Past Simple

Past Simple - Exercises and Quiz

We use Past Simple to talk about actions that finished in the past.

When do we use it?

• Yesterday

• Last week / last year

• Two days ago

• In 2020

Example:

• I called my friend yesterday.

• She finished the project last night.

• We moved here in 2018.

1. Positive Sentences

Subject + past verb

Regular verbs → verb + -ed

• They visited their grandparents.

• He cleaned his room.

Irregular verbs → second form

• She saw a rainbow.

• We took a taxi.

(The past form is the same for all subjects.)

2. Negative Sentences

Subject + did not (didn’t) + base verb

• I didn’t understand the question.

• She didn’t buy the tickets.

• They didn’t arrive on time.

After didn’t, use the base form (no -ed).

3. Questions

Did + subject + base verb?

• Did you watch the game?

• Did he call you?

4. Wh-questions:

• Where did you go?

• Why did she leave early?

Past Simple of “be”

The verb be is special.

• I / he / she / it → was

• You / we / they → were

Examples:

• I was at home.

• They were tired.

Negative:

• She wasn’t ready.

• We weren’t late.

Questions:

• Was he happy?

• Were they at school?

Past Actions in Order

We use Past Simple to tell a story:

• I woke up, made coffee, and checked my emails.

• She opened the door and ran outside.