In English, unlike Russian, 16 tenses of the verb. Most language learners think that using tenses is the most difficult topic in grammar. But if you know how and when to use them, then there will be no difficulties, and English will be easier to learn. Consider Past Simple in this article - rules and examples that will help you better understand this time.
When is Pasta Simple used?
Past Simple, or Past Simple Tense - simple past tense in English, indicating a repeated or one-time action in the past. It is formed using the -ed ending in regular verbs and by changing the root in irregular ones in affirmative sentences. But it also happens that the verb does not change and has the same form in the simple past, perfect past and participle II. Therefore, the form of irregular verbs in the past tense must be learned by heart. It is very simple to distinguish a correct verb from an irregular one - if the verb is not in the list of irregular ones, then it is correct. There are about 200 irregular verbs in English, and each of them has 3 forms - simple past, perfect past and participle II. But there is no need to learn all 200 verbs, since only half of them are in active use.
Every time in English has time markers - these are adverbs that indicate when the action occurred. In Past Simple, this is:
According to British English, adverbs of time are used at the end of a sentence. The use case at the beginning of the sentence is allowed, which is undesirable, and the use in the middle of the sentence is considered a gross mistake.
The auxiliary verb in Paste Simple is the past form of the verb do - did, which is used in negative and interrogative sentences.
But this rule does not apply to the verb to be - to be, in which all 3 forms - affirmation, negation and question - are formed using the verb to be itself.
Below we consider examples of Past Simple with translation in the formation of affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.
Affirmative offers
Affirmative sentences in English in Past Simple are formed in 2 ways:
- regular verbs add the ending - ed;
work - worked;
call - called;
use - used.
- for the wrong ones, the root itself changes.
break - broke;
put - put;
get - got.
How do verbs in Past Simple conjugate? Examples will help to understand this issue.
I called - I called.
You called - You called.
He called - He called.
She called - She called.
It called - He / She / it called / la / lo.
We called - We called.
They called - They called.
How is the verb to be used in Part Simple ? Examples of the following suggestions will help to understand this issue.
I was a pupil (I was / was a student / student).
You were a pupil.
He was a pupil.
She was a pupil.
We were a pupil.
They were a pupil.
The verb to be is irregular and in Past Simple has 2 forms - was for 1, 2, 3 singular and were - for 1, 2, 3 faces of the plural.
In this example, there is no sentence with the pronoun it, since it denotes inanimate objects, and they cannot be students. The pronoun it refers to the singular and with it the verb to be has the form was.
It was an interesting film (It was an interesting film).
Negative offers
Negation is formed using did and the particle not. Two options are possible in a letter: did not and didn't, but the latter is more often used.
How is the question formed in the Sast Sample ? Examples:
I didn't work.
You didn't work.
He didn't work.
She didn't work.
It didn't work (He / She / It didn't work / la / lo).
We didn't work.
They didn't work.
For the verb to be, the form in Past Simple will have the following form:
I was not here yesterday.
You weren't here yesterday. (We were not here yesterday).
He was not here yesterday.
She was not here yesterday.
It wasn't here yesterday (He / she was not here yesterday).
We weren't here yesterday.
They weren't here yesterday.
Interrogative sentences
The question is formed using did according to the following formula:
The formula shown in the picture shows how questions are posed in Past Simple . The examples below will help to better understand and consolidate it.
Did I call? - I called?
Did you call? - You called?
Did he call? -He called?
Did she call? - She called?
Did it call? - She / she / it called / la / lo?
Did we call? - We called?
Did they call? - They called?
If the sentence contains the so-called Wh-questions, then did will be used after them. Consider in more detail their use in Past Simple. Examples:
Did you go to the school yesterday? “Did you go to school yesterday?”
Did Henry buy his car two years ago? - Henry bought a car 2 years ago?
When did they call you? - When did they call you?
A variant is possible not only with did, but also didn’t.
Didn't they help you? “They didn't help you?”
Didn't Sarah and John go to the birthday party? “Sarah and John didn't go to the birthday party?”
Didn 't his daughter call him? “Didn't his daughter call him?”
With wh-questions and other questions, the auxiliary verb is used after the question.
When did they go to the office? - When did they go (go) to the office?
Where did they live when he was a small boy? “Where did they live when he was a little boy?”
How many questions did you ask? - How many questions did you ask?
In the same way, the verb to be is formed in the form of Past Simple . Examples:
Was he at school yesterday? - He was at school yesterday?
Were you in Italy 2 years ago? - You (you) were (was) in Italy two years ago?
Was Peter in the birthday? - Peter was at a party?
Who was this man with you? - Who was this man with you?
When were you in India? - When did you (were) be in India?
When learning English, there will be no problems with grammar, and in particular with Past Simple. Rules and examples for understanding grammar are the best helpers.