Simple Past tense-ENGLISH GRAMMAR

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

BY

SMART LEARNING WAY

Introduction to Tense

 In writing and speaking, you often have to show when something happens. Is it taking place now? Later? Did it happen earlier in the day, a week ago, a year ago, or when dinosaurs roamed the earth? In English, tense is used to show when something happens. Past, Present and Future are the three main Tense in English.

 The word Tense is from the Latin word Tempus, which means time. So the Tense of a verb shows the time in which the action of the verb takes place.

Simple Past Tense

Introduction to simple past tense

     Simple Past Tense used to “talk” about completed events, we use simple past tense to indicate that something happened in the near to or distant past that is already completed in the past.

     We use the simple past tense for events that happened or started and completed in the past and that have no relation with the present.

Definition to Simple Past Tense

    “The simple past tense is sometimes called the “Preterite tense and Indefinite past tense.” We can use several tenses to talk about the past, but the simple past tense is the one we use most often.”

    “We use the Past Simple tense to talk about a definite finished time in the past. Perfect mentions an undetermined period of time.”

Regular verb and Irregular verb

   The simple past tense is one of the most common tenses in English. Its form is the same with all subjects. It is usually formed by adding -ED to the verb. This page will explain the rules for forming the tense with regular verbs. 

 When used?

The simple Past Tense is used to Express an action completed in the past with reference to the time of speaking.

   Ex:-

1)President Obama visited India last month.

2). The boys killed the dog yesterday.

The Simple Past Tense is used to express an action completed in the past without reference to the time of speaking.

  Ex:-  1). The old man crossed the road very carefully.

     2). He returned from Delhi.

The Simple Past Tense is used to express a habitual or regular action in the past. 

Ex:- 1). When I was in the hostel, I wrote a  letter to my parents daily.

      

       2).Mr. Bhushan taught swimming in those days.

4)  The simple past Tense is used to express an action which occupied a period of time in the past, which is now ended.

Ex:-

1).Malhar slept for three hours.

(is not sleeping now.)

2).He worked hard for so many years.

(not working hard now.)

Types of simple past tense

1. Assertive

Subject + Past verb + Object + Other verb.

For example:-

1. I ate an apple

2. We read story books.

3. They elected him president.

4. God made this world.

5. Some First Nation People lived in tents.

             

6. The government built the bridge many years ago.

7. She cleaned her house.

8. It rained very heavily last night.

10.My father went to Bombay by the plane last month.

11. She had a nice car a month ago.

12. The medicine tasted very bitter.

13. I read news paper.

14. I watched a movie yesterday.

15. I visited Berlin last week.

2. Negative :-

 Structure: Subject + did not +verb + Object

For Example:

1. Rina did not buy a new car.

2.  We did not reply you.

3. Bunty did not brake the glass.

4. Reena did not like to sit on chair.

5. We did not fear the ghost.

6. I did not visit  England last week.

7. He did not do any work.

8. She did not see the thief.

9. He did not satisfied.. 

10. I did not accept your letter.

11. I did not take interest  in the programme.

12. I did not accept your invitation.

13. The government did not remove poverty.

3. Interrogative

Structure: Did + Subject + Verb + Object

For example:

1. Did I eat  a banana?

2. Did we read story books?

3. Did you write a letter?

4. Did I pray last night?

5. Did she speak nice?

6. Did you ask me?

7.  Did you believe in capitalism?

8.  Did you have enough money to start a business?

9.Did you learn the simple past tense?

10. Did I forget my work?

11. Did you play cricket?

12. Did you take part in dance party?

13. Did she visit library yesterday?

Active & passive voice – Simple past tense

Active voice:

    Active sentences in the simple past tense have the following structure:

   Subject + past tense form of the verb + object

 Passive voice:

   Passive sentences in the simple past tense have the following structure:

    Object of the Active Voice. + was/were (To be) + past participle form of the verb + by + subject of the Active Voice.

Example:

1.Active:      He wrote a letter.

 Passive:   A letter was written by him.

2.Active:      The peon rang the bell.

  Passive:    The bell was rung by the peon.

3.Active:      She sang a song.

  Passive:   A song was sung by her.

4. Active:      I watched a movie yesterday.

  Passive:  A movie was watched by me yesterday .

5.Active:         I gave the book.

   Passive:      The book was given by me.

Negative

1. Active:    I did not play chess.

    Passive:  Chess was not played by me.

2. Active:    The cat did not drink milk.

    Passive:  Milk was not drunk by the cat.

3. Active:    She did not write a story.

    Passive:  A story was not written by her.

4. Active:     You did not listen to me.

    Passive:   I was not listened  by you.

5. Active:      Ashok did not break the glass.

    Passive:   The glass was not broken by Ashok.

Interrogative

1. Active:    Did he break the window?

    Passive: Was the window broken by him?

2. Active:    Did I read the book?

    Passive:  Was the book read by me?

3. Active:     Did Alice invite you?

    Passive:  Were you invited by Alice?

4. Active:     Did I play cricket?

    Passive:  Was cricket played by me?

5. Active:     Did he write a letter?

    Passive:   Was a letter written by him?

“Wh” Question– Simple Past Tense

1.When

(a) When did you play tennis?

(b) When did you drink tea?

2.Where

(a) Where did the zoo authorities keep the fox?

(b) Where did you play cricket?

3.Why

(a) Why did you waste money ?

(b) Why did you go there?

4. Which

(a) Which question did you ask?

(b) Which color did you choose?

5. Whom

(a) Whom did you sell a story book?

(b) Whom did catch the police?                   

6. What

(a) What did she buy?

(b) What did you like?

7. How

(a) How did Ramesh get well?

(b) How did you pass?

8. How often

(a) How often did you read words?

(b) How often did she visit your house?

    

 9. How long

(a) How long did you wait for me?

(b) How long did you live in Ahmedabad?

   

10. At what time

(a) At what time did you complete paper?

(b) At what time did you come back?

  

 11. How many

(a) How many marks did you get?

(b) How many matches did  India win against Pakistan?