What is simple past tense?
Definition:-simple past tense is used for an action which happened in the past time or took place before the time of speaking
Example
The cat killed the rat.
The teacher went to the class.
This tense show to speak about what had taken place already. As we know the tenses differ each at the time speaking and when the action happened or finished.
What is the helping verb of simple past tense?
The helping verb of simple past tense is did. Did is used in simple past tense sentences exapt the Affirmative sentence.
Example
The structure of simple past tense
The formula of simple past tense is:-Subject+verb past+Object
Example
Aisha cooked the food. In this example Aisha is the subject, cooked is the verb past of cook and food is the object.
verbs in simple past tense
As we there are two types of verbs regular and irregular.
In regular verb we -ed to the root of the verb but if the verb end in an “e” we will add only -d .
Example
a) The cat killed the rat. The root of the verb is kill, the verb doesn’t end in “e” so we added “ed”.
b) She danced yesterday in the party. The root of the verb is dance, the verb ends “e” so add only “d” to the root.
Simple past tense regular verbs
Brush—————> brushed
Clean—————-> cleaned
Collect—————> Collected
Accept—————> accepted
Change————–> changed
Complete———–> Completed
Compare————> Compared
Invite—————–> Invited
c) If the regular verb ends in “y” and a consonant comes before the “y” change the “y” into “i” and then add “ed” for example:-
Cry—————> cried
Dry—————> dried
Identify——–> Identified
Fry————–> fried
d) if a vowel comes before the “y” add only “ed” without changing the the “y” example:-
Betray—————> Betrayed
Enjoy—————-> Enjoyed
Stay——————> stayed
Play——————> played
Simple past tense irregular verbs
Irregular verbs in past tense are two forms
a) some irregular verbs the root verb doesn’t change , some of them are mentioned below.
Cut————–> cut
Put————–> put
Shut ————> shut
Quit————-> quit
Bet————–> bet
Shed————> shed
Read————> read
b) some other irregular verbs the root verb changes, some of them are mentioned below.
Bring———–> brought
Buy————-> bought
Go—————> went
Speak———-> spoke
Write———-> wrote
Pay————-> paid
Build———-> built
Fight———-> fought
Affirmative in past tense
Subject+verb past
Examples
She kissed me.
You spoke very well.
He betrayed her.
Ali bought a new book.
She cooked the food.
Negative in past tense
Subject+didn’t + verb in the base form
Examples
She didn’t kiss me.
You didn’t speak very well.
He didn’t betray her.
Ali Didn’t buy a new book.
She didn’t cook the food.
How to ask question in past tense
Did+ subject + verb in base form
Did she kiss me?
Did you speak very well?
Did he betray her?
Did Ali buy a new book?
Did she cook the food?
Negative with question in simple past tense
Didn’t + subject+ verb in base form
Didn’t she kiss me?
Didn’t you speak very well?
Didn’t he betray her?
Didn’t Ali buy a new book?
Didn’t she cook the food?
Simple past tense exercise with answers
Fill the blank space using the words in the brackets.
1) Ahmed _______ (write) a later to his mother.
2) She didn’t ______( break) the table.
3) ____ they ________ (meet) with her?
4) the manager _______( spend) a lot of money.
5) Aisha ___________(make) a nice tea.
6) Tom didn’t _________ (drive) The car.
7) They ________ (see) us.
8) He ________( give) Me money.
9) We _______ (go) to Jowhar.
10) Mohamed _____ (play) very well.
11) ______ they ______ (complete) The exam?
12) ______ it ________ (kill) it?
13) _______you _____(put) the paper on the table?
14) _______ Ali _______( leave) from her?
15) _______ you _______ (take) the paper?
Check if your answers are correct
1) Ahmed wrote a later to his mother.
2) She didn’t break the table.
3) Did they met with her?
4) the manager spent a lot of money.
5) Aisha made a nice tea.
6) Tom didn’t drive the car.
7) They saw us.
8) He gave Me money.
9) We went to Jowhar.
10) Mohamed played very well.
11) Did they complete The exam?
12) Did it kill it?
13) Did you put the paper on the table?14) Did Ali leave from her?
15) Did you take the paper?
Simple past tense FAQS
What simple past tense?
Simple past tense is used to express an action which happened in the past time.
What are some examples of simple past tense?
I ran to the school for this morning.
He learnt English very well.
Teachers explained the lessons.
What are types of past tense?
There four types of past tense and they are:-Simple past tense Past continuous tense Past perfect tense Past perfect continuous tense
Grammar related links
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