Introduction
The past simple tense (also called the preterite) describes a completed action that took place before the present moment.
Form
In English, the past simple tense does not change based on person or number.
To form the past simple tense, regular verbs add –ed:
She ordered
I sulked
I obeyed
She smiled
For specific spelling rules, please watch the video above.
Irregular verbs change more drastically. Here are a few examples:
Do – did
Come – came
Buy – bought
Sit – sat
Negative Form
The negative form consists of did not (didn’t) and the base (the infinitive minus to)
We didn’t (did not) surrender.
He did not call.
They didn’t wait.
Asking Questions
To ask a question in the past simple tense, use did and the base (the infinitive minus to):
Did you ask?
Did they request that?
Uses
Completed Actions
I cooked breakfast.
Over a period of three years he mastered the guitar.
Repeated Actions
Every day at lunch she ate a sandwich with cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
Frequency
I rarely played the flute those days.
Sequence of Actions
I smiled and she frowned.
More Information
For more information, please see our introduction to all twelve verb tenses in English.