When to use the past simple tense?

In English grammar, the past simple tense is used to talk about actions that happened at a specific time in the past. It helps us tell stories, recount old memories, or state facts about something that took place earlier.

1. Past simple chart

Past simple tense - pdf
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The past simple chart above provides a clear overview of how to use the past simple tense in English. It outlines the structure and forms for regular and irregular verbs to help you understand the differences in conjugation. The chart includes examples for affirmative sentences, negative sentences, and questions in the past simple tense.

2. Various uses of the past simple tense

We use the past simple tense while:

1. describing events in the past,
2. expressing a wish or regret about the present situation,
3. expressing wishes for the future,
4. referring to hypothetical situations,
5. and expressing preferences.

2.1 Describing events in the past

We use the past simple tense to describe actions that happened in the past. It is often used when there is a specific reference to past time: yesterday, in 1948, two years ago.

1. I finished my study last year.
2. He called me yesterday afternoon.
3. My parents were here last week.
4. Did you do your homework?
5. Where were you last night?
6. Napoléon Bonaparte was a military general and emperor of France.
7. Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win the award twice.

2.2 Expressing a wish or regret about the present situation

The form wish / if only + past simple is frequently used to express a wish or regret about the present situation.

1. I wish I had a car. (You do not have a car at the moment).
2. If only my parents were here right now. (Your parents are not here right now).
3. I wish I wasn't married. (You are married, and you regret it.)
4. I wish I spoke English.
5. If only we had the power to stop hunger in the world.

2.3 Expressing wishes for the future

The form wish / if only + the modal verb would / could is often used to express wishes for the future, especially when they are not likely to happen.

1. I wish you would look for a better job.
2. If only my parents would let me practice martial arts.
3. I wish he would stop drinking.
4. I wish I could buy a house.
5. If only she would listen to me.
6. If only the government would provide more job opportunities for younger people.

2.4 Referring to hypothetical situations

The past simple tense can also be used to talk about an unreal or hypothetical situation. In this case, we often use conditional words or expressions like if, if only, what if, or supposing.

1. What if dogs could speak?
2. What if love didn't exist?
3. If I were you, I'd travel and experience different cultures.
4. If only we lived in a world where people were treated with equality and respect.
5. If time travel were possible, I would change my past.
6. Supposing something went wrong, what would you do?

2.5 Expressing preferences

The form would rather / prefer + past simple can be used to express preferences.

1. I'd rather you chose the blue colour instead of the red one.
2. Can I pay you by credit card? - No, I'd rather you paid me in cash, please.
3. Would you prefer it if I came back later to pick you up?
4. Would you prefer it if I left you alone?

3. How to form the past simple tense?

For regular verbs, the past simple is formed by adding -ed to the infinitive of the verb.

1. work => worked
2. learn => learned
3. walk => walked
4. listen => listened
5. watch => watched

For regular verbs ending with -e, we add -ed to form the past simple tense.

1. live => lived
2. close => closed
3. bake => baked
4. move => moved
5. love => loved

For regular verbs ending with a consonant + y, we replace the -y with -i and add -d to form the past simple tense.

1. carry => carried
2. dry => dried
3. fry => fried
4. try => tried
5. study => studied

But for regular verbs ending with a vowel + y, simply add "-ed" to form the past simple tense.

1. enjoy => enjoyed
2. employ => employed
3. deploy => deployed
4. destroy => destroyed
5. annoy => annoyed

4. Past simple of irregular verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow a specific pattern to form their past simple tense. Below is a list of 100 irregular verbs with their past simple forms and example sentences.