This document provides information about using the past simple tense in English. It discusses both regular and irregular verbs. For regular verbs, the base form takes "-ed" for affirmative statements. Negatives use "did not/didn't" plus the base form. Questions use "did" plus the subject and base form. Spelling rules are provided for regular verbs. Examples are given to illustrate the use of the past simple tense.

1. PAST SIMPLE
REGULAR
VERBS
IRREGULAR
VERBS

2. WE USE IT :
to talk about a completed action in a time before now.
The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past.
She finished her homework at four o'clock.
He played the guitar when he was a child.
Yesterday, I arrived in Bilbo.
I saw a good film last week.
They went to the theatre last night.
He sent me a letter three weeks ago.
Susan left twenty minutes ago.

3. SUBJECT
+ BASE FORM+ED/ IRREGULAR FORM
REGULAR VERBS
I
YOU
HE
SHE
IT
WE
YOU
THEY
PLAYED
DECIDED
DISCOVERED
ARRIVED
ATE
FLEW
WENT
LEFT
AFFIRMATIVES
RUGBY WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
TO STUDY FRENCH.
AMERICA IN 1492.
IN LONDON AT 4 a.m..
THE BONE IN A MINUTE.
TO BERLIN WITH IBERIA.
TO THE CINEMA LAST SUNDAY.
FOR SCHOOL AT 7.30.
IRREGULAR VERBS

4. SUBJECT + DID NOT / DIDN’T + BASE FORM ( REG/IRREG.)
NEGATIVES
I
YOU
HE
SHE
IT
WE
YOU
THEY
DIDN’T
DID NOT
DIDN’T
DID NOT
DIDN’T
DID NOT
DIDN’T
DID NOT
PLAY
DECIDE
DISCOVER
ARRIVE
EAT
FLY
GO
LEAVE
RUGBY WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
TO STUDY FRENCH.
AMERICA IN 1492.
IN LONDON AT 4 a.m..
THE BONE IN A MINUTE.
TO BERLIN WITH IBERIA.
TO THE CINEMA LAST SUNDAY.
FOR SCHOOL AT 7.30.

5. DID + SUBJECT
+ BASE FORM ( REG / IRREG)
?
QUESTIONS
DID
DID
DID
DID
DID
DID
DID
DID
I
YOU
HE
SHE
IT
WE
YOU
THEY
PLAY
DECIDE
DISCOVER
ARRIVE
EAT
FLY
GO
LEAVE
RUGBY WHEN I WAS YOUNG?
TO STUDY FRENCH?
AMERICA IN 1492?
IN LONDON AT 4 a.m.?
THE BONE IN A MINUTE?
TO BERLIN WITH IBERIA?
TO THE CINEMA LAST SUNDAY?
FOR SCHOOL AT 7.30?

6. REGULAR VERBS / AFFIRMATIVES
SPELLING RULES
•VERBS ENDING WITH A SILENT –E.
•DROP THE –E
DECIDE-DECIDED
•1 SYLLABLE VERBS ENDING IN 1 VOWEL+1CONSONANT.
•DOUBLE FINAL CONSONANT
STOP-STOPPED
•2 SYLLABLE VERBS, STRESSED IN THE LAST SYLLABLE.
•DOUBLE FINAL CONSONANT
PREFER-PREFERRED
•VERBS ENDING IN –L.
•DOUBLE THE –L
TRAVEL-TRAVELLED
•VERBS ENDING IN CONSONANT+Y.
•THE –Y CHANGES INTO AN –I
CARRY-CARRIED

7. TIME EXPRESSIONS
(A
WEEK, TWO YEARS, THREE HOURS….) AGO
LAST NIGHT, YEAR, …
AT (A TIME)
ON (DAY OF THE WEEK, DATE)
IN THE PAST, IN (YEAR, MONTH)
YESTERDAY