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