Simple Past Tense
Simple Past Tense is also known as Indefinite Past Tense.
Uses of Simple Past Tense
Use Case 1: Completed action
We use Simple Past to indicate an action completed in the past. It shows that an action is completely over.
I wrote a letter.
So, for Historical events in the past – We use Simple past tense
The Second World War has started in 1939. (incorrect)
The Second World War started in 1939. (correct)
India has got independence in 1947. (incorrect)
India got independence in 1947. (correct)
Use Case 2: With adverbs of past time
Simple Past is often used with adverbs (or adverb phrases) of past time (to express one time activity). For example, with:
- yesterday, ago,
- last + time expression,
- period of time + back,
- the other + day/week,
- passed years such as 2016, 1920
The ship sailed yesterday. (yesterday - adverb)
He left the job a few days ago. (a few days ago – adverb phrase)
Sometimes this tense is used without an adverb of time. In such cases the time may be either implied or indicated by the context.
He didn’t sleep well. (i.e. last night)
She learned German in Noida.
Use Case 3: Past habits
Simple Past is also used for past habits, or to say that an action was repeated in the past, or to say that an action/a situation was permanent in the past.
He always carried a gun. (past habit)
He practiced for many hours every day. (action was repeated)
I liked the red colour. (a permanent situation in the past)
Use Case 4: Sequence of actions in past
Sequence of actions in past is expressed in simple past
Geetu reached home, had had a bath, and then had some sleep. (incorrect)
Geetu reached home, had a bath, and then had some sleep. (correct)
Monika came, saw, and conquered.
Different Sentence structures of the Simple Past tense
We use the following helping verbs in simple past tense (depending on person and number of subject):
It is not necessary that ‘did’ will always work as a helping verb. It can function as main verb too.
She did her assignment. (here ‘did’ is the main verb and not helping verb)
She did not do her assignment. (here ‘did’ is a helping verb, and ‘do’ is the main verb)
Structure of Declarative sentences
Affirmative Declarative Sentences
Pattern: Subject + $V_2$ + Object
Aanya went to college.
I went to college.
When we want to emphasize the main verb, then we use did + $V_1$
Pattern: Subject + did + $V_1$ + …….
Aanya did meet me.
Negative Declarative Sentences
Pattern: Subject + did not + $V_1$ + Object
Aanya did not go to school.
I did not go to school.
Structure of Interrogative sentences
Affirmative Interrogative Sentences
Pattern 1: Did + Subject + $V_1$ + Object?
Did Aanya go to college?
Did they go to college?
Did she do her assignment?
Pattern 2: Wh. family + did + Subject + $V_1$ + Object?
When did Aanya go to college?
When did they go to college?
When did she do her assignment?
Negative Interrogative Sentences
Pattern 1: Did + Subject + not + $V_1$ + Object?
Did Aanya not go to college?
Did they not go to college?
Did she not do her assignment?
Pattern 2: Wh. family + did + Subject + not + $V_1$ + Object?
Why did Aanya not go to college?
Why did they not go to college?
Why did she not do her assignment?
Usually in a sentence, ‘do’ ‘does’ and ‘did’ are not used in positive sentences as a helping verb. But to emphasise the main verb, we use ‘do’, ‘does’ and ‘did’ before the main verb.
In such sentences main verb should be in ‘$V_1$ form’.
He did make a mistake. (make – main verb in $V_1$ form)
Extra Books and Tools
If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.