Simple Past Tense

ØSimple past is used to express actions or situations that happened in the past.

ØThe pattern used in Simple Past Tense is:

  Subject + VII + Object/Compliment

  Subject + to be (was, were) + Object/Compliment

I

She                            was

He

It 

You

We                             were

They

Example :

1. I go to campus everyday. (Simple Present)

    I am going to campus right now. (Present continuous)

    I went to campus yesterday. (Simple Past)

2. Daniel studies English every Saturday. (Simple Present)

    Daniel is studying English right now. (Present Continuous)

    Daniel studied English last Monday. (Simple Past) 

3. Hiroko is a university student. (Simple Present)

    Hiroko was a kindergarten student long time ago. (Simple Past)

4. They are so frustrated right now. (Simple Present)

    They were so frustrated few hours ago. (Simple Past)

5. I am a professional nurse. (Simple Present)

    I was only a taxi driver 2 years ago. (Simple Past) 

Present

(+) My parents tell me to send them an email.

(-) My parents don’t tell me to send them an email.

(?) Do my parents tell me to send them an email?

Past

(+) My parents told me to send them an email yesterday.

(-) My parents didn’t tell me to send them an email yesterday.

(?) Did my parents tell me to send them an email yesterday?