Understanding Simple Past Tense in English Grammar
Explore the usage of simple past tense through examples, irregular verbs, and regular verb forms. Learn how to form affirmative, negative, and question sentences in the past. Enhance your understanding of past actions and events with clear explanations and practice exercises.
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SIMPLE PAST TENSE Rosyida Ekawati
QUESTIONS 1. What did you do last night? 2. Where did you go last week? 3. Why did you come late? 4. When did she watch the movie ? 5. What time did you wake up? 6. Did you understand our last week topic? 7. What did your mother cook? 8. Why did your little sister cry? 9. What did you buy in the supermarket? 10.When did he arrive from Jakarta?
I watched TV last night Last week I went to Madura. I came late because I woke up late. She watched the movie yesterday afternoon. I woke up at 4am. Yes, I understood our last week topic. My mom cooked fried rice. My little sister cried because she was hungry. I bought some snacks and beverages in the supermarket. 10. He arrived from Jakarta last night 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
(a) It snowed yesterday. (b) Tom watched TV last night. At one particular time in the past, this happened. It began and ended in the past. Most simple past verbs add -ed, as in (a) and (b). (c) Jack went to work early. (d) I came to work late. (e) We saw a great movie last night. Some verbs have irregular past tense forms, as in (c), (d), and (e). NOTE: See Appendix Chart E-9 for a list of irregular verb forms (page 468)
(f) Emily was at the office this morning. (g) You were tired yesterday. The simple past forms of be are was and were, as in (f) and (g). (h) Andrew caught the ball, ran down the field, and scored a point. Note that in a series of actions, the verbs are the same tense, as in (h). INCORRECT: Andrew caught the ball, is running down the field, and score a point.
REGULAR VERB FORM Affirmative Negative Question I helped. You helped. He helped. She helped. It helped. We helped. They helped. I did not help. You did not help. He did not help. She did not help. It did not help. We did not help. They did not help. Did I help? Did you help? Did he help? Did she help? Did it help? Did we help? Did they help?
IRREGULAR VERB FORM Affirmative Negative Question I ate. You ate. He ate. She ate. It ate. We ate. They ate. I did not eat. You did not eat. He did not eat. She did not eat. It did not eat. We did not eat. They did not eat. Did I eat? Did you eat? Did he eat? Did she eat? Did it eat? Did we eat? Did they eat?
BE VERB FORMS Affirmative Negative Question I was here. He was here. She was here. It was here. I was not here. He was not here. She was not here. It was not here. Was I here? Was he here? Was she here? Was it here? You were here. We were here. They were here. You were not here. We were not here. They were not here. Were you here? Were we here? Were they here?
(a) I walked to school yesterday. The simple past indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past. (b)John lived in Paris for ten years, but now he lives in Rome. (c) I bought a new car three days ago.
(d) Rita stood under a tree when it began to rain. If a sentence contains when and has the simple past in both clauses, the action in the when- clause happens first. (e) When Mrs. Chu heard a strange noise, she got up to investigate. In (d): 1st: The rain began. 2nd: Rita stood under a tree. (f) When I dropped my cup, the coffee spilled on my lap.
(g) I was walking down the street when it began to rain. In (g): 1st I was walking down the street. 2nd: It began to rain. (h) While I was walking down the street, it began to rain. Both actions occurred at the same time, but one action began earlier and was in progress when the other action occurred. ( i) Rita was standing under a tree when it began to rain. In (j ): My studying began before 8:00, was in progress at that time, and probably continued. (j) At eight o'clock last night, I was studying.
(k) While I was studying in one room of our apartment, my roommate was having a party in the other room. Sometimes the past progressive is used in both parts of a sentence when two actions are in progress simultaneously.
UNFULFILLED INTENTIONS: WAS/WERE GOING TO Was /were going to talk about past intentions. Usually, these are unfulfilled intentions, i.e., activities someone intended to do but did not do. (a) Jack was going to go to the movie last night, but he changed his mind. The meaning in (a): Jack was planning to go to the movie, but he didn't go.
UNFULFILLED INTENTIONS: WAS/WERE GOING TO (b) I was planning to go, but I didn't. Other ways of expressing unfulfilled intentions are to use plan, hope, intend, and think about in the past progressive, as in (b). I was hoping to go, but I couldn't. I was intending to go, but I didn't. I was thinking about going, but I didn't.