Formation of past simple tense. Past Simple Simple (indefinite) past tense

Greetings, my dear readers.

Many of my students, at the very beginning of their studies, hate to study times with a fierce hatred. And everything from the fact that at school we are not taught structured rules, they do not give us enough exercises for training.

But to prevent this from happening to you, I want to devote this lesson to a very important topic: the rules and examples of Past Simple! Today we are waiting for a detailed explanation, how to form and how to use the Past Simple tense correctly.

Let `s start!

Icons used in this article:

V (verb)- English verb in the first form

V2 (verb2)- English verb in the second form

How is Past Simple time formed?

For affirmative proposals, this time is formed as follows:

Subject + V2.

In the picture above, you can just see examples of such proposals. Let's look at some more examples:

I decided to go.- I decided to go.

She moved to Moscow in 1995.- She moved to Moscow in 1995.

They looked at me! They looked at me!

But be careful! If you remember, it exists, and in Past Simple time, the words from this table will use the form from the second column.

For example:

I went to the bank yesterday.(the verb to go goes into the second form - went). - I went to the bank yesterday.

Lily broke my vase last week! Lily broke my vase last week!

The forms of the verb to be deserve special attention in this tense: in the past tense they turn into was (for he, she, it) and were (for you, we, they).

I was at the library last weekend.- I was in the library last week.

We were happy together! We were happy together!

To form a negative sentence, you will have to follow the following scheme:

Subject + did not + V

I didn't do it.- I did not do it.

I didn't see her.- I didn't see her.

She didn't say her name. She didn't say her name.

This will be especially relevant for 4th grade students, because they usually just begin to study this topic and practice will be extremely necessary for them.

And if you want to be the first to receive all the most delicious and useful information, then subscribe to my blog newsletter and constantly improve your English. Remember that it is better to spend 5 minutes a day on the language than an hour or two but once a week.

Examples of affirmative sentences translated into Past Simple. In the article, I have prepared simple suggestions, you can practice with children, students of 3rd and senior grades. Also, here I posted interrogative and negative sentences. All examples are from native English speakers.

Simple sentences translated into Past Simple

1. I had a doll. I had a doll.
2. Yesterday was Sunday. Yesterday was Sunday.
3. We listened to fairy tales. We listened to stories.
4. Mark watched cartoons. Mark watched cartoons.
5. My mom cooked a cake. My mom made a cake.

6. My dog ​​was black. My dog ​​was black.
7. We played outside. We played outside.
8. He liked my toys. He liked my toys.
9. They asked a teacher. They asked the teacher.
10. She helped her mom. She helped her mother.

Past Simple sentences with irregular verbs

1. We went to the zoo. We went to the zoo.
2. A cat ate. The cat ate.
3. My mom bought a doll. My mom bought a doll.
4. I took my toy. I took my toy.
5. We drink a lemonade. We drank lemonade.

6. Kate saw a rainbow. Katya saw a rainbow.
7. You draw a nice house. You drew a beautiful house.
8. They made nice flowers. They made beautiful flowers.
9. The dog run after the cat. The dog ran after the cat.
10. He told me his secret. He told me his secret.

Past Simple - sentences for high school with translation

1. I understood what the teacher said. I understood what the teacher said.
2. We had seven lessons on Monday. On Monday we had seven lessons.
3. I was at the gym last Sunday. Last Sunday I was at the gym.
4. I downloaded mp3 files on the Internet. I downloaded mp-3 files from the internet.
5. She spoke English pretty well. She spoke good English.

6. David worked all Saturday. David worked all Saturday.
7. We watched black and white movies. We watched black and white films.
8. They came here for a week. They came here for a week.
9. He traveled around the world. He traveled the world.
10. She created her own company. She created her own company.

1. I learned English. I studied English.
2. He played football. He played football.
3. We washed our hands. We washed our hands.
4. They cleaned my room. They cleaned my room.
5. She cooked spaghetti. She cooked spaghetti.

6. We baked a cake. We baked a cake.
7. I brushed my hair. I combed my hair.
9. He fixed his bike. He fixed his bike.
10. She dried her hair. She washed her hair.

1. I read a book. I read a book.
2. I drew a picture. I drew a picture.
3. I wrote a message. I wrote a letter.
4. I took a nap. I dozed.
5. I rode my bike. I rode a bike.

