play football (no) ……………………………………..

10.Make dinner (yes) ……………………………………..

4. Write the past form of these verbs.

1. to get ……… 6. to play ………

2. to buy ……… 7. to come ………

3. to study ……… 8. to go ………

4. to watch ……… 9. to pay ………

5. to begin ……… 10. to walk ………

5. Write these questions in the past.

1. Does she buy the newspaper in the shop over there? ...............................................

2. Do they do their homework in the evening? ...............................................................

3. Do they have a good holiday? ....................................................................................

4. Do they find any animal in the forest? ........................................................................

5. Is it dark when she gets up in the morning? ...............................................................

6. Write questions for these answers.

1. Where did you go yesterday?

I went to the park

2. ...............................................?

My friend arrived at five o´clock

3. ................................................?
He said “hello!”

4. .................................................?

The film started at seven.

5. .................................................?

We went on a excursion.

6. ..................................................?

She visited her aunt.

7. ................................................. ?

My grandparents lived in Italy.

7. Write questions in the past with these words.

1. when / study English / you .........................................................?

2. what / do / yesterday / she .........................................................?

3. like / the film / he .........................................................?

4. live / in Paris / your parents .........................................................?

5. walk / down / the road / they .........................................................?

8. Write the Past Simple form of the verbs.

1 take ..................... 4 give ..................... 7 go .....................

2 drink ..................... 5 think ..................... 8 wake .....................

3 ride ..................... 6 have ..................... 9 buy .....................

9. Change the verbs in brackets into the past tense. Some are regular and some are irregular.

Yesterday (to be) _______________ a busy day. I (wake) _______________ up at 6am, (have)

_______________ breakfast quickly and then I (go) _______________ to work. I (finish)

_______________ at noon and then (eat) _______________ some lunch. Afterwards I (drive)
_______________ to the shops, (buy) _______________ some paint and then (paint)
_______________

my bedroom. My housemate (come) _______________ home from work so I (help)

_______________

him paint his room, then we (repair) _______________ his chair as it (wobble)
_______________ a lot. I

(wish) _______________ I hadn’t, as I hurt my hand! After that I (clean) _______________ my

house. I

(vacuum) _______________ all the downstairs and then (tidy) _______________ up the living
room

and the kitchen. I was pretty tired by then so I (eat) ate some dinner, (yawn) _______________,
and

(go) _______________ to bed!

10. Change the verbs below into the past tense and put them into the correct place in the
sentences

Pay / Ring / Think / Drink / See / Eat / Go / Take / Leave / Say

1. I _________________ that he was fired.

2. My mum _________________ me last night but I wasn’t at home to take her answer.

3. I _________________ to the zoo with my son last weekend.

4. I _________________ four cakes for lunch. I feel sick!

5. He _________________ him to see the doctor because he had been ill for so long.

6. I _________________ that new movie last night. It was great!

7. He _________________ his son alone all day!

8. I _________________ two bottle of grape juice last night. I don’t feel too well today.

9. They _________________ it tasted horrible.

10. It was too expensive and we _________________ too much for it.

11. Complete the tables below:

Present Past Present Past

Hear Be

Left Put

Ring Think

Drank Drove

Go Break

Got Overslept

Take Sit

Came Woke

See Run

Shut Wrote

Lend Dig

Stole Brought

Swim Fly

Remember...

-we use the past simple tense...

1)when we are talking about something that continued for some

time in the past;

2)when we are talking about something that happened several

times in the past ;

I worked in a restaurant three years ago.

When I was a child, I walked to school.

3)when we are talking about an event that happened at a particular

time in the past.

12.Complete these sentences with the “past simple” of the verbs in

brackets.

-I …............... (study) French yesterday.

-We …............... (watch) an interesting programme last night.

-Mark …............... (stop) the car in front of the post-office.

-My parents …............... (arrive) at half past six.

-Alison …............... (walk) to school.

-Charles and Wendy …............... (dance) at the party.

-We …............... (hurry - affrettarsi) back home.

-I .............................. (arrive) in London at 10 o’clock in the

morning.

-I was hungry so I ....................... (decide) to have a pizza in a

fast food restaurant.

-In the afternoon I ................................ (visit) the city centre

and I ........................... (love) it a lot!

-My friend George ............................. (invite) me to a musical.

They ....................... (play) the Lion king.

I ................................... (enjoy)

it very much.
13. Complete the sentences with the past simple of the verbs listed.

carry cook like live open

play start tidy travel wait

-We …............... to Liverpool last Saturday.

-The girl …............... the door.

-She …............... a big bag.

-They …............... in a castle.

-Jason and Martin …............... tennis yesterday.

-Mark …............... an omelette for lunch.

-I really …............... the party.

-We …............... for Susan because she was late.

-The film …............... at half past seven.

-Frank …............... his room.

Now, remember...

“PAST TIME WORDS”

YESTERDAY - LAST – AGO

yesterday morning / last night / five minutes ago

yesterday afternoon /last week /two hours ago

Yesterday evening/ last month/ six days ago

last year / a month ago

last spring / a year ago

last summer / ten years

14. Work together, make sentences

post – yesterday morning

Thomas posted a letter to his cousin yesterday morning.

snow – last winter

It snowed a lot in my town last winter.

cook – two hours ago

Jen cooked a cheesecake for her mum two hours ago.

play – yesterday afternoon

watch – last week

visit – three days ago

help - yesterday evening

learn - last month

clean – two days ago

15. Complete these sentences with the “past simple” of the

verbs in brackets.

I (listen) ….................. to the radio this morning.

My sister (pass) ….................. her exam.

My mother (study)................... biology at university.

I (watch) ….................. TV last night.

