SIMPLE PAST
The simple past in English is used to talk about actions that happened and were completed at a
specific time in the past.
KEY words
Yesterday, last week , month, year, night, ago, in a specific year or period, this morning, the
other day, when.
Structure:
Affirmative
Subject + verb in past (regular and irregular verb) + complement.
We worked yesterday.
This morning, she broke a glass.
I drank an orange juice.
He sang a sad song last week.
Negative
Subject + did not (didn’t) + verb in base form, pero cuando usamos To Be was/were ( was not /
wasn’t, (just the third person ) were not /weren’t.
He did not go to the park.
I did not ate dinner.
I was not in Riobamba yesterday.
They were not a students.
She forgot her umbrella in the bus station one year ago.
Interrogative
Did + Subject + verb in base form + complement + ?
Did you play video games yesterday?
Did you study for the exam yersterday?
Did he drive from his job to his house last night?
Answer
Yes, I did
No , I did not
Yes, she did
No , she did not
Verb "to be" in the Past
The verb to be in the past has two forms: was and were. It is used to describe states,
situations in the past.
Was: used with the subjects I, he, she, it.
Were: used with the subjects you, we, they.
Structure
Affirmative Sentences
Subject + was/were + complement.
Examples:
I was at the store yesterday.
He was very happy with his results.
They were in the classroom.
Negative Sentences
Subject + was/were + not + complement.
Was not can be contracted as wasn't.
Were not can be contracted as weren't.
Examples:
She was not (wasn't) at the meeting.
We were not (weren't) prepared for the test.
Interrogative Sentences
Was/Were + subject + complement + ?
Examples:
Was he at the cinema last night?
Were you tired after the game?
Short Answers
Affirmative: Yes, + subject + was/were.
Examples:
Was she at the party?
Yes, she was.
Were they on time?
Yes, they were.
Negative: No, + subject + wasn't/weren't.
Examples:
Was he at home?
No, he wasn't.
Were you happy with the decision?
No, we weren't.
