This document provides an overview of English grammar rules for the simple past tense. It begins by defining English grammar and its importance for correct language use. It then covers the basic structure of the simple past tense, including forms for regular and irregular verbs. Examples are provided to illustrate usage. The remainder of the document provides exercises for learners to practice forming and using the simple past tense in sentences.

1. UNIVERSITY OF PANAMA
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE
BY
PROFESSOR MARISOL ORTEGA DE ALVAREZ

2. English grammar is a set of rules that describe the structure of the
language. We use grammar all the time when we speak or write. The
study of grammar is necessary for the correct use of the English
language; especially, the written language since the written language
is more formal than the spoken language. The spoken language or
literary dialogue puts up with many grammar mistakes that are part of
a person, or cultural group, or part of the written language of the
author of an article or literary work. Grammar is the structural
foundation of our ability to express ourselves. The more we are aware
of how it works, the more we can monitor the meaning and
effectiveness of the way we and others use language. It can help
foster precision, detect ambiguity, and exploit the richness of
expression available in English. And it can help everyone--not only
teachers of English, but teachers of anything, for all teaching is
ultimately a matter of getting to grips with meaning. (David Crystal, "In
Word and Deed," TES Teacher, April 30, 2004)

3. Structure:
I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they + VERB (PAST FORM) + Complement
Positive Negative Yes/no
question
Wh-question
He stayed in
Panama.
He didn’t stay in
Panama.
Did he stay in
Panama?
Where did he
stay?
THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE
Note: When the auxiliary did is used in the sentence, the verb goes
back to its base form.

4. Present Past
work worked
start started
end ended
SPELLING
A final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is
doubled.
admit – admitted
A final y after a consonant becomes i. study – studied
A final y after a vowel stays the same. play - played
The past tense of a regular verb is formed by adding “ed” to the verb.
Examples:

5.  We use the Simple Past to express the idea that an
action started and finished at a specific time in the
past.
Examples:
I saw a movie yesterday.
He came with his brother.
They studied for two hours.
 The Simple Past can also be used to describe past
facts or generalizations which are no longer true.
Examples:
I didn’t like apples before.
They lived in England two years ago.
He had two houses, but he sold them.

6. ASSIGNMENT
Order the following sentences using the past tense.
1. It a lot rain
___________________________________
2. My help me mother
________________________________
3. They street cross
___________________________________
4. yesterday they come
_____________________________________
5. stay Bill home
______________________________________

7. Change the following sentences to questions
beginning with the given question word.
1. The lesson began at 7 o clock. What time ________________?
2. They got home at 9 o clock last night What time ______________?
3. Those books cost four dollars. How much ___________________?
4. They traveled by plane. How _______________________?
5. They met at the restaurant. Where ___________ ?
6. They lived in Panama. Where___________________?
7. She taught us spelling. What _______________?
8. They ate apples for dinner. _________________?

8. Write down the past tense form of the following words. Mind
the exceptions in spelling.
Have __________________
Sit ____________________
Run ___________________
Stop ___________________
Lie _____________________
End ____________________
Play ___________________
Begin __________________
Agree __________________
Cry ____________________

9.  We use 'used to' when we want to emphasize that something
happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.
Structure:
 The structure used to + infinitive only exists in the past.
Examples:
I used to play tennis when I was young.
She used to teach physics at the University of Panama.

10. We also use it when we want to emphasize that something was
true but no longer is.
Examples:
I didn’t use to like green apples, but now I do.
He used to come very often, but now he doesn’t
Yes /no question structure:
Yes/no question: Did + subject + use to+ verb+?
Example:
Did you use to like green apples when you were a child?

11. Wh –question structure:
Wh-question word + aux did + subject + use to + verb +?
Example:
What did you use to eat when you were a child?
Notice that use goes back to its base form because the
auxiliary did is being used in the sentence.

12. Complete the sentences with the appropriate form of
used to and the verb in brackets.
1. It is difficult for Bill to drive in Panama. He ____________________(drive) on
such narrow streets.
2. Gloria didn’t ___________________ (have) a blackberry, but now she does.
3. Computers _________________(be) very expensive. Now the prices are
more reasonable.
4. People from Jamaica __________________ (eat) spicy food. They find our
food tasteless.
5. When Carlos was young, he ________________ (ride) a bicycle to school.

13. Verb to be – Simple past
Singular Plural
I was We were
You were You were
He was They were
She was
It was

14. Examples:
 I was a student.
 My husband was happy.
 She was nice.
 You were sick.
 It was a beautiful picture.
 We were wet.
 You were friends.
 The students were in class.

15. Negative form
Full form Contracted form
I was not I wasn't
You were not You weren't
He was not He wasn't
She was not She wasn't
It was not It wasn't
We were not We weren't
You were not You weren't

16. Examples:
 Peter wasn't happy.
 Gloria wasn't tall.
 The house wasn't new.
 The house was not clean.
 We weren't early.
 The men were not smart.
 His friends weren't rich.

17. Question Form
Singular Plural
Was I ______? Were we _____?
Were you ______? Were you ______?
Was he _____?
Were they _____?
Was she _____?
Was it _____?

18. Examples:
 Was I late?
 Was the book expensive?
 Were Peter and Andres at school?
 Were your sisters singers?
 Were you busy last night?

19. Complete each sentence with the past tense form of the
verb "be."
 1. Andres and Marisol ______ here last night. (be)
 2. There ______ a good movie on TV last night. (be)
 3. You and I _______ in the classroom this morning.
(be)
 4. She _______ at home yesterday. (be)
 5. They ______ at the store. (be)
 6. The offices ________ closed. (be)
 7. You _______ a good soccer player some years ago.
(be)

20. Complete each question with the past tense form of
the verb "be."
 1. ________ she here last month?
 2. ________ I helpful?
 3. ________ it a bad car accident?
 4. ________ the store employees friendly?
 5. ________ a doctor available?
 6. ________ we here before?
 7. ________ the man interested in the book?

21. Complete each sentence using the contracted negative
form of the past tense of the verb "be“ (wasn't / weren't).
 1. He ________ at work on yesterday
 2. It _________ a difficult test.
 3. You _________ in love with her.
 4. I __________ online last night.
 5. The performers __________ very funny.
 6. There __________ any oranges in the bowl.
 7. The leaders of the organization ________
sensible