6. I swam. I swam.
7. I ate ice-cream. I ate ice cream.
8. I drank water. I drank water.
9. I went to the movies. I went to cinema.
10. I read an article. I read the article.

Past Simple examples of interrogative sentences with translation

1. Did she eat sushi? Did she eat sushi?
2. Where were they lost? Where are they lost?
3. What did he create? What did he create?
4. Who ate candies? Who ate the candy?
5. Did you boil the water? Have you boiled the water?

6. Did they usually take the subway to school? Do they usually go to Skoda by subway?
7. Did Mary watch a movie last night? Did Mary watch a movie last night?
8. When did you go to Moscow? When did you go to Moscow?
9. Did she book our flights? She booked us a flight?
10. Did you make a dinner? Have you cooked dinner? 5. You didn't come to my birthday party. You didn't come to my birthday.

6. He didn't chop the onions. He didn't cut the onion.
5. Tom didn't know that. Tom didn't know about it.
7. My father didn't take a taxi to the airport. Father didn't take a taxi to the airport.
8. We didn't live in America. We didn't live in America.
9. Mark and David were not excellent students in high school. Mark and David weren't good students in high school.
10. He didn't eat spicy food when he lived in China. When he lived in China, he didn't eat spicy food.

Each temporary form of the English language has its own characteristics. Today we are talking about the properties and use cases of the time Past Simple Tense - Simple Past.

Features of using Past Simple Tense

In English, unlike Russian, the past tense (Past) consists of four temporary forms - Past Simple (Simple Past), Past Continuous (Past Continuous), Past Perfect (Past Perfect), Past Perfect Continuous (Past Perfect Continuous). Describing an action that happened in the past, they tend to create a problem of choice. However, there are significant differences between them. It is they who help determine what time is used in each case. The rules and examples of Past Simple (Simple Past) - one of the most common times, will tell you how this tense form is built and when it is used.

When we use the Past Simple

Time Past Simple (Simple Past) is used in the following cases:

• To describe a fact or a single action in the past:

Yesterday my sisters Mary and Ann went shopping togather - Yesterday my sisters Mary and Ann went shopping together (a single action in the past).

Last month the sientists discovered two lost paintings of a famous artist - Last month, scientists discovered two lost paintings by a famous artist (a fact in the past).

Please note that the Past Simple uses the following time markers: yesterday (yesterday), the day before yesterday (the day before yesterday), a long time ago (a long time ago), five weeks ago (five weeks ago), the other day ( the other day), in 1999 (in 1999), on Friday (on Friday), last month (last month) and others.

• To describe a state in the past:

Many years ago Edward was a shy boy - Many years ago Edward was a shy boy.

• To describe repetitive actions in the past, habits that are no longer performed today:

Nancy often went to the libarary last year - Nancy often went to the library last year (she doesn't do it now).

Bob liked reading morning newspaper many years ago - Bob liked reading the morning newspaper many years ago.

• To describe events that have followed one another in the past:

My father entered the shop, took a basket and bought a bottle of milk - My father entered the store, took a basket and bought a bottle of milk.

As can be seen from the above examples, the English tense form Past Simple (Simple Past) is largely the same as Present Simple (Simple Present). The only thing is that the time of the action is transferred from the present to the past.

affirmative form

Sample sentences for children explain when to use time. But there is also a durga, no less important question - how the Past Simple is formed. The following table will help you deal with this not-so-difficult task.

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In the affirmative sentence, the subject comes first, which can be expressed by a noun or a pronoun in the singular or plural. On the second - the verb in the past tense. And here it is important not to rush, but to understand which verb is in front of us - correct or incorrect. If the verb belongs to the regular group, then in Past Simple the ending -ed (to push-pushed) is added to its stem.

If the verb is irregular, then you need to refer to the table of irregular verbs and find the desired form in the second column (to eat - ate).

negative form

In negative sentences, the direct word order is preserved: subject + did not + verb. As can be seen from the formula, in the first place are the subjects. This is followed by the auxiliary verb did (do in the past tense), the negative particle not (not), and the verb in the main form without the particle to. Here you should pay attention to the following nuance: the auxiliary verb did “deprives” the main verb of the right to be used in the past tense, since only one verb can be in Past Simple in a sentence.

