The past simple is a tense that gets omitted in English conversation by English language learners. "Yesterday I go (instead of went) to the supermarket" is an example of a very common mistake. This post will explain the rules and usage of the past tense along with some phrases and exercises that will help you remember the correct form.

The Rules

Verbs Ending in.. How to make Simple Past Examples

e		 ADD "d" Wave --> Waved
Live --> Lived

one vowel + 1 consonant (not y or w)		 Double the consonant + ADD "ed" Tap --> Tapped

"y" after a consonant		 CHANGE "y" to "i" + ADD "d" Cry --> Cried

anything else		 ADD "ed" Call --> Called
Play --> Played
Pour --> Poured



As you probably already know, there are also many irregular verbs in English for the past tense. Here are some of the most common ones. 
 
Infinitive In Past Simple

to be		 was or were

to do		 did

to go		 went

to come		 came

to eat		 ate

to find		 found

to get		 got

to give		 gave

to make		 made

to run		 ran

to sleep		 slept

to teach		 taught

to think		 thought

to wake		 woke

to write		 wrote

Forming the Negative

The auxiliary did is used to form the negative - did + not + the infinitive. (I did not play)
  • I did not play
  • You did not work yesterday
  • We did not want to go
  • They did not sleep last night

The "did + not" gets contracted in normal speech
  • I didn't play
  • You didn't work yesterday
  • We didn't want to go
  • They didn't sleep last night

Asking questions
 
The auxiliary "did" is always used in forming the questions.
  • Did I play?
  • Did you work last night?
  • Did you want to go? 
  • Did you sleep sleep last night?

Now lets use it! 
A fantastic and simple exercise to to write about what you did last night, last weekend, last month, last year. Try and include as many different verbs as possible.

If you struggle with the past simple when talking, remember to take your time! There is now rush. Getting it correct slowly the first few times is important. It comes easier the more you say it.

Also, feel free to help yourselves to our free quiz. Test your past simple level here.
 
FREE QUIZ FOR PAST SIMPLE - CLICK HERE  
 
I hope this helps. If you have any ideas for further exercises or any comments at all on this blog you can leave them below.