Past indefinite tense /simple past formula, structure, uses, rules and examples

 

PAST INDEFINITE/SIMPLE PAST TENSE

 Definition, Examples, Rules uses , Formula and exercise

Past indefinite Tense is formed:

     Subject + Second Form of  the verb +object+ .

  e.g :   I visited Dubai in 2009.

            She advised him a lot.

            He worked here for many years.

             He took tea with us and left.

            It rained last week.

POSTIVE  (Affirmative)   Subject + Second  form of the verb +object+ .

                                           e.g., I ignored his mistake.

 

NEGATIVE  :   Subject +Helping verb did + Not +base form of the verb+ object+.

                                                I did not ignore his mistake.

 

Interrogative:  Helping Verb did + subject + base form of the verb +Object + ?

                                                  Did I ignore his mistake?

 

Note 1 : In Affirmative/ simple sentences we put 2nd  form of the verb( with all subjects of sentences)

Note 2:  When we change sentences into Negative or Interrogative we put The 1st  form of the verb instead of 2nd form.

 

PAST INDEFINITE /SIMPLE PAST TENSE USES

The Past Indefinite tense, also known as Simple Past tense, is used to talk about actions that occurred/ happened in the past at a specific time.

 

e.g.   police arrested him last month.                    (means  the action  started and finished )

          She talked to me on the phone yesterday.

 

We use past simple for series of past actions:

e.g. :  Ronaldo played, scored and became Man of the match.

           I consulted my Doctor, talked to him and paid him.

 

·            We use past simple for habitual past actions    ( Discontinued ):

e.g.   I used to study a lot when I was at college.

 

            He used to play in our team.

To state things that were true in the past.

 

 

·          To state things that were true in the past:

e g :  our fore fathers travelled on horseback.

           Once upon a time , there lived a king  who had 20 wives.

 

 

Let us practice

Put the verbs into the correct form    (  Past simple).

1. I _____ the bills already.              (Pay – paid)

2. my Teacher________ me a lot ,when I was in 8^th class.     ( Motivated – motivate )

3.  __________ she invite you at the party?                                  (Do – did)

4.  She___________ me a watch on my birthday.                        (  gift – gifted )

5.  who ____________a song last night ?                                  (sing – sang)

6.   She did not ___________ me, when I met her after 11 years.  (recall –recalled)