Simple Past Tense

The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

Form of Simple Past

	Positive	Negative	Question
no differences	I spoke.	I did not speak.	Did I speak?

For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed	Example
after a final e only add d	love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled	admit – admitted travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i	hurry – hurried

Use of Simple Past

• action in the past taking place once, never or several times
  Example: He visited his parents every weekend.
• actions in the past taking place one after the other
  Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
• action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
  Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
• if sentences type II (If I talked, …)
  Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.

Signal Words of Simple Past

• yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other day, last Friday
• If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)

Exercise Was or Were?

Complete the sentences with was or were.

1. I waswere happy.
2. You waswere angry.
3. She waswere in London last week.
4. He waswere on holiday.
5. It waswere cold.
6. We waswere at school.
7. You waswere at the cinema.
8. They waswere at home.
9. The cat waswere on the roof.
10. The children waswere in the garden.

Put the verbs into the correct form (simple past).

1. Last year I (spend)  my holiday in Ireland.
2. It (be)  great.
3. I (travel)  around by car with two friends and we (visit)  lots of interesting places.
4. In the evenings we usually (go)  to a pub.
5. One night we even (learn)  some Irish dances.
6. We (be)  very lucky with the weather.
7. It (not / rain)  a lot.
8. But we (see)  some beautiful rainbows.
9. Where (spend / you)  your last holiday?