Question

In an interrogative sentence, the word order is reversed: did + subject + verb. This grammatical formula indicates that the auxiliary verb did comes first in the English question, which is not translated into Russian and again "takes" the past tense from the main verb. Subjects are placed on the second, and the verb itself without the part of the particle to is in third place.

What have we learned?

Today the focus is on the English temporal form Past Simple Tense or Simple Past for Grade 2. The examples were considered the main cases of the use of this time. The tables of formation of the affirmative, interrogative and negative form helped to understand the tasks, how to explain the formation of the verb in Past Simple and how to make sentences with them.

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The Past Simple is used to express an action in the past. The formation of the affirmative form depends on whether the verb is correct or not. Irregular verbs have 3 forms that you will need to learn. If the verb belongs to this category, then the 2nd form of the verb is taken or V2: I woke up - I woke up, we made - we did, he sang - he sang.

Regular verbs are formed by adding the ending -ed to the stem of the verb: they laughed - they laughed, I typed - I typed, she cleaned - she cleaned.

negative form

The formation of Past Simple in the negative form occurs with the help of the auxiliary verb to do in Past Indefinite and the particle not, to which the infinitive of the semantic verb is added.

He did not write. - He didn't write.

We did not make. - We did not.

note

The last sample shows an abbreviated form of negation, it is also reflected in oral speech.

Interrogative form

To ask a question, you just need to move did to the beginning of the sentence, the order of the rest of the words remains the same.

Did he write? Did we make? Did they clean?

Passive design

In the passive voice, the main verb in the 3rd form or the verb with the ending -ed is preceded by an auxiliary to be in the Past Simple. The table includes formulas for two voices for comparison.

Active and passive voice in Past Indefinite

Use cases

Explore the options for using the Past Simple. The rules say that this tense denotes events that happened in the past. However, Past Simple Tense can be both in the context of the past and the present. It is used in the following cases.

To express a one-time action

The event happened once in the past. Often, the time of the action is indicated, usually it refers to the past tense, but the simple past tense also occurs with such adverbs of time as: tonight, this morning, today, etc.

I only passed exams two months ago. I passed my exams only two months ago.

I saw her in the school this morning. I saw her at school this morning.

The time of action can be implied in a situation by mentioning the place of events or other concomitant circumstances that can be expressed in Past Indefinite. The rules do not specify such options - you need to pay attention to the context itself.

She ate chocolate hearts in Paris. She ate chocolate hearts in Paris.

He called me at breakfast to tell the last news. He called me at breakfast to tell me the latest news.

There are cases when mentioning the time or place is not necessary, because. the speaker and the listener understand what the event is about.

I didn`t understand what he said. “I didn't understand what he said.

He didn't mean to hurt her feelings. He didn't mean to offend her.

Question in Past Indefinite.

To express events that happened in a certain period

At the same time, the action itself has already ended, the period during which it took place is indicated. A period of time is usually indicated using adverbial phrases with the prepositions for, during and synonymous expressions.

Wed argue for 5 days. We argued for 5 days.

Last year I traveled to Brazil during my summer holidays. – Last year, during the summer holidays, I went to Brazil.

To Express Successive Events

Such examples can be found in the narrative.

I came there very early, then I cleaned the place and prepared everything. I got there very early, then cleaned up and got everything ready.

Actions in this case can be both one-time and take the entire period of time. In the latter case, the prepositional phrases for, from...to, during or the phrases all night, all day, etc. can be used in the phrase.

To indicate a repetitive action

In this case, as a rule, the circumstances of frequency are also used: never, now, often, for weeks, again, sometimes, etc.

You often reminded me of him. You often reminded me of him.

Sometimes he found this story too good to be true. “Sometimes he thought the story was too good to be true.

To express permanent action

In this case, the subject is given a general characteristic.

She wore her hair in a high ponytail. She wore a high ponytail.

note

The verb wear can be used not only with clothes, in English you can also “wear” hair, i.e. hairstyle.

He lived in Spain for 6 years and still didn't speak Spanish quite well. He lived in Spain for 6 years and still didn't speak Spanish very well.

Instead of Past Continuous

To express events happening at the moment in the past. The past continuous tense is not used with state verbs and is replaced in these cases by Past Simple. Example sentences will help you better understand what is being said.

At that moment he wanted her to tell the truth. At that moment, he wanted her to tell the truth.

