Simple Past Tense

Simple Past Tense

 
Simple past tense is used to indicate the activity in the past. Furthermore, simple past is used for retelling successive events. So, it is commonly used in a story telling.

The formula of Simple Past Tense :
a. Nominal :
(+) S + to be (was/were) + Obj. / Compliment
(-) S + to be (was/were) + not + Obj. / Compliment
(?) To be (was/were) + S + Obj. / Compliment + ?
Example : 
(+) I was at home last night
(-) I was not at home last night
(?) Was I at home last night?

b. With Verb (verbal) :
(+) S + V2 + Compliment
(-) S + did + not + V1 + Compliment
(?) Did + S + V1 + Compliment + ?
Example : 
(+) I called him last night.
(-) I did not call him last night.
(?) Did I call him last night?

Time Signal of Simple Past Tense :
¯ Yesterday afternoon
¯ Yesterday
¯ Last night
¯ Last week
¯ Last month
¯ Last year
¯ An hour ago