the simple past

THE SIMPLE PAST

Uses of the Simple Past

Actions in the past taking place once, never, several times.

He visited his parents everyweekend.

Actions taking place one after the other .

He came in, took off his coat and sat down.

Uses of the Simple Past

Action in the past taking place in the middle of another action.

When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

If sentences type II .If I had a lot of money, I would share it

with you.

Form of the Simple Past

AFFIRMATIVE:

I. Regular verbs : Add –ED Work Worked

II. Irregular verbs: (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column).

Form of the Simple Past

NEGATIVE:

We need to use the auxiliary did + not (didn’t).

I/ he/they DIDN´T go

Remember we put the verb in the form.

DIDN´T

INFINITIVE

Form of the Simple Past

QUESTIONS:

DID I/he/they go ? Aux. Subj. Infinitive

DID + Subj. + INFINITIVE

Positive Negative Question

I spoke. I work

I

speak/work I speak/work?

Example: TO SPEAK / TO WORK

DIDN’T DIDED

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

After a final E only add D

love loveD

Cons. + y cons+ i Hurry hurried

Double consonant after final C+V+C

Travel travelled

Signal Words of Simple Past

• Yesterday• 2 minutes ago• in 1990• the other day• last Friday • Conditional sentences type II

(If I talked…)

EXERCISES

TO BE POSITIVE SENTENCES NEGATIVE SENTENCES QUESTIONS QUESTIONS WITH INTERROGATIVE MIXED EXERCISES