The Simple
Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to use in
English.
If you already know
how to use the Present
Tense, then the Past Tense will be easy.
In general, the Past
Tense is used to talk about something that started and finished at a
definite time in the past.
How to form the Past
Tense in English
The main rule is that
for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in the past tense.
(The exception is the Past
tense of To Be, which has two forms: was and were)
This is totally
different from other languages such as Spanish, French, Italian etc. where you
change the verb ending for every subject.
For example: The past
tense of the verb want is wanted. Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects/pronouns.
I
wanted
You
wanted
He
wanted
She
wanted
It
wanted
We
wanted
They
wanted
So you just have to
learn one word to be able to use it in the past tense. In this case we just
needed to learn the one word wanted which can be used for all
subjects (or people).
Past Tense Regular
Verbs
To change a regular
verb into its past tense form, we normally add –ED to the end of the verb.
Examples of sentences
using regular verbs in the past tense
Last
night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors complained.
She kissed me
on the cheek.
It rained yesterday.
Angela watched TV
all night.
John wanted to
go to the museum.
Note: There are three
different ways of pronouncing the –ed at the end of a verb in the past tense.
We recommend reading our guide about the pronunciation of –ED at the end of words.
Negative sentences in
the Past Tense
We use didn't
(did not) to make a negative sentence in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)
Compare the
following:
Present: They don't live
in Canada.
Past: They didn't live in Canada.
The main verb (live in
the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The auxiliary DIDN'T shows
that the sentence is negative AND in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only
difference between a negative sentence in the present tense and a negative
sentence in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
Both don't and doesn't in
the present tense become didn't in the past tense.
Compare the negative
sentences in the examples below:
Present: You don't need
a mechanic.
Past: You didn't need a mechanic.
Present: You don't walk
to work.
Past: You didn't walk to work.
Present: He doesn't speak
Japanese.
Past: He didn't speak Japanese.
Examples of negative
sentences in the Past Tense
I didn't want
to go to the dentist.
She didn't have
time.
You didn't close
the door.
He didn't come
to my party.
They didn't study
so they didn't pass the test.
We didn't sleep
well last night.
Questions in the Past
Tense
We use did to
make a question in the past tense.
This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English.
(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)
Compare the
following:
Present: Do they
live in France?
Past: Did they live in France?
The main verb (live in
the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The auxiliary DID shows
that the question is in the past tense.
NOTICE: The only
difference between a question in the present tense and a question in the past
tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.
Both Do and Does in
present tense questions become Didn't in past tense questions.
Compare the questions
in the examples below:
Present: Do you
need a doctor?
Past: Did you need a doctor?
Present: Do you
ride your bike to work?
Past: Did you ride your bike to work?
Present: Does he
live in Italy?
Past: Did he live in Italy?
We can also use
a question word (Who,
What, Why etc.) before DID to ask for more information.
Se utiliza el pasado simple para acciones que han terminado en el pasado, incluso si han ocurrido en un pasado reciente. Con el presente perfecto la acción está relacionada con el presente.
Ejemplos:
El pasado simple:
Did you eat breakfast this morning?(Significa: La mañana ya ha terminado.)
I had three exams this week.(Significa: Como en el ejemplo anterior, el uso del pasado simple significa que esta semana acaba de terminar.)
El presente perfecto:
Have you eaten breakfast yet this morning?(Significa: La mañana aún no ha terminado.)
I have had three exams already this week.(Significa: Como antes, el uso del presente perfecto implica que esta semana aún no ha terminado.)
Recuerda también que usamos el presente perfecto para acciones en un tiempo en el pasado no específico. Si quieres limitar el tiempo de las acciones en un período, podemos usar
expresiones de tiempo como “last year”.
Ejemplos:
El pasado simple:
I went to Cuba last year.(Fui a Cuba el año pasado.)
They saw a movie yesterday.(Vieron una película ayer.)
El presente perfecto:
I have been to Cuba in the last year.(He estado en Cuba este último año.)
They have seen a movie.(Ellos han visto una pelicula.)
They have seen a movie
yesterday.
Nota: Fíjate en la diferencia entre los dos primeros ejemplos. En ambos, se usa la expresión de tiempo “last year”, pero en el segundo ejemplo añadimos la preposición “in”. En este caso, “last year” significa dentro de un período de tiempo en que la acción ocurrió, no es un tiempo específico. Sin la preposición “in”, “last year” implica un tiempo específico.
