1. The Simple Past Tense

2. Outlines
Definition
Structure
Forms
Uses
Comparison
Conclusion

3. What is simple past tense?
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

4. What is simple past tense?
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

5. Structure Subject + Verb 2 + Object + Extension
Example : I saw two colorful fishes in the lake yesterday.

6. **Be careful with spelling changes!
For regular verbs, simply use the –ed form of the verb in a positive sentence.
played
When I was a child, I ___________ the piano.
Donna ______________ and _______________ in Paris when she was younger.
lived
studied
**Be careful with
spelling changes!

7. Unfortunately, these forms must be memorized!
For irregular verbs, use the correct past tense form in positive sentences.
Unfortunately, these forms must be memorized!
Last week, I ___________ you a letter.
The students _____________ a speech in English. They __________ a great job!
sent
gave
did

8. I, He, She, It WAS They, We, You WERE The verb BE
Remember the forms of verb BE for the simple past tense:
I, He, She, It WAS
They, We, You WERE

9. Forms
Past simple tense can be formed in three types of sentence. They are as follows-
Positive
Negative
Question

10. Simple Past (Positive)
For all verbs use:
past form
of VERB +
subject
Example : Sara worked yesterday.

11. Simple Past (Negative)
For all verbs (EXCEPT be), use:
simple form
of VERB +
didn't
Example : Sara didn't work yesterday.

12. VERB BE (Negative)
For this verb ONLY, never use didn’t. Simply ADD the word NOT after the verb.
I was tired. I was NOT tired.

13. Simple Past (Question)
For all verbs (EXCEPT be), use:
Did + subject + verb 1 + object?
Example : Did he go to Dhaka?

14. VERB BE (Question)
For this verb ONLY, never use did.
I was tired. Was I tired?

15. Uses
1. To describe actions and situations that happened in the past. These actions and situations were started and finished in the past .
Example : We arrived at 9:00 o'clock.

16. 2. To talk about habitual or repeated actions that took place in the past. Example : We often went there To tell a story and to express actions which follow each other in a story. Example : She opened her bag, took out the key and unlocked the door.

17. 4. To refer to the historical past or to events
4.To refer to the historical past or to events. Example : World War II ended in For reporting what someone said. Example : David said that he was tired.

18. 6. For making second conditional sentences
6. For making second conditional sentences. Example : If he told me , I would help him To talk about action in the past that take place in the middle of another action. Example : When Peter arrived, I was reading a book.

19.  8. The sentence often contains an adverb or adverb phrase of time, such as yesterday, the other day, last night, last week, three days ago, a few minutes ago, in (year), from (year) to (year), etc. Example : We came here in 1980.

20. Comparisons
Simple Past vs. Past Continuous
When do we use
each tense?

21. Use the simple past for:
1) action that happened in the past and is . . .
over, done, finished
Use the past continuous for:
action that was in progress at a specific point in the past OR
2) focusing on an action that continued for a long time in the past
Examples . . .

22. Compare the meaning of these two sentences:
1. Tom visited us last week.
2. Lisa and her husband were visiting us last week.
The first sentence uses:
Simple Past
The second sentence uses:
Past Continuous

23. Questions about past tense
You are warmly welcome to ask us.