The Past Simple

We use the past simple when the action and time period are finished.

So we can say:

I went to America in 1990.

If we don’t say when it happened we cannot use the past simple and we have to use the present perfect.

The past tense of regular verbs is easy – we add –ed.

Irregular verbs have to be memorised although some follow patterns and you can learn them as a group.

• List of past forms of common irregular verbs

• Complete list of past forms of irregular verbs

While in the present simple we use do or does, to make the negative form and the question form in the past simple we use did.
To make a negative statement we use didn’t and the base form of the verb.

Examples

I didn’t have a coat. (Dolly Parton, Coat of Many Colors)

When we make questions we use did and the base form of the verb:

As in the present simple, if we use the verb to be, we do not use did.

She was angry last night.
Thet were late this morning.
We weren’t very interested in history when we at school.
I wasn’t here when he called.

See examples of the Past Simple in the following songs:

English Grammar Exercises: Dolly Parton, Coat of Many Colors