THE PAST SIMPLE

When do we use it?• For actions that started and

finished in the past

• For a list of completed actions in the past

• To describe an action in a time period that started and stopped in the past

How do we form it?For regular verbs:

You take the verb base, i.e. ´play´and add ´ed´ to the end

For irregular verbs:

There isn´t a pattern – you just have to learn them!

So, actions that started and finished in the past…

I watched a film yesterday

I travelled to Japan last year

She played tennis last week

THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!

A list of completed actions in the past…

After work, I…

walked home,

changed my clothes,

watched some tv and

cooked some food.

THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!

And actions in a time period that started and stopped in the past…

I lived in Colombia for 2 years

We talked on the phone for an hour

He waited at the airport with his bag

THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!

Most useful irregular verbsBase form Past tense

Be Was, were

Do Did

Drink Drank

Eat Ate

Forget Forgot

Know Knew

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