Simple Past Tense

.

NowPastFutureHe was a poetNotes1. Use the simple past tense to talk about actions, states, or situations that are now finished.Basho lived in the seventeenth century.He was a poet.He wrote haiku.He didnt stay at one place.Where did he travel?2. You can use the simple past tense with time expressions that refer to the past. Some examples of the past expressions are last week, by 1681, in the seventeenth century, 300 years ago.By 1681, he had many students.He lived in the seventeenth century.He died more that 300 years ago.

Be careful! There are often spelling changes when you add d or ed to the verb.3. REMEMBER! The simple past tense of regular verbs is formed by adding d or ed.

Base formSimple pastlivelivedjoinjoinedtraveltraveledwantwanted

studystudiedhophoppedpreferpreferred

4. Many common English verbs are irregular. Their past tense is not formed by adding d or ed.

Base formSimple pastbewas / werebuildbuiltchoosechosehavehadgetgotgowent

Affirmative Statements

SubjectBeIwasfamous.YouwereHeSheItwasWeYouTheywere

Yes / no questions

Be notSubjectWasIfamous?WereyouWashesheitWereweyouthey

Wh- questions

Wh- wordBeSubjectWhereWhenWhywasIfamous?wereyouwashesheitwereweyouthey

SIMPLE PAST TENSE: REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBSAffirmative Statements

*come (came) and leave (left) are irregular verbs.

SubjectVerbIYouHeSheItWeYouTheymovedtraveledto Japan.came*left*in 1684.

Negative Statements

SubjectDid notBase form of verbIYouHeSheItWeYouTheydidntmovetravelto Japan.comeleavein 1683.

Yes / no questions

DidSubject Base form of verbDidIYouHeSheItWeYouThey movetravelto Japan?comeleavein 1683?

Short answers

AffirmativeYes,youdid.Ihesheityouwethey

NegativeNo,youdidntIhesheityouwethey

Wh- questions

Wh- wordDid SubjectBase form of verbWhenWhydidIyouhesheitweyoutheymovetravelto Japan?come?leave?