Form of the Past Simple
How do we form the Past Simple?
We form the Past Simple:
- with regular verbs: infinitive + –ed
- with irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs
1.1. Affirmative sentences in the Past Simple – regular verbs
- I played football.
- You played football.
- He played football.
- She played football.
- It played football.
- We played football.
- You played football.
- They played football.
1.2. Affirmative sentences in the Past Simple – irregular verbs
- I went on holiday.
- You went on holiday.
- He went on holiday.
- She went on holiday.
- It went on holiday.
- We went on holiday.
- You went on holiday.
- They went on holiday.
► Use the same form of the verb every time regardless of the subject.
2.1. Negative sentences in the Past Simple – regular verbs
- I did not play tennis.
- You did not play tennis.
- He did not play tennis.
- She did not play tennis.
- It did not play tennis.
- We did not play tennis.
- You did not play tennis.
- They did not play tennis.
2.1. Negative sentences in the Past Simple – irregular verbs
- I did not go on holiday.
- You did not go on holiday.
- He did not go on holiday.
- She did not go on holiday.
- It did not go on holiday.
- We did not go on holiday.
- You did not go on holiday.
- They did not go on holiday.
Use the auxiliary did (Past Simple of do) every time regardless of the subject.
Contracted forms in the Past Simple
Explanations
- Past Simple – Overview
- Diagram of the Past Simple
- Form of the Past Simple
- BE, DO, HAVE & Irregular Verbs in the Past Simple
- Questions in the Past Simple
- Signal Words for the Past Simple
- Short Forms and Long Forms in the Past Simple
- Spelling of Verbs in the Past Simple
- Pronunciation of ED in the Past Simple