Simple Past

FORM
[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs Examples: You called Debbie. Did you call Debbie? You did no call Debbie.

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

!se "e #imple $as o express "e idea "a an ac ion s ar ed and %inis"ed a a speci%ic ime in "e pas . #ome imes& "e spea'er may no ac ually men ion "e speci%ic ime& bu "ey do "ave one speci%ic ime in mind. Examples: ( sa) a movie yes erday. ( didn* see a play yes erday. +as year& ( raveled o ,apan. +as year& ( didn* ravel o -orea. Did you "ave dinner las nig" ? #"e )as"ed "er car. .e didn* )as" "is car.

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions

/e use "e #imple $as o lis a series o% comple ed ac ions in "e pas . 0"ese ac ions "appen 1s & 2nd& 3rd& 4 "& and so on. Examples: ( %inis"ed )or'& )al'ed o "e beac"& and %ound a nice place o s)im.

 .e arrived %rom "e airpor a 5:66& c"ec'ed in o "e "o el a 7:66& and me "e o "ers a 16:66. Did you add %lour& pour in "e mil'& and "en add "e eggs?

USE 3 Duration in Past

0"e #imple $as can be used )i " a dura ion )"ic" s ar s and s ops in "e pas . 8 dura ion is a longer ac ion o% en indica ed by expressions suc" as: %or )o years& %or %ive minu es& all day& all year& e c. Examples: ( lived in Bra9il %or )o years. #"auna s udied ,apanese %or %ive years. 0"ey sa a "e beac" all day. 0"ey did no s ay a "e par y "e en ire ime. /e al'ed on "e p"one %or "ir y minu es. 8: .o) long did you )ai %or "em? B: /e )ai ed %or one "our.

USE

!a"its in the Past

0"e #imple $as can also be used o describe a "abi )"ic" s opped in "e pas . ( can "ave "e same meaning as :used o.: 0o ma'e i clear "a )e are al'ing abou a "abi & )e o% en add expressions suc" as: al)ays& o% en& usually& never& )"en ( )as a c"ild& )"en ( )as younger& e c. Examples: ( s udied ;renc" )"en ( )as a c"ild. .e played "e violin. .e didn* play "e piano. Did you play a musical ins rumen )"en you )ere a 'id? #"e )or'ed a "e movie "ea er a% er sc"ool. 0"ey never )en o sc"ool& "ey al)ays s'ipped class.

USE # Past Facts or $enerali%ations

0"e #imple $as can also be used o describe pas %ac s or generali9a ions )"ic" are no longer rue. 8s in !#E 4 above& "is use o% "e #imple $as is <ui e similar o "e expression :used o.: Examples: #"e )as s"y as a c"ild& bu no) s"e is very ou going. .e didn* li'e oma oes be%ore. Did you live in 0exas )"en you )ere a 'id? $eople paid muc" more o ma'e cell p"one calls in "e pas .

&MPOR'A(' )hen*Clauses !appen First

=lauses are groups o% )ords )"ic" "ave meaning bu are o% en no comple e sen ences. #ome clauses begin )i " "e )ord :)"en: suc" as :)"en ( dropped my pen...: or :)"en class began...: 0"ese clauses are called )"en>clauses& and "ey are very impor an . 0"e examples belo) con ain )"en>clauses. Examples: /"en ( paid "er one dollar& s"e ans)ered my <ues ion. #"e ans)ered my <ues ion )"en ( paid "er one dollar. /"en>clauses are impor an because "ey al)ays "appen %irs )"en bo " clauses are in "e #imple $as . Bo " o% "e examples above mean "e same "ing: %irs & ( paid "er one dollar& and "en& s"e ans)ered my <ues ion. ( is no impor an )"e "er :)"en ( paid "er one dollar: is a "e beginning o% "e sen ence or a "e end o% "e sen ence. .o)ever& "e example belo) "as a di%%eren meaning. ;irs & s"e ans)ered my <ues ion& and "en& ( paid "er one dollar. Example: ( paid "er one dollar )"en s"e ans)ered my <ues ion.

AD+ER, P-ACEME('
0"e examples belo) s"o) "e placemen %or grammar adverbs suc" as: al)ays& only& never& ever& s ill& ?us & e c. Examples: You ?us called Debbie. Did you ?us call Debbie?

AC'&+E . PASS&+E
Examples: 0om repaired "e car. 8=0(VE 0"e car )as repaired by 0om. $8##(VE