Past Simple - Rules

Question 1

Positive sentences

Answer 1

Subject + main verb (conjugated in past simple)

I went to school. [verb: irregular, go/went]

There is no auxiliary verb. The main verb is conjugated in the Past Simple, invariable: -ed (or irregular)

Question 2

Negative sentences

Answer 2

Subject + auxiliary did [all pronoun] + main verb INFINITIVE

She did not go with me

The auxiliary is conjugated in the Past Simple, invariable: did
The main verb is invariable in base form: base
For negative sentences, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb.
For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the auxiliary verb.

Question 3

Question sentences

Answer 3

auxiliary did [all pronoun] + Subject + main verb

Did you go to London? No, I did not go to London / Yes, I went to London

The auxiliary is conjugated in the Past Simple, invariable: did
The main verb is invariable in base form: base
For negative sentences, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb.
For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the auxiliary verb.

Question 4

Past Simple (verb be) - Singular

Answer 4

Subject + main verb be (was)

I/he/she/it was here.

Question 5

Past Simple (be verb) - Plural

Answer 5

Subject + main verb be (were)

You/we/they were not happy.

Question 6

Question in Past Simple (Be verb)

Answer 6

verb be (was/were) + Subject + main verb

Was I/he/she/it right?
Were You/we/they late?

Question 7

Application the past simple

Answer 7

We use the Past Simple tense to talk about an action or a situation - an event - in the past. The
event can be short or long.

Short:The car exploded at 9.30am yesterday

Long: I lived in Bangkok for 10 years.