BY: JENNY V. CASTELBLANCO BARRERAALEX PROGRAM

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA

We use the past simple to talk about past events and experiences.

The past simple refers to completed (finished) actions.

Examples:

- I went to France last year.

- They studied at the same school.

In the affirmative sentence, the verb has to be in past form. The past form depends on the kind of verb: regular or irregular

Subject + verb in past + complementHe finisheded this exerciseWe came late VERBS IN THE PAST FORM

REGULAR VERBS: Add –ed at the end

IRREGULAR VERBS: They have a different form

visited studied played decided produced used started finished stopped watched helped jumped

came went had fell saw heard felt began didsaid cried understood swamslept ate drank wrote

INFINITIVE PAST SIMPLE

be was/were

become became

begin began

break broke

Bring brought

Build built

Buy bought

can could

catch caught

choose chose

come came

cost cost

do did

drink drank

drive drove

eat ate

fall fell

feel felt

find found

fly flew

INFINITIVE PAST SIMPLE

forget forgot

get got

give gave

go went

have had

hear heard

hurt hurt

know knew

learn learned/learnt

leave left

let let

lose lost

make made

meet met

put put

read read /rɛd/

ride rode

ring rang

run ran

say said

INFINITIVE PAST SIMPLE

see saw

sell sold

send sent

shoot shot

show showed

sing sang

sit sat

sleep slept

speak spoke

spend spent

stand stood

steal stole

swim swam

take took

teach taught

tell told

think thought

understand understood

wear wore

win won

write wrote

In the negative sentence, we use the auxiliary “did” in the negative form: did not (didn’t). The verb ISN’T in past form. It is in its base form.

Subject + didn’t + verb (basic form) + complement

We didn’t come yesterday.

He didn’t study for the exam.

In question, we use the auxiliary “did”. The verb ISN’T in past form. It is in its base form.

(Wh) + did + subject + verb + complement?

(base form)

Where did you go last vacation?

Did you do your homework?

For short answers, use did or didn’t

- Yes, I did.

- No, I didn’t.

In questions, the verb Be goes at the beginning.

(Wh) + was/were + subject + complement?

Why were you worried yesterday? Was he busy last week?

For short answers, use was/were or wasn’t/weren’t

-Yes, I was - No, I wasn’t

- Yes, they were - No, they weren’t.