Past Simple

Past Simple

Construction:

(the verbs "to be" and "to have" do not follow these rules)


Regular Verbs

AFFIRMATIVE

1) The Past Simple is built using the 2nd verb form. In regular verbs, the 2nd verb form is formed by adding "ed" to the infinitive:

 - Infinitive: to work
 - Past Simple: worked

The same form is used for all persons:
Example: to work, -ed, -ed
 - I worked
 - You worked
 - He worked
 - We worked
 - You worked
 - They worked
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2) Verbs ending in "e" add "d" only:

 - Infinitive: to love
 - Past Simple: loved
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3) When a verb of one syllable has one vowel and ends in a single consonant, this consonant is doubled before "ed"

Example: to stop 
 - I stopped the car.
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4) Verbs of two or more syllables whose last syllable contains only one vowel and ends in a single consonant double this consonant if the stress falls on the last syllable

Example: to admit
 - They admitted the error.
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5) Verbs ending in "y" following a consonant change the "y" into "i" before adding "ed":

Examples:
 - to carry: - She carried the bag.
 - to try: - I tried the machine.

NOTE: But "y" following a vowel does not change:
 -  to obey: - They obeyed the order.
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Irregular Verbs


1) The Past Simple is built using the 2nd verb form. In irregular verbs, the 2nd verb forms vary considerably:

Examples:
 - to eat, ate, eaten: - I ate the cake.
 - to go, went, gone: - We went home.
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NEGATIVE
(Regular and Irregular)


1) The negative of regular and irregular verbs is formed with did not (didn't) + infinitive (1st form):

Examples:
The plan worked. -->(NEG) - The plan did not (didn't) work.
I went home. -->(NEG) - I did not (didn't) go home.
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INTERROGATIVE


1) The interrogative of regular and irregular verbs is formed with did + subject + infinitive:

Example:
The plan worked. -->(INT) - Did the plan work?
He went home. -->(INT) - Did he go home?
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When to use:

The past simple tense is often used with time expressions like:

 - Yesterday
 - Last Monday (Tuesday, Wednesday, ...)
 - Last week (weekend, year, month, ...)
 - In 1985...

It can also be used with frequency adverbs for habitual actions in the past:

 - always
 - often
 - usually
 - sometimes
 - rarely
 - seldom
 - never
 - etc...
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1) For actions completed in the past:

   a) when the time is given

Examples:
 - I saw Paul yesterday.
 - Last year, I went to London.
 - Pasteur died in 1895.
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   b) when the time is asked about

Example:
 - When did you meet him?
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   c) when the action clearly took place at a definite time even though this time is not mentioned

Examples:
 - The train was ten minutes late.
 - I bought this car in Toronto.
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2) Duration in the past

   a) for an action which occupied a period of time now terminated

Examples:
 - He worked in that company for ten years. (but he does not work there now)
 - She lived in Madrid for a long time. (but she is not living there now)
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   b) for an action which occurred at a moment in a period of time now terminated

Examples:
 - My grandmother once saw Queen Victoria.
 - Did you ever hear Elvis Presley sing?
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3) For a past habit

Examples:
 - He always carried an umbrella.
 - They never drank wine.
 - He played the piano.
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4) In conditional sentences, type 2

Examples:
 - If I had a map I would lend it to you.
 - If he came into my house I would call the police.
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