Past Simple

Form

Regular Verbs

Affirmative: (add -ed or -d to the base form of the verb)
I worked, I played, I hoped etc.

Negative: (add did not or didn"t before the base form)
I didn't work etc.

Question: ( add did plus subject before the base form)
Did you work? etc.

Irregular Verbs

There is only one simple past verb which has two forms according to person. That is the verb "to be" which has the forms "was" (used with I, he, she, and it), and "were" ( used with you, we and they). For all other verbs, the form stay the same for all persons.

Many common verbs in English have an irregular simple past form ( i.e. one that is not created imply by adding ed). Unfortunately, there are no rules to help student know which are irregular, or how they are formed.

For example:

Base Form Past Simple Base Form Past Simple
see saw come came
have had drink drank
make made find found
do did let let
eat ate put put
go went sleep slept
forget forgot think thought
catch caught write wrote
take took understand understood
give gave know knew
get got say said
be was/were pay paid

Usages

It is used for actions completed at a definite time in the past. It is therefore used:

*For the past action when the time is given.

-I met him yesterday.
-Pasteur died in 1890.
-Their time expired 30 seconds ago.

* When the time is asked about.

-When did you met him?
-When did the Second World War break out?

*When the action clearly took place at a definite time even though this time is not mentioned.

-The train arrived ten minutes late.
-How did you get your present job?
-We sold our Porsche a long time ago.
-My grandmother met Queen Victoria.

*Sometimes the time becomes definite as a result of a question and answer in the present perfect.

-Where have you been? - I've been to the Opera. Did you enjoy it?

It's probably worth pointing out to students that if they see the word ago, then the tense associated with it is probably going to be the past simple.

Common Mistakes/ Error

Most mistakes/errors with this tense arise from the use of did and did not for questions and negatives, and use of irregular verb. Usage problems often lead to confusion with present perfect tense.

Sample Activate Teaching Ideas

* To teach the irregular verb forms: card games, such as memory pairs, etc. matching present tense with past (go-went)
* Narrative story telling in conjunction with past continuous and past perfect.
* Curriculum Vitae
* Interview Role-Play
* Discussing past holidays/major events,etc.