The past simple tense

The Past Simple Tense of the most English verbs (regular verbs) is formed by adding "-ed"/"-d" to their base form. (If the verb ends in "-e", we add "-d" to form the past simple.)

There are also some verbs called irregular verbs that have special past tense forms. (See list of irregular verbs)

We use the Past Simple Tense:

• to describe actions and situations that happened in the past. These actions and situations were started and finished in the past.

Example: Susan bought her little sister a doll.

• The sentence often contains an adverb or adverb phrase of time, such as yesterday, the other day,last night, last week, three days ago, a few minutes ago, in (year), from (year) to (year), etc.

Example: My brother lived in London for six years. 

• to talk about habitual or repeated actions that took place in the past

Example: When she was young, she danced beautifully. Note: This use is also often expressed with used to: Bob used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day.

• to tell a story and to express actions which follow each other in a story

Example: It happened one night in the winter.

• to refer to the historical past or to events that have happened in the distant past relative to the speaker

Example: Romans built strong bridges.

• for reporting what someone said (converting from direct to reported speech)

Example: David said that he was tired.

• to talk about action in the past that take place in the middle of another action

Example: I was having a bath when the phone rang.

• for making second conditional sentences (also called conditional type 2) when we talk about an imaginary or unlikely situation and to describe its result. (If + past simple, would + infinitive)

Example: If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.

Exercise 1. Change the following sentences into simple past.

1. She buys a book.

2. The teacher punishes the boy.

3. The little girl laughs at the beggar.

4. They know it.

5. He does not tell lies.

6. They do not wait for anybody.

7. Who teaches you English?

8. The masons build the house.

9. They invite us to their party.

10. His manners disgust me.

11. She sings a lovely song.

12. It is time to start.

13. He wants to kill the snake.

14. His conduct surprises me.

15. I want you to come with me.

Exercise 2. Put the verbs in brackets in the right form.

1. Claudia went fishing and ..... a fish. (catch)

2. Robert ..... a prize in a photography competition. (win)

3. I ..... the answer but the teacher didn't ask me. (know)

4. Mr Smith ..... me to play the piano. (teach)

5. My brother ..... me by accident. (shoot)

6. Julia ..... for her new slippers by credit card. (pay)

7. The sun ..... brightly yesterday. (shine)

8. My friend ..... a car crash yesterday. (see)

9. Someone ..... my car a few years ago. (steal)

10. The audience went quiet when the film ..... (begin)

Exercise 3. Find out what the verb is and write it in the past simple form.

1. The girls pizza in the evening. (tae)

2. Ron a model airplane. (duilb)

3. Suzanna her bike. (eird)

4. Mrs. Govаthe her dog. (lkaw)

5. The boys in the sand (lapy)

6. Mrs. Gold a haircut. (vahe)

7. Tina and her mother shopping. (og)

8. David first prize in the science competition. (niw)

9. Gina a love letter from Dave. (teg)

10. Mr Hofman happy when he the news. ( eb, dear)

11. Ted Baker а wonderful cake for Valentine's Day. (keba)

12. The brave fireman the kid. (vase)

13. Mike and Rita together at the party last Friday. (cenda)

14. Ted so deeply so he didn't wake up on time. (lesep)

15. Mrs. Brains us English (ceath)

16. Benаa blue butterfly. (tcahc)

17. Miriam her homework (od)

18. Henia on the Internet looking for information for her school paper. (furs).

19. Dam and Rose for the bus together (tiaw).

20. Mrs. Teller the children a nice story. (letl)