UNIVERSITY OF PANAMACOLLEGE OF HUMANITIES

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

BY

PROFESSOR MARISOL ORTEGA DE ALVAREZ

INTRODUCTION

English grammar is a set of rules that describe the structure of the language. We use grammar all the time when we speak or write. The study of grammar is necessary for the correct use of the English language; especially, the written language since the written language is more formal than the spoken language. The spoken language or literary dialogue puts up with many grammar mistakes that are part of a person, or cultural group, or part of the written language of the author of an article or literary work. Grammar is the structural foundation of our ability to express ourselves. The more we are aware of how it works, the more we can monitor the meaning and effectiveness of the way we and others use language. It can help foster precision, detect ambiguity, and exploit the richness of expression available in English. And it can help everyone--not only teachers of English, but teachers of anything, for all teaching is ultimately a matter of getting to grips with meaning. (David Crystal, "In Word and Deed," TES Teacher, April 30, 2004)

 

Structure:I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they + VERB (PAST FORM) + Complement

Positive Negative Yes/no question

Wh-question

He stayed in Panama.

He didn’t stay in Panama.

Did he stay in Panama?

Where did he stay?

THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

Note: When the auxiliary did is used in the sentence, the verb goes back to its base form.

Present Past

work worked

start started

end ended

SPELLING

A final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is doubled.

admit – admitted

A final y after a consonant becomes i. study – studied

A final y after a vowel stays the same. play - played

The past tense of a regular verb is formed by adding “ed” to the verb. Examples:

  We use the Simple Past to express the idea that an

action started and finished at a specific time in the past.

Examples:

I saw a movie yesterday.

He came with his brother.

They studied for two hours.

  The Simple Past can also be used to describe past

facts or generalizations which are no longer true.

Examples:

I didn’t like apples before.

They lived in England two years ago.

He had two houses, but he sold them.

ASSIGNMENT

Order the following sentences using the past tense.

1. It a lot rain

___________________________________

2. My help me mother

________________________________

3. They street cross

___________________________________

4. yesterday they come

_____________________________________

5. stay Bill home

______________________________________ 

Change the following sentences to questions beginning with the given question word.

1. The lesson began at 7 o´clock. What time ________________?

2. They got home at 9 o´clock last night What time ______________?

3. Those books cost four dollars. How much ___________________?

4. They traveled by plane. How _______________________?

5. They met at the restaurant. Where ___________ ?

6. They lived in Panama. Where___________________?

7. She taught us spelling. What _______________?

8. They ate apples for dinner. _________________?

Write down the past tense form of the following words. Mind

the exceptions in spelling.

Have __________________

Sit ____________________

Run ___________________

Stop ___________________

Lie _____________________

End ____________________

Play ___________________

Begin __________________

Agree __________________

Cry ____________________

Used to

We use 'used to' when we want to emphasize that something happened regularly in the past but no longer happens.

Structure: The structure used to + infinitive only exists in the past.

Examples:

I used to play tennis when I was young.

She used to teach physics at the University of Panama.

We also use it when we want to emphasize that something was true but no longer is.

Examples:

I didn’t use to like green apples, but now I do.

He used to come very often, but now he doesn’t

Yes /no question structure:

Yes/no question: Did + subject + use to+ verb+?

Example:

Did you use to like green apples when you were a child?

Wh –question structure:

Wh-question word + aux did + subject + use to + verb +?

Example:

What did you use to eat when you were a child?

Notice that use goes back to its base form because the auxiliary did is being used in the sentence.

AssignmentComplete the sentences with the appropriate form of

used to and the verb in brackets.

1. It is difficult for Bill to drive in Panama. He ____________________(drive) on such narrow streets.

2. Gloria didn’t ___________________ (have) a blackberry, but now she does.

3. Computers _________________(be) very expensive. Now the prices are more reasonable.

4. People from Jamaica __________________ (eat) spicy food. They find our food tasteless.

5. When Carlos was young, he ________________ (ride) a bicycle to school.

When I was a child, I used to

dream of my graduation day.

Verb to be – Simple past

Singular Plural

I was We were

You were You were

He was They were

She was

It was

Examples: I was a student. My husband was happy. She was nice. You were sick. It was a beautiful picture. We were wet. You were friends. The students were in class.

Negative form

Full form Contracted form

I was not I wasn't

You were not You weren't

He was not He wasn't

She was not She wasn't

It was not It wasn't

We were not We weren't

You were not You weren't

Examples:

Peter wasn't happy. Gloria wasn't tall. The house wasn't new. The house was not clean. We weren't early. The men were not smart. His friends weren't rich.

Question Form

Singular Plural

Was I ______? Were we _____?

Were you ______? Were you ______?

Was he _____?

Were they _____? Was she _____?

Was it _____?

Examples:

Was I late? Was the book expensive? Were Peter and Andres at school? Were your sisters singers? Were you busy last night?

Complete each sentence with the past tense form of the

verb "be."

1. Andres and Marisol ______ here last night. (be) 2. There ______ a good movie on TV last night. (be) 3. You and I _______ in the classroom this morning. (be) 4. She _______ at home yesterday. (be) 5. They ______ at the store. (be) 6. The offices ________ closed. (be) 7. You _______ a good soccer player some years ago.

(be)

Complete each question with the past tense form of

the verb "be."

1. ________ she here last month? 2. ________ I helpful? 3. ________ it a bad car accident? 4. ________ the store employees friendly? 5. ________ a doctor available? 6. ________ we here before? 7. ________ the man interested in the book?

Complete each sentence using the contracted negative

form of the past tense of the verb "be“ (wasn't / weren't).

1. He ________ at work on yesterday 2. It _________ a difficult test. 3. You _________ in love with her. 4. I __________ online last night. 5. The performers __________ very funny. 6. There __________ any oranges in the bowl. 7. The leaders of the organization ________ sensible