Simple Past Tense
English Grammar
In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started and finished at a definite time in the past.
How to form the Past Tense in English
The main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in the past tense.
(The exception is the Past tense of To Be, which has two forms: was and were)
(The exception is the Past tense of To Be, which has two forms: was and were)
This is totally different from other languages such as Spanish, French, Italian etc. where you change the verb ending for every subject.
For example: The past tense of the verb want is wanted.
Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects/pronouns.
Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects/pronouns.
- I wanted
- You wanted
- He wanted
- She wanted
- It wanted
- We wanted
- They wanted
Past Tense Regular Verbs
To change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add –ED to the end of the verb.
- play – played
- cook – cooked
- rain – rained
- wait – waited
Negative sentences in the Past Tense
We use didn't (did not) to make a negative sentence in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)
Compare the following:
Present: They don't live in Canada.
Past: They didn't live in Canada.
Past: They didn't live in Canada.
The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The auxiliary DIDN'T shows that the sentence is negative AND in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only difference between a negative sentence in the present tense and a negative sentence in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
Both don't and doesn't in the present tense become didn't in the past tense.
Compare the negative sentences in the examples below:
Present: You don't need a mechanic.
Past: You didn't need a mechanic.
Past: You didn't need a mechanic.
Present: You don't walk to work.
Past: You didn't walk to work.
Past: You didn't walk to work.
Present: He doesn't speak Japanese.
Past: He didn't speak Japanese.
Past: He didn't speak Japanese.
Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense
- I didn't want to go to the dentist.
- She didn't have time.
- You didn't close the door.
- He didn't come to my party.
- They didn't study so they didn't pass the test.
- We didn't sleep well last night.
Exercise 1: Negative of simple past
Exercise 2: Regular verbs: -d / -ed / -ied
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