The Past Simple

Contents
1. Structure
1.1. Positive sentences
1.2. Negative sentences
1.3. Question sentences
2.Form
2.1. Form: regular verbs
2.2. Form: irregular verbs
3. Use

1. Structure
We use the Past Simple to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long. There can be a few actions happening one ofter another.
Basic form
Subject + Verb (past form)

1.1.Positive sentences
The structure for positive sentences in the simple past tense is:
Subject + main verb (past form), e.g.
I worked

1.2.Negative sentences
The structure for negative sentences in the simple past tense is:
Subject + auxiliary verb (did) + not + verb (base form), e.g.
I didn't work

1.3.Question sentences
The structure for question sentences in the simple past tense is:
Auxiliary verb (did) + subject + main verb (base form), e.g.
Did you work...?

2.1.Form: regular verbs
The simple past is formed by adding -ed to the end of an infinitive and removing the to, for example try becomes tried

2.2.Form: irregular verbs
All the irregular verbs have different forms: to go becomes went, to buy becomes bought, to cut becomes cut, etc.

3. Use
Use 1: Past actions that are now finished
The first use of the Past Simple to express actions that happened at a specific time in the past. The actions can be short or long.
John cut his finger last week.
I went to college 3 years ago.
He ate the dinner 1 hour ago.
I slept well last night.

3. Use
Use 2: Situation in the past
Another use of this tense is talk about situations in the past.
I lived in New York for 10 years (I don't live there anymore).