Past Simple

Listed below are examples, uses and structure of the Past Simple followed by a quiz.

Examples	Usage
Where did you go yesterday? The flight left at 8 o'clock. They didn't come last night.	Finished past actions, definite past
Common past time expressions include:	last (week, year, night), yesterday, ago, in 1987, when I was a child.

Structure
In the positive form, for regular verbs, add an -ed to the base form of the verb. If the verb ends in -y preceded by a consonant, change the -y to -ied
I You He She It We You They	arrived late last night. (regular verb) came back late last night. (irregular verb)

Use the conjugated helping verb 'did' not (didn't) the base form of the verb to make negatives.

I You He She It We You They

didn't go to New York last week.

Use the conjugated helping verb 'did' subject the base form of the verb in question forms.

When Did

I You He She It We You They

leave yesterday?

Past Simple Quiz

Tom Answer bought(buy) a new house last month.

When Answer did they arrive(they/arrive) last week?

She Answer didn't understand(not/understand) the question yesterday.

Fred Answer took(take) a lot of pictures on his holiday last summer.

What Answer did you get(you/get) for your birthday?

They Answer didn't remember to get the bread this morning!

Alice Answer played(play) tennis this morning.

Where Answer did you go(you/go) last weekend?

I Answer wanted(want) to buy that computer, but it was too expensive.

Why Answer didn't they come(they/not/come)?