Structure
Positive or Affirmative Sentences | Sub + V2 |
Negative Sentences | Sub + did not + V1 |
Interrogative Sentences | Did + sub + V1 + ? |
Interrogative-negative Sentences | Did + sub + not + V1 + ? |
Let’s understand them with examples:
Positive or Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative | Interrogative negative |
I played. | I did not play. | Did I play? | Did I not play? |
You played. | You did not play. | Did you play? | Did you not play? |
We played. | We did not play. | Did we play? | Did we not play? |
He/ She/ It played. | He/ She/ It did not Play | Did he/ she/ it play? | Did he/ she/ it not play? |
They played. | They did not play. | Did they play? | Did they not play? |
Note: Short form of did not = didn’t
Uses
The Simple Past Tense is used to
1. express an action completed in the past; e.g.,
(i) The boy ran fast.
(ii) We played well.
(iii) They saw a mad dog.
(iv) Rohit caught a fish.
2. express some past habit; e.g.,
(i) We usually visited our native place during holidays.
(ii) My father never told a lie.
3. express some historical events; e.g.,
(i) Thomas Alva Edison invented bulb.
(ii) Columbus discovered America.
Note: When we express some past habit, we often use words such as generally, usually, never, always, often, sometimes with the simple past tense.
1. What is the Simple Past or Past Indefinite Tense? | ![]() |
2. How is the Simple Past Tense formed? | ![]() |
3. Can you provide an example sentence using the Simple Past Tense? | ![]() |
4. What are some keywords or time expressions that can indicate the use of the Simple Past Tense? | ![]() |
5. Can the Simple Past Tense be used to describe habitual actions in the past? | ![]() |
33 videos|324 docs|81 tests
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33 videos|324 docs|81 tests
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