Past Simple | Grammar Lesson | Regular Verbs

Summary

In this lesson, the past simple tense is explained with a focus on regular verbs. The past simple is used to describe completed actions in the past, whether recent or distant. The video highlights key time expressions, such as frequency, definite, and indefinite time points. It covers how to form the past simple for regular verbs, including spelling rules for adding 'ed,' and the use of contractions in negative statements. The video also explains forming questions and provides examples of common everyday verbs, ensuring a clear understanding of the past simple tense.

Takeaways

• 😀 The past simple tense is used to describe completed actions in the past, regardless of when they happened.
• 😀 The past simple can describe actions that occurred in the recent or distant past, with no emphasis on duration.
• 😀 Common time expressions linked to the past simple include 'last week', 'yesterday', 'a long time ago', and 'the other day'.
• 😀 Regular verbs in the past simple are formed by adding 'ed' to the infinitive verb, such as 'played' from 'play' or 'listened' from 'listen'.
• 😀 Spelling rules apply when forming the past simple for some verbs: if a verb ends in 'e', just add 'd' (e.g., 'agree' becomes 'agreed').
• 😀 If a verb ends in a consonant + vowel, the consonant is doubled before adding 'ed' (e.g., 'stop' becomes 'stopped').
• 😀 If a verb ends in 'y', remove the 'y' and add 'ied' (e.g., 'try' becomes 'tried'). But if the verb ends in a vowel + 'y', just add 'ed' (e.g., 'enjoy' becomes 'enjoyed').
• 😀 For the past simple, the form is the same for all subjects (I, you, he, she, we, they), such as 'I wanted', 'he wanted', 'they wanted'.
• 😀 To form the negative, use 'did not' or the contraction 'didn't' followed by the base verb (e.g., 'I didn't need help').
• 😀 In the interrogative form, use 'did' + subject + base verb (e.g., 'Did she get the job?'). The verb 'be' has exceptions (e.g., 'was not' becomes 'wasn't').

Q & A

What is the purpose of the past simple tense?

The past simple tense is used to talk about a completed action that occurred before the present time, regardless of whether the action happened recently or in the distant past.

How is the past simple tense linked with time expressions?

The past simple tense is linked with time expressions that refer to the past, such as 'yesterday,' 'last week,' 'a long time ago,' or 'the other day.' These expressions help specify when the action occurred.

What are the regular rules for forming the past simple tense?

To form the past simple tense for regular verbs, you add 'ed' to the base form of the verb, such as 'play' becoming 'played' and 'listen' becoming 'listened.'

What are the spelling rules when adding 'ed' to regular verbs?

If a verb ends in 'e,' you add only 'd' (e.g., 'agree' becomes 'agreed'). If a verb ends in a consonant plus 'y,' you change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'ed' (e.g., 'try' becomes 'tried'). If a verb ends in a vowel plus a consonant, the consonant is usually doubled before adding 'ed' (e.g., 'stop' becomes 'stopped').

How do you form the negative in the past simple tense?

To form the negative, you use the subject + 'did not' (or 'didn't') + the base form of the verb. For example, 'I did not listen' or 'She didn't call.'

What is the exception for the verb 'be' in the past simple tense?

The verb 'be' is an exception in the past simple tense. Instead of using 'did not' or 'didn't,' you add 'not' after 'was' or 'were,' as in 'was not' (wasn't) or 'were not' (weren't). For example, 'She wasn't here' or 'They weren't happy.'

How is the past simple tense formed in interrogative sentences?

To form an interrogative sentence in the past simple tense, you add 'did' + subject + base form of the verb. For example, 'Did you go?' or 'Did she arrive on time?'

What are some common time expressions that indicate the use of the past simple tense?

Common time expressions include 'yesterday,' 'last week,' 'when I was a child,' 'a long time ago,' and 'the other day.' These phrases help situate the action in the past.

Can you give an example of the verb 'be' in the past simple tense in the negative form?

Sure! For example, 'I wasn't there' or 'They weren't at the party.'

How do we use the past simple tense with frequency adverbs?

You can use the past simple tense with frequency adverbs like 'always,' 'sometimes,' or 'rarely' to describe how often an action occurred. For example, 'I always played soccer' or 'She rarely studied.'