Also, the replacement of Continuous by Simple can occur with certain indefinite verbs. They can express thought processes, perception, feelings, emotions: remember, shine, gleam, lie, think, trust, etc. And substitution is also relevant in cases where events are treated as facts, and attention is focused precisely on circumstances, in which they occurred.

He talked very fast, as if he had no time at all. He spoke so fast as if he didn't have time at all.

The street lights went off, but the moon gleamed and he could see her window. The street lights went out, but the moon was shining and he could see her window.

The future time event is viewed from the past

This use of time is found in indirect speech and dependent structures. It can be found in concessive subordinate clauses, as well as time and conditions; at the same time, Future-in-the-Past or modal verbs can be in the main clause.

She would, if she thought it effective, lie to him. “She could lie if she thought it would be of any use.

Do the exercises in Past Simple - describe everything you see in the picture using the time you have learned.

Exercises Past Simple.

Remember that often, when using this tense, it is the very fact of the action that is important to the speaker and the conversation is not focused on the event as a continuing process.

Watch the video tutorial to consolidate the material:

We continue to study the tenses of the English language. Consider the Past Simple tense - the past indefinite tense in English. Before you familiarize yourself with the Past Simple table, it is advisable to learn how to use In addition to the structure of the sentence and the cases of using this time, I will draw your attention in this article to the shortcomings of students, and Past Simple table will help us with this.

Past Simple time is used:

to express an action that happened sometime in the past and is not related to the present. In this case, the moment of the action is either indicated with the help of marker words, or implied. For example: We bought a flat (yesterday). We bought an apartment (yesterday).

to describe a series of successive actions in the past. For example: He woke up, cleaned his teeth, had breakfast and walked to school.

to express an action that in the past took a certain period of time (it is indicated by the words for and during). For example: She didn't speak for an hour.

marker words(read more about marker words in the article) for Past Simple: yesterday, last week (month, year, autumn), in 2013, 3 days ago. Also, indicators of the past tense in English are the words when (when) and where (where)- an indication of some time in the past. Therefore, the Past Simple table is useful to you, in particular, for questions that begin with When? and where? For example: Where did you go?

Conventions for the table Past Simple (The Past Indefinite Tense):
V- verb - verb
S- subject - subject (who? what?)
Ved- a regular verb with an ending - ed ("correct" refers to verbs that form the affirmative form of The Past Indefinite Tense according to the rule - by adding the ending -ed to the main form of the verb e.g. I work - I work ed(I work - I worked))
V2- “irregular” verb in the second form (“irregular” is called verbs that form the affirmative form of The Past Indefinite Tense not according to the rule (by adding the ending -ed to the main form of the verb), but by changing the main form. To do this, you need to use the verb, standing in the second column of the table of irregular verbs, e.g. I go - I went (I go - I went). To determine whether this verb is correct or incorrect, you just need to learn all the irregular verbs :) (there are 218 of them in English, of which 190 are widely used - 195). Then, when forming a statement in the past indefinite tense, you can confidently add the ending -ed to those verbs that are not in the table of irregular verbs.

THE PAST INDEFINITE TENSE
(THE PAST SIMPLE)

past indefinite tense

affirmative form
+

I hope everything is clear with the statement in the past tense. The situation is more complicated with questions - general and special. In the video below, it is accessible and easy to talk about how to compose questions in Past Indefinite Tense.

Interrogative form
?

Wh-?
Special questions

(begin with special words)

negative form
—

Interrogative-negative form
(Speaking)
?-

Schematically the structure of a sentence in past simple can be shown like this:

+
S+V2(ed)

?
Did+S+V?

Wh-?
Wh + did + S + V?

–
S + didn't + V

? –
Didn't + S + V?

Such a scheme can be printed out and, together with others, pasted into a notebook, for example, a ready-made cheat sheet, where everything is short and concise.

The past indefinite tense of the English language is usually easy for students - some have heard about irregular verbs and already before the start of studying this tense they managed to learn the well-known “three columns”, and someone is attracted by the presence of only one auxiliary verb did when constructing a question and a negative. Sometimes, however, students forget about the ending - ed in the affirmative form. Past Simple table (The Past Indefinite Tense) is simple and will be understandable to anyone, the main thing is to immediately understand and not delay with practice.