Past Tense

Past Tense

The past tense is a verb tense that describes an action that has started and ended before, at time of speaking.

The 'simple past tense', according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is defined as “the form of a verb used to describe an action that happened before the present time and is no longer happening. Simple past tense is formed by using the second form of verb.The simple past tense tells you about something that has already happened.

 

How to form the simple past Tense

Subject + second form of verb.

They played cricket.

He drank water.

She liked Mangoes.

The plane arrived at 9 o'clock yesterday.

 

Spelling Rules

If last verb ends consonant-vowel-consonant, double the last consonant and add "ed":

Stop                            stopped

Plan                            planned

Shop                          shopped

 

If the final consonant is w, x, or y, don't double it:

Sew                            sewed

Play                            played

Fix                               fixed

 

If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends consonant-vowel-consonant, just add "ed":

Open                          opened

Enter                          entered

Swallow                     swallowed

 

If the verb ends at "e", just add "d":

Arrive                          arrived

 

If the verb ends with consonant + "y", change the "y" to an "i" and add "ed":

Try                              tried

Fry                              fried

 

If it's an irregular verb, the simple past tense is formed in different ways. Here are some examples:

Eat                              ate

Bring                          brought

Fight                           fought

See                              saw

 

Negative Form

To create a negative past sentence

Simply use "did" + Not + first form of the verb.

“Did” is used weather the subject is singular or plural.

They did not play cricket.

He did not take tea.

She did not like Mangoes.

The plane did not arrive at 9 o'clock yesterday.

You can use “didn’t” instead of "did not" to shorten the sentence.

 

Interrogative Form

To create the interrogative sentence following formula is used.

“Did” + subject + first form of verb

Did they play cricket?

Did he take tea?

Did she like Mangoes?

If the question words are used then following formula is utilized.

Where did they play cricket?

Why did he drink juice?                                                                   

 

Examples Of Simple Past Tense Negative And Interrogative

I went to school.

I did not go to school.

Did I go to school?

 

They played cricket.

They did not play cricket.

Did they play cricket?

 

We went to market.

We did not go to market.

Did we go to market?

 

You ran fast.

You did not run fast.

Did you run fast?

 

He drank water.

He did not drink water.

Did he drink water?

 

She ate Apple.

She did not eat Apple.

Did she eat Apple?