Simple Past Tense: Definition & Useful Examples in English

Simple past in English with simple past examples. Learn the definition, how to form the simple past tense with useful examples and ESL infographics.

Contents

Simple Past Tense

Simple Past Definition

In the Simple Past tense, the action is simply mentioned and understood to have taken place in the past. The action started and ended sometime in the past but the time may or may not be mentioned.

Forming Simple Past Tense

Positive Statements | Simple Past

SUBJECT	VERB (in past form)	REST OF THE SENTENCE
I	played	cricket yesterday.
You	played	cricket yesterday.
He	played	cricket yesterday.
Tom	played	cricket yesterday.
The boy	played	cricket yesterday.
She	played	cricket yesterday.
Anna	played	cricket yesterday.
The girl	played	cricket yesterday.
We	played	cricket yesterday.
You	played	cricket yesterday.
They	played	cricket yesterday.
The children	played	cricket yesterday.

For making positive statements in the simple past tense, notice how we use the verb in the past form for all subjects.

Negative Statements | Simple Past

SUBJECT	DIDN’T (DID NOT)	VERB (in base form)	REST OF THE SENTENCE
I	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
You	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
He	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
Tom	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
The boy	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
She	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
Anna	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
The girl	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
We	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
You	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
They	didn’t	talk	to John last week.
The men	didn’t	talk	to John last week.

For making negative statements in the simple past tense, notice how we use ‘didn’t’ or ‘did not’ and the verb in the base form for all subjects.

Interrogative Statements / Questions | Simple Past

How to form the interrogative statements in the simple past:

DID	SUBJECT	VERB (in base form)	REST OF THE SENTENCE
Did	I	complete	the work?
Did	you	complete	the work?
Did	he	complete	the work?
Did	Tom	complete	the work?
Did	the boy	complete	the work?
Did	she	complete	the work?
Did	Anna	complete	the work?
Did	the girl	complete	the work?
Did	we	complete	the work?
Did	you	complete	the work?
Did	they	complete	the work?
Did	the men	complete	the work?