1. Form (structure) Meaning & Use
SIMPLE PAST TENSE
Form (structure)
Meaning & Use

2. How do we form the simple past tense . . .?
English has two types of verbs in the past tense:
taught
walked
studied
gave
became
cried
lived
did
irregular
regular
Regular verbs
Irregular verbs
regular
irregular
irregular
Look at the following list of past tense verbs…
which verbs are regular, and which are irregular?
regular
regular
irregular

3. Regular verbs are verbs that ….
…end with –ed
Simple Form Past Tense
Walk
Study
Play
Live
walk ed
studi ed
play ed
liv ed

4. When I was a child, I ___________ the piano.
For regular verbs, simply use the –ed form of the verb in a positive sentence.
When I was a child, I ___________ the piano.
Donna ______________ and _______________ in Paris when she was younger.
played
lived
studied

5. For negative sentences,USE
DiD Not
verb
simple
form + or
I studied a lot yesterday.
Carl didn’t study because he was at the hospital.
didn't

6. For interrogative sentences,USE
verb
simple
form
DiD +
I studied a lot yesterday.
Did Carl study yesterday?

7. The verb be is special. Was + not or were Exception = VERB BE!
Never use DID NOT or DIDN’T with the verb BE. Instead, just use:
Was +
not or
were

8. Meaning & Use in.... last week last month yesterday ago last year
In what situations do English speakers use
the simple past tense?
Completed actions in the past.
What are some common time expressions used with the past tense?
in....
last month
yesterday
last week
ago
last year

9. Examples: These actions are over, finished!
I talked to Maria yesterday.
Last week, we visited our grandparents.
They were at a wedding party
two days ago.
These actions
are over, finished!