π Part of the Complete English Course Β· Beginner (A1), week 10
We use the past simple for finished actions in the past. Start with 'was / were' (the past of 'be') and regular verbs that end in -ed.
The rules
Was and were
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / he / she / it | was | wasn't | Was she at work? |
| you / we / they | were | weren't | Were you tired? |
Regular verbs: + -ed
| Verb | Past | Example |
|---|---|---|
| work | worked | I worked on Saturday. |
| live | lived | We lived in Delhi. |
| study | studied | She studied English. |
| stop | stopped | The bus stopped. |
Common irregular verbs
| Verb | Past |
|---|---|
| go | went |
| have | had |
| get | got |
| see | saw |
| eat | ate |
| buy | bought |
Remember
- Time words: yesterday, last night, last week, two days ago, in 2020.
- Negatives and questions with other verbs use did / didn't + base verb: I didn't work. Did you go?
- Say -ed three ways: /t/ (worked), /d/ (lived), /Ιͺd/ (wanted, needed).
Listen and repeat
- I was sick yesterday, so I stayed at home.
- We were at the beach last weekend.
- Did you watch the game? Yes, I watched it with my brother.
- I went to the doctor and got a script.
Common mistakes
| Not this | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I went to work. | Don't use was with another past verb. | |
| Did you go? | did + base verb. | |
| They were late. | they + were. |
Check yourself
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Frequently asked questions
When do we use Past simple basics in English?
We use the past simple for finished actions in the past. Start with 'was / were' (the past of 'be') and regular verbs that end in -ed. Time words: yesterday, last night, last week, two days ago, in 2020.
What are common mistakes with Past simple basics?
Say 'I went to work.', not 'I was go to work.' (Don't use was with another past verb). Say 'Did you go?', not 'Did you went?' (did + base verb). Say 'They were late.', not 'They was late.' (they + were).
What level is this Past simple basics lesson?
It's a Beginner (A1) lesson, week 10 of the free Complete English Course. It takes about 10 minutes and ends with a quiz.