Simple past tense

In the simple past tense, sentences have the following structure.

Affirmative: Subject + past simple form of the verb + (object / adverbial)

I saw him. (Subject + verb + object)

He went to the market. (Subject + verb + adverbial)

Negative: Subject + did not + base form of the verb + (object /adverbial)

I did not see him. He did not go to the market.

Interrogative: Did + subject + base form of the verb + (object /adverbial)

Did you see him?
Did he go to the market?

Exercise

Make sentences in the simple past tense.

1. I --------------------- your father yesterday. (see)

2. He ---------------------- nothing about your plans. (say)

3. She ---------------------- (not move).

4. We ------------------------- (start) in the morning.

5. I -------------------------- for him for two hours. (wait)

6. She --------------------- (start) teaching at 19.

7. I ----------------------- (not say) anything to offend him.

8. The allegations ---------------------- (force) her to quit her job.

9. The man ---------------------- (leave) in a hurry.

10. She ---------------------- (want) to leave.

11. I ----------------------- (not understand) a word.

12. Susie ----------------------- (go) to the movies with her friends.

13. She -------------------------- (order) a pizza.

14. He ----------------------- (eat) nothing.

Answers

1. I saw your father yesterday.

2. He said nothing about your plans.

3. She did not move.

4. We started in the morning.

5. I waited for him for two hours.

6. She started teaching at 19.

7. I did not say anything to offend him.

8. The allegations forced her to quit her job.

9. The man left in a hurry.

10. She wanted to leave.

11. I did not understand a word.

12. Susie went to the movies with her friends.

13. She ordered a pizza.

14. He ate nothing.

Watch our video to learn the correct use of simple past and present perfect tense. This video is in Malayalam.

Worksheet 2

Fill in the blanks with the simple past tense form of the verb given in the brackets.

1. He .......................... to report lost property. (call)

2. He ......................... in front of the idol. (kneel)

3. The teacher .......................... the boy for making so many mistakes. (rebuke)

4. They all ............................ into laughter. (burst)

5. The spokesperson ............................ to comment. (decline)

6. He ............................... the food greedily. (eat)

7. They .......................... the rope around the tree. (tie)

8. She .......................... to become an architect. (choose)

9. They ......................... into their new home last week. (move)

10. She ......................... the bag down. (put)

11. He ............................. (fall) from the tree and ............................... (break) his back.

12. I ............................. where they had gone. (wonder)

13. The child ................................ (not drink) the milk.

14. She ............................. (not win) the game.

15. ...................... you ......................... (see) him yesterday?

Answers

1. called, 2. knelt, 3. rebuked, 4. burst, 5. declined, 6. ate, 7. tied, 8. chose, 9. moved, 10. put, 11. fell, broke, 12. wondered, 13. did not drink, 14. did not win, 15. Did you see

Sections in this article

Tenses
The simple present tense
The present progressive tense
The present perfect tense
The present perfect progressive tense
Present tenses to talk about the future
The simple past tense
The past progressive tense
The past perfect tense
The past perfect progressive tense
Past verb forms with present or future meaning
The simple future tense
The future progressive tense
The future perfect tense