The past indefinite (simple) formation and use

the formation of the Past Indefinite
V+ed /V II auxiliary verb Did the verb to be was/were
was (for sing.), were (for pl.)
Affirmative Interrogative Negative
I worked (wrote) Did I work (write)? I did not work (write).
He worked (wrote) Did he work (write)? He did not work (write)
She worked (wrote) Did she work (write)? She did not work (write).
We worked (wrote) Did we work (write)? We did not work (write).
You worked (wrote) Did you work (write)? You did not work (write).
They worked (wrote) Did they work (write)? They did not work (write).
Contracted forms: didn’t (I didn’t work) ; Did you not work? (Didn’t you work?);

the use of the Past Indefinite
The Past Indefinite denotes an action performed within a period of time which is already over. The action is cut off from the present. The time of the action may be indicated by adverbials of past time, such as yesterday, a week ago, last year, etc.
The sun came out a moment ago.
The Past Indefinite can correspond to the Russian past perfective and past imperfective (совершенный и несовершенный вид)
He smoked a cigarette and left the room.(выкурил)
He smoked in the silence for a few minutes. (курил)
The Past Indefinite is used to denote
a) an action performed in the past.
We entered Farmer Ridley’s meadow in silence.