FORM

person + verb (II columnd or -ed ending) + the rest of the sentence

• I came earlier from work last night.

• Did he cook tomato soup yesterday?

• She went to the doctor.

 

USE

1. Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

• She proved the thesis yesterday.

• Last year, I didn't visit my grandmother.

2. A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

• He knocked, she opened the door, he went in.

• I finished work, walked to the house, and watched TV.

3. Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

• I studied chemistry for 2 years.

• We didn't say anything for the last 5 minutes.

4. Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

• I worked in Ireland after secondary school.

• Did you learn English when you were a child.

5. Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

• He didn't eat milk 4 years ago.

• Did she live abroad when she was a child?

6. Past Facts or Generalizations

• They painted the picture. ACTIVE

• The picture was painted by them. PASSIVE

 

More exercises on the Past Simple can be found in our forum and on the www.aling.pl!