Explanation
Exercises

⏳ Past Simple — Form & Use

Use the past simple for finished actions, past habits, past states, and to tell a story in chronological order.
Regular verbs: -ed Irregular verbs: 2nd column Did / didn’t + base verb Time expressions: yesterday, last…, in 2019 Be: was / were
🧱Form
AFFIRMATIVE
  • Regular: subject + verb-ed → I worked, She visited.
  • Irregular: subject + 2nd form → They went, He saw.
  • Be: I/He/She/It was · You/We/They were.
NEGATIVE
  • did not / didn’t + base verb → She didn’t go. Not: She didn’t went.
  • Be: wasn’t / weren’t → We weren’t late (no didn’t with be).
QUESTIONS & SHORT ANSWERS
  • Did + subject + base verb? → Did you see it? — Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.
  • Be: Was she at home? — Yes, she was. / No, she wasn’t.
✍️Regular -ed spelling
General rule+ -ed → watch → watched, play → played
Verbs ending in -e+ -d → like → liked, arrive → arrived
Consonant + yy → ied → study → studied, try → tried
One vowel + one consonant (stressed)double consonant + -ed → stop → stopped, rob → robbed
Pronunciation of -ed
  • /t/ after voiceless sounds: watched.
  • /d/ after voiced sounds: played.
  • /ɪd/ after t/d: wanted, needed.
🎯Key uses
COMPLETED ACTIONS
  • I saw Jim yesterday.
  • We didn’t go out last Saturday.
  • She moved to Chester three years ago.
PAST HABITS
  • She washed her hair every day.
  • We often played in the park when we were children.
Also possible
  • used to / would for repeated past habits: I used to walk to school.
🏠Past states & stories
PAST STATES (true then, finished now)
  • My grandfather had two brothers.
  • He lived with my grandparents as a child.
NARRATIVE ORDER
  • When I arrived home, I took off my shoes and then I relaxed on the sofa.
🗓️Common time expressions
  • yesterday, last night/week/month/year, in 2019, two days ago, when I was a child.
  • With finished time periods: We travelled a lot last year.
🚫Common mistakes
  • ❌ He didn’t went → ✅ He didn’t go. (After did/didn’t, use the base verb)
  • ❌ Did she worked? → ✅ Did she work?
  • ❌ Using didn’t with be → ✅ wasn’t / weren’t.
  • ❌ I was go → ✅ I went.
🆚Past Simple vs Present Perfect (super quick)
ℹ️
Past simple = finished time: I visited Rome last year. · Present perfect = life experience / unfinished time: I’ve visited Rome, I haven’t seen him this week.
🧪More natural examples
  • Affirmative: They finished the project on Friday.
  • Negative: I didn’t find my keys this morning.
  • Question: Did you enjoy the concert?
  • Be: It was cold, but we were happy.
Recap: Build the past simple with -ed (regular) or the 2nd form (irregular). Negatives/questions use did / didn’t + base verb; the verb be uses was/were. Use it for finished actions, habits, states, and clear story sequence. ✅
Exercises:
1
2
3

Past simple: Form and use

Choose the correct past simple forms to complete the sentences below.
1
We a great time at the festival.
2
you see the lunar eclipse last night?
3
She her keys on the bus.
4
They in Paris in 2015.
5
The class at 9 a.m., but I arrived late.
6
I to call you, but my phone died.
7
My grandparents me a bicycle for my birthday.
8
We any tickets, so we stayed at home.
9
Where you grow up?
10
It heavily for two hours yesterday.

Past simple: Form and use

Choose the correct past simple forms for the gaps below.
1
We ____ a great time at the concert.
A.
B.
C.
2
She ____ her keys on the bus yesterday.
A.
B.
C.
3
They ____ to Paris last weekend.
A.
B.
C.
4
I ____ any emails in the morning.
A.
B.
C.
5
____ you watch the match on TV last night?
A.
B.
C.
6
The meeting ____ at 3 p.m. yesterday.
A.
B.
C.
7
Where ____ you at 10 p.m. last night?
A.
B.
C.
8
It ____ sunny yesterday.
A.
B.
C.
9
He ____ for the test last night.
A.
B.
C.
10
We ____ a lot of photos on our trip.
A.
B.
C.

Past simple: Form and use

Fill in the gaps with the correct past simple forms of the verbs in brackets.
1
Last spring we (have) a road trip to Wales.
2
We (leave) Bristol at six in the morning.
3
The night before, I (pack) some sandwiches.
4
Unfortunately, we (not/check) the weather.
5
After twenty miles, it (start) to rain.
6
We (take) a wrong turn near Newport.
7
We (ask) a farmer for directions.
8
But we (not/understand) his accent.
9
At last we (find) a tiny café by the coast.
10
We (order) Welsh cakes and hot tea.
11
The cakes (be) delicious.
12
We (pay) in cash.
13
I (forget) my wallet in the car,
14
but Tom (lend) me some money.
15
After lunch, we (reach) the campsite at sunset.
16
We (set up) the tent quickly.
17
That night we (not/sleep) well,
18
because the wind (blow) hard.
19
We (get up) early the next morning
20
and (drive) back to Bristol before the traffic.