Simple Past Tense (Formula, Usage, Examples)

Simple past tense is used to express the actions that happened in the past or happened one after the other. For example, The baby crawled.

Signal words

  • Last night
  • Yesterday
  • Last Monday
  • In 1998
  • An hour ago

Structure / Formula

Subject + V2 + Object

I solved the sum
Subject Simple Past (V2) Object

Positive Sentences

See the structure to make affirmative/positive sentences.

Subject + Past(V2) + Object

Examples of positive sentences

  • Julia made a sponge cake.
  • He went to the hill station.

Negative Sentences

We use ‘not’ after auxiliary verb to make the sentence negative.

Subject + did + not + Base form (V1) + object.

Examples of negative sentences.

  • Julia did not make a sponge cake.
  • He did not go to the hill station.

Question Sentences

To make the question, auxiliary verb come at the start of the sentence and question mark at the end.

Did + subject + base form (V1) + object + ?

Examples of question sentences.

  • Did Julia make a sponge cake?
  • Did he go to the hill station?

Usage

USAGE EXAMPLES
Action that happened at definite time. She went to the park an hour ago.
Actions that happened one after the other. He ordered pizza. He received the pizza at home. He ate it.
The actions or states that finished in past. His mother used to wash his clothes.

Example Sentences

1. He drew the old man out of the ditch.
2. She used to wash clothes daily.
3. He wrote an interesting story.
4. The child completed his homework.
5. Did he live in this house?
6. His mother would wash clothes.
7. Did he write a letter?
8. We paid tribute to our national poet.
9. The boys recited the national anthem.
10. She did not sleep.
Simple past tense formula & sentences
Simple past tense formula & sentences

Exercise

  1. He ______ not ______ a letter. (not write)
  2. ______ we _____ the sum? (solve)
  3. We _____ tribute to our national poet. (pay)
  4. The boys _____ the national anthem. (recite)
  5. They _____ my invitation. (accept)
  6. _____ poor children _____ toys? (buy)
  7. _____ he _____ the river? (swim)
  8. He _____ badminton yesterday. (play)
  9. The child’s mouth _____ on seeing the sweets. (water)
  10. She ______ every challenge bravely. (face)

View also Simple Past Tense Practice Test

Answers

  1. He did not write a letter.
  2. Did we solve the sum?
  3. We paid tribute to our national poet.
  4. The boys recited the national anthem.
  5. They accepted my invitation.
  6. Did poor children buy toys?
  7. Did he swim the river?
  8. He played badminton yesterday.
  9. The child’s mouth watered on seeing the sweets.
  10. She faced every challenge bravely.

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