Simple Past Tense

Past Tense

The past tense is a verb tense used for a past activity or a past state of being.

There are two types of past tenses that you need to be focused on:

(a)		Simple past tense
(b)		Past continuous tense

9.1

Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is used to:

(a) Show that something has already happened sometime in the past.

(b) Express a past habit - use adverbs like 'always', 'often', etc.

(A) Verbs in the Simple Past

'Be' verbs

It is used to show a state or experience.

Examples:

(a) Mr. and Mrs. Chong were happy to receive a brand new car.

(b) She was an unknown in her time.

'Do' verbs

It is used to show an action.

Examples:

(a) Maria visited her sister in Korea last month.

(b) She used too many colours in her artwork.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs take on the suffix '-ed' or '-d' in the past form

VERB	SIMPLE PAST FORM
miss	missed
live	lived
paint	painted
use	used
notice	noticed

Irregular Verbs

Some irregular words change completely while some do not change at all

VERB	SIMPLE PAST FORM
is	was
sell	sold
cut	cut
become	became
run	ran

(B) Questions in the Simple Past

Verbs for questions in the simple past tense are in the simple past or infinitive form.
Example:

Who brought the yellow box to the counter? (simple past)

If the question contains 'did', the subsequent verb would be in the infinitive form.
Example:

When did you arrive? (infinitive form)

(C) Negative Sentences in the Simple Past

Sentences are made negative using the word 'not' :
Examples: did not, was not, were not

(D) Spelling Rules ('-ed')

Rule 1

A consonant + '-e'	Add '-d'
erase	erased
smile	smiled

Rule 2

1 vowel + 1 consonant	Double the consonant, add '-ed'
stop	stopped
rub	rubbed

Rule 3

2 vowels + 1 consonant	Add '-ed'
rain	rained
need	needed

Rule 4

2 consonants	Add '-ed'
count	counted
help	helped

Rule 5

Consonant + '-y'	Change '-y' to '-i', add '-ed'
study	studied
carry	carried

Rule 6

Vowel + '-y'	Add '-ed'
enjoy	enjoyed
play	played

	The example of simple past tense in the passage.

	Vincent Van Gogh is a much-celebrated artist today. He was unknown in his time. He was poor and lived in a cramped room. All he possessed was his easel, paint, brushes, a little money, and talent. He used different kinds of lines in his artwork and painted landscapes, still life, and portraits. He always signed his paintings. However, he hardly sold any of his works. Vincent lived a sad life. He slowly became insane. He even cut off his ear. Finally, he shot himself in the chest when he was 37 years old. Today, his works, 'Sunflowers' and 'Starry, starry night' are known as masterpieces. They cost a fortune and often become the focus of attention at exhibitions and auctions.

9.2

Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past.
It is used to:

(a) Show an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past.

(b) Two or more actions in progress at the same time in the past.

(c) Giving background information in a story.

(d) Show the passive form.

The past continuous tense form is as follows:

was/were		verb's present participle ('-ing' word)
I	was	checking	the internet for information yesterday.
Alia	was	drawing	while I was singing.

9.3

Past Perfect Tense

It is used to:

(a) Show what had been done by a certain time in the past.

(b) Show which of two actions happened first.

(c) Show the passive form.

	The past perfect tense form is as follows:

	had + past participle

Examples:

(a) She had mastered cooking within three months.

(b) We had reached the summit before you began your trek.

9.4

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

It is used to:

(a) Show actions that started in the past and were still in progress when another happened.

(b) Show actions that were in progress in the past and had an effect on a later action.

	The past perfect continuous tense form is as follows:

	had been + the verb’s present participle (root + '-ing')

Examples:

(a) We had been waiting for you since seven this morning.

(b) We had been walking round in circles just before the villagers found us.

Past Tense

The past tense is a verb tense used for a past activity or a past state of being.

There are two types of past tenses that you need to be focused on:

(a)		Simple past tense
(b)		Past continuous tense

9.1

Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is used to:

(a) Show that something has already happened sometime in the past.

(b) Express a past habit - use adverbs like 'always', 'often', etc.

(A) Verbs in the Simple Past

'Be' verbs

It is used to show a state or experience.

Examples:

(a) Mr. and Mrs. Chong were happy to receive a brand new car.

(b) She was an unknown in her time.

'Do' verbs

It is used to show an action.

Examples:

(a) Maria visited her sister in Korea last month.

(b) She used too many colours in her artwork.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs take on the suffix '-ed' or '-d' in the past form

VERB	SIMPLE PAST FORM
miss	missed
live	lived
paint	painted
use	used
notice	noticed

Irregular Verbs

Some irregular words change completely while some do not change at all

VERB	SIMPLE PAST FORM
is	was
sell	sold
cut	cut
become	became
run	ran

(B) Questions in the Simple Past

Verbs for questions in the simple past tense are in the simple past or infinitive form.
Example:

Who brought the yellow box to the counter? (simple past)

If the question contains 'did', the subsequent verb would be in the infinitive form.
Example:

When did you arrive? (infinitive form)

(C) Negative Sentences in the Simple Past

Sentences are made negative using the word 'not' :
Examples: did not, was not, were not

(D) Spelling Rules ('-ed')

Rule 1

A consonant + '-e'	Add '-d'
erase	erased
smile	smiled

Rule 2

1 vowel + 1 consonant	Double the consonant, add '-ed'
stop	stopped
rub	rubbed

Rule 3

2 vowels + 1 consonant	Add '-ed'
rain	rained
need	needed

Rule 4

2 consonants	Add '-ed'
count	counted
help	helped

Rule 5

Consonant + '-y'	Change '-y' to '-i', add '-ed'
study	studied
carry	carried

Rule 6

Vowel + '-y'	Add '-ed'
enjoy	enjoyed
play	played

	The example of simple past tense in the passage.

	Vincent Van Gogh is a much-celebrated artist today. He was unknown in his time. He was poor and lived in a cramped room. All he possessed was his easel, paint, brushes, a little money, and talent. He used different kinds of lines in his artwork and painted landscapes, still life, and portraits. He always signed his paintings. However, he hardly sold any of his works. Vincent lived a sad life. He slowly became insane. He even cut off his ear. Finally, he shot himself in the chest when he was 37 years old. Today, his works, 'Sunflowers' and 'Starry, starry night' are known as masterpieces. They cost a fortune and often become the focus of attention at exhibitions and auctions.

9.2

Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense refers to a continuing action or state that was happening at some point in the past.
It is used to:

(a) Show an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past.

(b) Two or more actions in progress at the same time in the past.

(c) Giving background information in a story.

(d) Show the passive form.

The past continuous tense form is as follows:

was/were		verb's present participle ('-ing' word)
I	was	checking	the internet for information yesterday.
Alia	was	drawing	while I was singing.

9.3

Past Perfect Tense

It is used to:

(a) Show what had been done by a certain time in the past.

(b) Show which of two actions happened first.

(c) Show the passive form.

	The past perfect tense form is as follows:

	had + past participle

Examples:

(a) She had mastered cooking within three months.

(b) We had reached the summit before you began your trek.

9.4

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

It is used to:

(a) Show actions that started in the past and were still in progress when another happened.

(b) Show actions that were in progress in the past and had an effect on a later action.

	The past perfect continuous tense form is as follows:

	had been + the verb’s present participle (root + '-ing')

Examples:

(a) We had been waiting for you since seven this morning.

(b) We had been walking round in circles just before the villagers found us.

Past Tense

Past Tense

Chapter : Reading Skills

Topic : Simple Past Tense

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