1. The simple past tense
is expressed with the past form of the verb and nothing
else.
My grandfather died last year.
(Correct)
My grandfather was died last year.
(Incorrect)
My grandfather has died last year.
(Incorrect)
2. The simple past tense
refers to
a. action which occurred at a specific time in the
past
completed action
past
status
Examples
Specific past action
Completed action
Past status
I ate
lunch at noon today.
She
finally mailed the letter.
John
was still single in 1995
He
drove to work yesterday.
Jan
finished her report on time.
Jane
was a movie star.
Note the usage of the past tense in the following story.
Yesterday Mrs. Hubbard had a very
rough day. In the morning, she went to the kitchen and
looked in the cupboard for some food for her dog, but the
cupboard was empty. Her poor dog stared up at her with its
hungry eyes, and she knew she had to do something quickly.
She hurried to the grocery store to buy some dog food, but
unfortunately the store was out of her dog's favorite brand,
so she had to catch a bus downtown. After buying the food,
she waited for a half hour in the rain to get a taxi. When
she finally got home, her dog was sound asleep on the living
room sofa.
Common problems with the past tense
1. Using the present tense when the
past tense is required.
Last week, Tonya fix her neighbor's car.
(Incorrect)
Last
week, Tonya fixed her neighbor's car.
(Correct)
2. Using "was" with verbs in
the past tense.
It was happened one night in September.
(Incorrect)
It
happened on night in September.
(Correct)
Exercises
Change the
verbs in the following sentence into past tense.
1. Yesterday, I go to the
restaurant with a client.
2. We drive around the parking lot
for 20 minutes in order to find a parking space.
3. When we arrive at the
restaurant, the place is full.
4. The waitress asks us if we have
reservations.
5. I say, "No, my secretary
forgets to make them."
6. The waitress tells us to come
back in two hours.
7. My client and I slowly walk
back to the car.
8. Then we see a small grocery
store.
9. We stop in the grocery store
and buy some sandwiches.
10. That is better than waiting
for two hours.
Correct the mistakes in
the following sentences:
1. Last night, Samantha have pizza
for supper.
2. My pet lizard was died last
month.
3. Yesterday I spend two hours
cleaning my living room.
4. This morning before coming to
class, Jack eats two bowls of cereal.
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