1. Past simple
1.1. Definition:
1.1.1. The past simple is used for past actions, that happened either at a specific time, which can either be given by a time phrase or understood from the context.
1.2. Examples:
1.2.1. I Like, you liked, she/he/it liked, we liked, they liked. Note: After the auxiliary verb, did/didn't, it returns to the base form.
1.2.1.1. The simple past tense of some irregular verbs looks exactly like the root form: Put - Put Cut - Cut Set - Set Cost - Cost hit - Hit For other irregular verbs, including the verb to be, the simple past forms are more erratic: See - Saw Build - Built Go - Went Do - Did Rise - Rose Am/Is/Are - Was/Were
1.3. Uses:
1.3.1. Use the simple past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.
1.4. Forms:
1.4.1. + Positive
1.4.1.1. Subject + Verb on past + Complement
1.4.1.1.1. He learned how to play soccer six months ago
1.4.2. - Negative
1.4.2.1. Subject + Didn't + Verb on present + Complement
1.4.2.1.1. You didn't eat your breakfast
1.4.3. ? Interrogative
1.4.3.1. Did + Subject + Verb on present + Complement + ?
1.4.3.1.1. Did she go to the bathroom?
2. Past continuous
2.1. Definition
2.1.1. The past continuous is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing past action was happening at a specific moment of interruption, or that two ongoing actions were happening at the same time. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and past continuous excercises.
2.2. Rules
2.2.1. The past continuous is formed using was/were + present participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and was/were. Negatives are made with not.
2.3. Forms:
2.3.1. + Positive
2.3.1.1. Subject + was + (verb+ing) + complement
2.3.1.1.1. Example: He was sleeping at bed all day
2.3.2. - Negative
2.3.2.1. Subject + was/were + not + (verb+ing) + complement
2.3.2.1.1. I was not playing videogames yesterday
2.3.3. ? Interrogative
2.3.3.1. Was/were + subject + (verb+ing) + complement + ?
2.3.3.1.1. Was she talking to you when i went shopping?