ESL / EFL Past simple tense

When is the past simple tense used?

• For completed action in the past (We saw your sister yesterday.)
• For a series of completed actions (I woke up, had a shower, had breakfast and went to school.)
• For longer actions that start and stop in the past; time expressions usually go with it (My sister lived in London for years.)
• For talking about habits which stopped in the past (She studied Japanese when she was in high school.)
• For past facts or generalizations (Old people never played football.)

How is it made?

• Positive sentence → Subject + verb+ ed or irregular form (I played with her.- She came with us.)
• Questions → Auxiliary verb + subject +verb (Did they read the story?)
• Negative sentence → Subject + auxiliary verb + verb ( I didn’t like it.) 

 More practice

•  Irregular verb forms (translations are in French)
• Irregular verb test (all the verbs in your textbook)
• Isabel Perez - grammar and practice
• Verb tense quiz
• Complete these sentences in the past simple tense - fill in the gaps
• Writing sentences in order (Isabel Pérez)
• Fernando Alonso text (Isabel Pérez)
• Shakira's life (Isabel Pérez)
• Thanksgiving day (Isabel Pérez)