The Simple Past

1. Forms

2. Use 1

2.1. Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past.

2.2. I saw a movie yesterday.

2.3. I didn't see a play yesterday.

2.4. Last year, I traveled to Japan.

3. Use 5

3.1. The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.

3.1.1. She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

3.1.2. He didn't like tomatoes before.

3.1.3. Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?

4. Use 2

4.1. We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past.

4.1.1. I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.

4.1.2. He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.

4.1.3. Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

5. Use 3

5.1. The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past.

5.1.1. I lived in Brazil for two years.

5.1.2. Shauna studied Japanese for five years.

5.1.3. They sat at the beach all day.

6. Use 4

6.1. The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past.

6.1.1. I studied French when I was a child.

6.1.2. He played the violin.

6.1.3. He didn't play the piano.

7. Concept

7.1. Is a tense that is used to describe actions that occurred, culminating in the near or distant past.

8. IMPORTANT

8.1. Clauses are groups of words which have meaning but are often not complete sentences.

8.1.1. When I paid her one dollar, she answered my question.

8.1.2. She answered my question when I paid her one dollar.