THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

The simple past tense describes an event that is completed. It started and finished at a

specific time in the past.

Susan went to Paris last year.

AFFIRMATIVE FORM

Regular Verbs

The simple past of regular verbs is formed by adding –d or –ed to the base form of the verb. Verbs ending in CVC you double

the last consonant. Verbs ending in –consonant + y

you add –ied.

Everyday they go to school

by bus. But, yesterday they

walked to school, stopped

and studied hard..

Some examples of regular verbs

surf paint

play

walk brush listen

surfed painted

played

walked listened brushed

Irregular Verbs

Each irregular verb has its own unique form in the past.

Tim usually goes to school

by car. But, yesterday he

went to school by bike.

Some examples of irregular verbs

take

eat

buy

do

go

took

ate

bought

went

did have had

see saw

NEGATIVE FORM

To form a negative statement, use the auxiliary verb did + not + the base form of the verb.

Bob usually goes to school by

bus. Yesterday he went

to school on foot.

He didn’t go by bus.

QUESTIONS

To form questions in the past, use the auxiliary verb did + subject + the base form of the verb.

Yesterday they went

to school by car.

They didn’t go by bus.

Did they go to school together?

Time Expressions:

Yesterday

(a week) ago

Last (year)

In (1998)

Some Irregular Verbs:

Teacher: Ana Paula Castro - CENSA

Adapted from

Lilian Marchesoni – 2009

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