PAST SIMPLE

USES
We use past simple tense to express an action which starts and finishes in the past.

*
PAST

*
FORMS

AFFIRMATIVE -regular verbs: -ed

Subject + v. past + complement.
-irregular verbs: 2nd column irregular list

e.g.: Susan played basketball.

NEGATIVE (*)
Subject + didn’t + v. infinitive + complement.
e.g.: Susan didn’t play basketball.

(*) We can’t use didn’t/did to make negative or interrogative sentences with the verbs: To BE(WAS, WERE)
TO HAVE GOT (HAD GOT), and a MODAL VERB(COULD). We must use the negative forms of the previous
verbs.

INTERROGATIVE
(Question Word) + did + subject + v.infinitive + complement?
e.g.: What did Susan play?

ADVERBS

Yesterday
Last ...
...ago
 PAST CONTINUOUS

USES

Actions which take place at a particular moment in the past.

I started to play I was playing I finished playing

PAST PAST PRESENT

FORMS

AFFIRMATIVE

Subject + was/were + v-ing + complement.

e.g.: They were singing at the party.

NEGATIVE

Subject + wasn’t/weren’t + v-ing + complement.

e.g.: They weren’t singing at the party.

INTERROGATIVE

(Question Word) + was/were + subject + v-ing + complement + ?

e.g.: Where were they singing?

ADVERBS

Yesterday at 7 o’clock
Last ... at 5 o’clock
While= mientras

VERBS WHICH DO NOT ADMIT CONTINUOUS FORMS.