As you know, in English there are four present, past and future tenses (active voice). Their study usually begins with the Simple group (simple times). This article will cover Present Simple Tense, its usage guidelines, and examples.
Past Simple Tense
Past Simple is used when it comes to an action that happened in the past. For this, accurate time markers are used, such as:
- yesterday
- the day before yesterday;
- five days ago (5 days ago);
- last year / month (last year / month);
- in 1992 (in 1992).
For clarity, the table below will be Past Simple, but first, let's look at how the proposal is built.
In order to build an affirmative sentence in Past Simple, you must use the verb in the second form. This means that if it is correct, the -ed ending is added to it. But if it’s wrong, then it must be put in the second form. Irregular verbs must be known by heart!
For instance:
- Yesterday I met my neighbor in the supermarket. He shared with me the latest news. - Yesterday I met my neighbor in the supermarket. He shared the latest news with me.
- I visited my lovely country - Greece in 2016. - I visited my beloved country Greece in 2016.
In order to build a negative sentence in Past Simple, you need to use the auxiliary verb did, to which the not particle is added. It should be remembered that the semantic verb will already be in the first form:
- Yesterday I did not (didn't) meet my neighbor in the supermarket. He didn't share with me the latest news. - Yesterday I did not meet my neighbor in the supermarket. He did not tell me the latest news.
- I didn't visit my lovely country - Greece in 2016. - I did not visit my beloved country Greece in 2016.
The auxiliary verb did, which comes first, is also used to form the interrogative sentence. Moreover, the semantic verb, as well as in the negative sentence, is used in the first form:
- Did I meet my neighbor in the supermarket yesterday? Did he share the latest news? “Did I meet my neighbor at the supermarket yesterday?” Did he share the latest news?
- Did I visit my lovely country - Greece in 2016? - Did I visit my beloved country Greece in 2016?
Past Simple Table
For better learning and memorization, we advise you to draw up such tables for each time studied, and then make a summary version, which will be useful throughout the training.
| Simple | Continuous | Perfect (complete) | Perfect Continuous |
| Past (past) | The action happened in the past. There is no result in the present. Words pointers: yesterday, two days ago, last year, in 2008, etc. Education: - affirmative form: the verb in the second form (with the ending -ed);
- interrogative and negative forms: using the auxiliary verb -ed.
+ I played hockey yesterday. - I didn't play hockey yesterday. Did I play hockey yesterday? Important! In interrogative and negative sentences - a semantic verb - in the first form. | fill in during the training | fill in during the training | fill in during the training |
This is how the Past Simple generalized table looks.
The use of verbs
Special attention should be paid to Past Simple verbs. If it is correct, then the -ed ending is added. It should be remembered that when the verb ends with -y, and before it there is a consonant, the letter -y changes to -i.
For example, dry - dried (try), try - tried (try), but play - played (play).
If the verb is incorrect, then its second form is used:
1) I went to the shop yesterday and met my old friend. - I went to the store yesterday and met my old friend.
went - the second form of the verb go (walk); met is the second form of the meet verb.
2) My daughter swept the floor every day during last week. - My daughter sweeping the floor every day last week.
swept is the second form of the sweep verb (sweep).
Practice exercises
1. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form. Translate into Russian.
Yesterday I (walk) on the way to work. I (see) a lot of beautiful parks on my way. It (to be) an excitin experience. My family (move) to this city 2 months ago. We (not like) it at first. But yesterday I (understand) that it is really gorgeous place!
2. Fill out the table by putting the verbs in the correct form. Make a translation (if required).
| watch | | watch |
| swept | |
| | understand |
| went | |
| feed | | feed |
| can | | |
| | to fly |
| be | | |
| tried | |
| | play |
Past Simple vs Present Perfect
I would like to pay special attention to the fact that many people confuse when it is necessary to use Past Simple (the table above), and when Present Perfect. Present completed tense is used when it comes to an action that actually happened in the past, but at the same time it has a result in the present. For instance:
I can’t open the door, I have lost the keys. - I cannot open the door, I have lost my key.
BUT!
I lost my keys last week. - I lost my key last week.
In the first sentence we see the result - the person has lost the keys and now cannot open the door. In the second sentence, a fact is simply stated. Also, do not forget about the pointer words that will help us determine the correct time.