THE PAST SIMPLE
When do we use it?
• For actions that started and
finished in the past
• For a list of completed actions in
the past
• To describe an action in a time
period that started and stopped in
the past
How do we form it?
For regular verbs:
You take the verb base, i.e. ´play´and
add ´ed´ to the end
For irregular verbs:
There isn´t a pattern – you just have to
learn them!
So, actions that started and finished in the past…
I watched a film yesterday
I travelled to Japan last year
She played tennis last week
THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!
A list of completed actions in the past…
After work, I…
walked home,
changed my clothes,
watched some tv and
cooked some food.
THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!
And actions in a time period that started and
stopped in the past…
I lived in Colombia for 2 years
We talked on the phone for an hour
He waited at the airport with his bag
THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!
Most useful irregular verbs
Base form Past tense
Be Was, were
Do Did
Drink Drank
Eat Ate
Forget Forgot
Know Knew
Leave Left
Past simple

Past simple

  • 2.
  • 3.
    When do weuse it? • For actions that started and finished in the past • For a list of completed actions in the past • To describe an action in a time period that started and stopped in the past
  • 4.
    How do weform it? For regular verbs: You take the verb base, i.e. ´play´and add ´ed´ to the end For irregular verbs: There isn´t a pattern – you just have to learn them!
  • 5.
    So, actions thatstarted and finished in the past… I watched a film yesterday I travelled to Japan last year She played tennis last week THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!
  • 6.
    A list ofcompleted actions in the past… After work, I… walked home, changed my clothes, watched some tv and cooked some food. THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!
  • 7.
    And actions ina time period that started and stopped in the past… I lived in Colombia for 2 years We talked on the phone for an hour He waited at the airport with his bag THESE ARE ALL REGULAR VERBS!
  • 8.
    Most useful irregularverbs Base form Past tense Be Was, were Do Did Drink Drank Eat Ate Forget Forgot Know Knew Leave Left