We (play) ….................. football yesterday.

Simona (stop) …........... for petrol on the way here.

-Now, write the sentences in the “negative form”.

16. Copy and write what Jean “did” or “didn't” do yesterday:

-play tennis ( - ) ….... ………………………………………………………………. .

-clean her house ( + ) ……………………………………………………………… .

-wash the cat ( + ) .………………………………………………………………... .

-telephone Mary ( - ) ………………………………………………………………. .

-watch a film on TV ( - ) ………………………………………………………… .

-visit her grandparents ( + ) ………………………………………………… .

-cook a cake ( + ) ………………………………………………………………..... .

17. Change the following sentences in the negative form.

-The boys played football. …............................................................. .

-Carol called her mother. ….............................................................. .

-Donald fixed his TV. ….................................................. .

-Peter painted a kite. ….................................................................... .

-Ann studied history. …..................................................................... .

-Mary baked cookies. ….................................................................... .

18. Make the past simple negative.

(she / not / love chocolate as a child)

…...........................................................................................................

(he / not / like sport)

…...........................................................................................................

(we / not / study for the exam)

…...........................................................................................................

(they / not / cook at the weekend)

…...........................................................................................................

(I / not / stay at home)

…...........................................................................................................

(John / not / work in the bank at the same time as me)

…...........................................................................................................

(they / not / play tennis yesterday)

…...........................................................................................................

(Julie and Anna / not / clean the house)

…...........................................................................................................

(you / not / wash the dishes)

…...........................................................................................................

(David and I / not / dance at the party)

…...........................................................................................................

(they / not / play the piano)

…...........................................................................................................

(it / not / rain yesterday)

…...........................................................................................................
19. Change into negative sentences:

Alexis and Steven studied for the test.

Johanna cried because she was ill.

Jonathan and Gryselle were absent

Melissa was here.

Alishka was scared.

Jordan and his family enjoyed the trip.

20. Read and answer

Did you listen to music, yesterday?(- ) ....................................

Did he play football in Mexico? ( - ) ..........................................

Did she use the correct word in this exercise? ( +) .....................

Did you live in a flat, two years ago? ( +) ..................................

Did they like Rome? ( + ) ........................................................

Did you go to the supermarket, Saturday? ( - ) ..........................

Did your grandfather live in England, ten years ago? ( +) ............

Did your sister play wolleyball, last summer? ( - ) ......................

Did they go to the cinema, yesterday evening? ( - ) ...................

Did you study History, before? ( - ) ..........................................

21. Write the past simple form of the verbs below.

I ………………… my mum in the kitchen. (help)

My sister ………………… in her room. (study)

My mum ……………….. the green car. (wash)

My grandmother ………………… to the shop. (walk)

My brother ………………… to music. (listen)

My uncle ………………… a pretty woman. (marry)

My aunt ………………… her new notebook. (use)

My cousins ……………….. very late. (arrive)

The baby ………………… a lot. (cry)

My dad ………………… his old bike. (fix)

The dogs ………………… in the garden. (play)

22. Put in order

you – did – see – him – yesterday?

……………………………………………………………………..

where – shoes? - did – you – your – find

…………………………………………………………….

did – what – you – about – the – think – meeting? …………………………………………….

any – have – questions? – did – they

………………………………………………………………….

7)Read and complete with "don't" or "didn't".

They usually ................. have breakfast.

Last summer they ............. take the dog with them on holiday.
23. Make the past simple, positive, negative or question:

-I ……………………. (work) in a bank for ten years.

-Where …………………… (you / live) when you were young?

-She …………………… (not / study) French at university.

-………………………… (they / visit) the Louvre in Paris?

-She ………………………. (not / watch) TV yesterday.

-I ………………………. (cook) steak last night.

-We ………………………(not / play) tennis yesterday because it was raining.

 TEST YOURSELF

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets:

1. The weather (be) ………………………… very nice today.

2. ‘(be) …………………… you married?’ ‘No, I’m not.’

3. She …………………… (watch) TV last night.

4. I (not enjoy) ……………………………….. the party very much.

5. We (go) …………………………… to the cinema yesterday but the film (not be)
……………………….. very good.

6. Where (live) ………………… his parents ……………………. ?

7. What (mean) …………………… this word …………………….. ?

8. What (do) …………………… you …………………… last night?

9. We (finish) ……………………… work early last Friday.

10. My sister (buy) ……………………… some magazines when she was out shopping.

11. Tina (have) …………………….. a brother.

12. They don’t read much. They (not have) ………………………….. many books.

13. He (not can) ………………………… open the door. He’s in the bathroom.

14. We played basketball on Sunday. We didn’t play very well but we (win)
…………………… .

15. Somebody (break) ……………………….. this window last night.

16. (be) ……………………….. your parents well?

17. I’ll (buy) ………………………… you a drink.

18. Last year she (be) ……………………… 22 years old, so she (be) ……………………..
23 now.
19. I (be) ………………………….. hungry. Can I have something to eat?

20. ‘(be) ……………………….. you late?’ ‘No, I wasn’t.’

21. ‘(be) ……………………….. he tired?’ ‘Yes, he is.’

22. I’m sorry, but we (not can) ……………………………… come to your party next
Saturday.

23. I was tired, but I (not can) ………………………… sleep.

24. Before Anna came to Britain, she (not can) ……………………………….. understand
much English.

25. (will) …………………….. you come with me?

26. Tom (not work) …………………………………….. in the evenings.

27. (live) ……………………… Barbara ………………………… alone?

28. The room (be) ……………………….. cleaned every day.

29. We (not have) …………………………… a holiday last year.

30. When (arrive) …………………….. they ……………………… in Paris?