Simple Past Tense : Introduction, Use and 40 Example Sentences

Table of Contents

Simple Past Tense : introduction

The Simple Past Tense is a tense that is used to describe an activity happened in the past. In other words the Simple Past Tense shows that the action started in the past and completed in the past. The simple past tense serves several functions in the English language. Firstly, it allows us to recount past experiences, narrate stories, and describe historical events. Secondly, the simple past tense is often used to report completed actions or events. Furthermore, the simple past tense can be used to express habits or repeated actions in the past.

the simple past tense is often accompanied by specific time expressions or adverbial phrases that help situate the action or event in the past. Common examples of adverbial phrases are “yesterday,” “last week,” “a month ago,” “in 2015,” and so on.

Past Simple Tense : Forms

Form→	Affirmative	Question	Negative
I	I played.	Did I play?	I did not play.
You	You played.	Did you play?	You did not play.
He/She(Singular subject)	He/She played.	Did he/she play?	He/She did not play.
We	We played.	Did we play?	We did not play.
They	They played.	Did they play?	They did not play.

Simple Past Tense Forms

Note: In the affirmative sentenses, the past tense form of the verb is used with the subject. In questions and negatives, auxiliary verb ‘did‘+ base form of the verb is used. Most verbs in English turn into their “Simple Past” form by adding “ed” to the end. These are called regular verbs.

Examples :-

play → played

work → worked

stay → stayed

look → looked

With verbs ending in e we add d only :

invite → invited

live → lived

love → loved

When verb ends in consonant + y, we change y to i and add -ed :

try → tried

dry → dried

study → studied

But some verbs don’t follow the “ed” rule. These are called irregular verbs. They have their own special way of forming the Simple Past Tense. For example:

go → went

come → came

eat → ate

write → wrote

cut → cut

Here is a table of irregular verbs.

Simple Past Tense : Use

We use Simple Past Tense when we talk about completed actions in the past :

She cooked dinner last night.

We use Simple Past Tense when we describe a series of events in the past :

We woke up early, packed our bags, and drove to Mumbai.

We use Simple Past Tense when we talk about habits or routines in the past :

My father never drank wine.

The Simple Present Tense is commonly used in stories and descriptions of past events :

Once there was a crow. One day it was very thirsty.
The king decided to take revenge so he attacked the enemy.

Simple Past Tense : Adverbs (time expressions) :

Yesterday
Last week
Last month
Last year
Ago (e.g., seven days ago)
In [specific year or time period]
Before
Once
In the past

Simple Past Tense : Examples

1. I visited my grandparents yesterday.
2. He watched a movie in the cinema hall last week.
3. She completed her project work last month.
4. He traveled to Jaipur last year.
5. They finished their exams two days ago.
6. I joined a new school in 2022.
7. I had my lunch before going to the park.
8. Once, I won a prize in a quiz competition.
9. We played cricket a lot in the past.
10. Yesterday, I woke up late.

11. Last week, I met my friends in the market.
12. Last month, I visited the museum with my family.
13. Last year, I went on a trip to Mount Abu.
14. Two days ago, I finished reading a novel of Chetan Bhagat.
15. In 2020, I learned to play the harmonium.
16. Before dinner, I completed my homework.
17. Once, I visited the Hawa Mahal with my parents.
18. I watched a cricket match yesterday.
19. Last week, I attended a birthday party of my friend.
20. Last month, we celebrated Diwali with fireworks.

21. Last year, my younger sister participated in a school play.
22. Two days ago, I received an email from my friend.
23. In 1947, India got freedom from the British rule.
24. Before bedtime, I brushed my teeth.
25. Once, I cooked dinner for my family.
26. I studied for my exam yesterday.
27. Last week, I played football with my friends.
28. Last month, we went on a picnic to the park.
29. Last year, I visited my relatives in another city.
30. Two days ago, I finished all my chores.

31. In 2023, I celebrated my 32nd birthday.
32. Before lunch, I cleaned my room.
33. Once, I rode a bicycle to school.
34. I visited the market yesterday to buy groceries.
35. Last week, I practiced singing for the school event.
36. Last month, we planted trees in our school campus.
37. Last year, I won a medal in a sports competition.
38. Two days ago, I baked a cake for my friend’s birthday.
39. In 2021, I attended my cousin’s wedding.
40. Before school, I packed my bag with books.