Slow is an adjective since it describes the noun (my dog).
How is my dog? Slow
Adverbs
Adverbs describe verbs (actions).
My dog eats slowly.
Slowly is an adverb since it describes the way my dog eats.
How does my dog eat? Slowly.
Some adverbs are used to modify an adjective.
Adverbs that do this are: very, extremely, really, totally, absolutely, quite, fairly, well. These are normally placed before the adjective.
He is very rich.
They are extremely happy.
She was totally crazy.
My dog is well trained.
Adverbs and Adjectives with the same form
There are a number of adjectives / adverbs that take the same form. It therefore depends on the sentence context as to whether it is an adjective or an adverb.
The adjectives / adverbs that take the same form include: fast, hard, early, late, high, low, right, wrong, straight and long.
Adam has a fast car. (Adjective)
Adam speaks fast. (Adverb)
Good vs. Well
Good and Well are two words that tend to create confusion for learners of English.
Good is an adjective Well is an adverb.
She is a good singer.
She sings well.
Though sometimes we use well as an adjective when we are talking about health and well-being.
A: How are you today? B: I'm well, thanks.
(I'm well is a better and more common answer to this question than 'Fine' or 'Good', although these are also reasonably common.)
Negative: Subject + Haven't / Hasn't + Past Participle
Question: Have / Has + Subject + Past Participle
Affirmative Sentences
Subject
Have
Past
Participle
Rest of the Sentence
I
have
studied
for the exam.
You
have
bought
a new computer.
He
has
eaten
my chocolate.
She
has
written
an e-mail.
It
has
been
cold this month.
We
have
won
the championship.
You
have
tried
to learn a lot.
They
have
forgotten
my birthday.
Contractions
The contracted form
of the perfect tense is quite common:
Have
Contraction
Examples
I have
I've
I've spent all my money.
You have
You've
You've worn that dress before.
He has
He's
He's slept all morning.
She has
She's
She's lost her purse.
It has
It's
It's fallen off the wall.
We have
We've
We've chosen you for the job.
You have
You've
You've begun to annoy me.
They have
They've
They've drunk too much.
We use contractions a
lot when we are speaking.
Negative Sentences
The contraction of
the perfect tense in negative form is:
Have not = Haven't
Has not = Hasn't
Subject
Have
Past
Participle
Rest of the Sentence
I
haven't
studied
for the exam.
You
haven't
bought
a new computer.
He
hasn't
eaten
my chocolate.
She
hasn't
written
an e-mail.
It
hasn't
been
cold this month.
We
haven't
won
the championship.
You
haven't
tried
to learn a lot.
They
haven't
forgotten
my birthday.
Questions
Have
Subject
Past
Participle
Rest of the Sentence
Have
I
been
chosen for the team?
Have
you
bought
a new car?
Has
he
eaten
my sandwich?
Has
she
written
the letter?
Has
it
started
on time?
Have
we
won
a trophy?
Have
you
kept
my secret?
Have
they
driven
there?
When do we use the
Present Perfect Tense?
1. Unspecified point in the past
I have
been to Spain three times.
(At some unspecified time in the past, I went to Spain).
Compare with the
simple past:
I
went to Spain three times in 2005.
(specified time in the past - the year 2005)
2. An action that occurred in the past, but has a result in the present
(now)
We
can't find our luggage. Have you seen it?
(The luggage was lost in the past, do you know where it is now?)
3. Talking about general experiences (ever, never)
It usually refers to
an event happening at some moment in your life.
Has she ever tried Chilean
wine before? (in her life)
I've never eaten monkey
brains before. (in my life)
4. Events that recently occurred (just)
Do
you want to go to a restaurant with me?
No, thanks. I've just eaten lunch. (I
recently ate lunch.)
5. Events that have not occurred up to now (yet)
Are
Carlos and Rodrigo here? No, they haven't arrived yet.
(they're still not here now)
6. Events that occurred before you expected (already)
I've already graduated from
University. (I expected to graduate at a later date.)
7. Events that began in the past and haven't changed (for, since)
Mike has
worked at Woodward for 3 years.
(Mike started working at Woodward 3 years ago and he still works there
now.)
Julie has
worked at Woodward since September last year.
(Julie began working at Woodward in September of last year, and that
hasn't changed - she still works here now.)
