Simple Past Tense

Simple past tense is used to indicate the activity in the past. Furthermore, simple past is used for retelling successive events. So, it is commonly used in a story telling.

The formula of Simple Past Tense :

a.        Without Verb :

(+)  S + to be (was/were) + Obj. / Compliment

(-)   S + to be (was/were) + not + Obj. / Compliment

(?)  To be (was/were) + S + Obj. / Compliment + ?

Example :   (+)  I was at home last night

                   (-)   I was not at home last night

                   (?)  Was I at home last night?

b.        With Verb :

(+)  S + V₂ + Compliment

(-)   S + did + not + V₁ + Compliment

(?)  Did + S + V₁ + Compliment + ?

Example :   (+)  I called him last night.

                   (-)   I did not call him last night.

                   (?)  Did I call him last night?

Time Signal of Simple Past Tense :

¯   Yesterday

¯   Yesterday afternoon

¯   Last night

¯   Last month

¯   Last week

¯   Last year

¯   An hour ago

¯   In 1978