Past Simple

Form

The past simple describes a completed action at a definite time in the past.

For regular verbs, add -ed to the base form (work becomes worked, play becomes played). Many common verbs are irregular and must be memorized (go becomes went, see becomes saw, buy becomes bought). For questions and negatives, use the auxiliary did plus the base form of the verb (Did you call? I did not call), and the main verb stays in its base form, not the past form.

When to Use It

1. 1

   Completed actions at a specific past time

   She finished her homework an hour ago.

2. 2

   A sequence of finished events in a story

   He woke up, made coffee, and left for work.

3. 3

   Past habits or repeated actions that are now over

   We visited my grandparents every summer.

4. 4

   States or situations that were true in the past but not now

   They lived in Chicago for ten years.

5. 5

   Asking about details of a past event

   What time did the movie start last night?

Common Mistakes

• Using the past form after did: write Did you go? not Did you went? — the auxiliary already carries the past tense.
• Adding -ed to irregular verbs: it is I bought a car, not I buyed a car.
• Forgetting did in negatives: say I didn't see him, not I no saw him or I not saw him.
• Mixing up was and were: use “was” with I/he/she/it and “were” with you/we/they.