The Past Simple expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.
Most verbs conjugate by adding -ed like the verb "wait" below.
| Positive | Negative | Question |
| I waited. You waited. He waited. She waited. It waited. We waited. They waited. | I did not wait. You did not wait. He did not wait. She did not wait. It did not wait. We did not wait. They did not wait. | Did I wait? Did you wait? Did he wait? Did she wait? Did it wait? Did we wait? Did they wait? |
Exceptions in spelling when adding -ed after a final -e only add -d love – loved final consonant after a -l or short, stressed vowel as final consonant after a vowel is doubled admit – admitted final -y after a consonant becomes -i hurry – hurried
travel – travelled
Irregular Verbs
Many verbs, such as "have," take irregular forms in the Past Simple. Notice that you only use the irregular verbs in statements. In negative forms and questions, did indicates Past Simple.
| Positive | Negative | Question |
| I had. You had. We had. They had. He had. She had. It had. | I did not have. You did not have. He did not have. She did not have. It did not have. We did not have. They did not have. | Did I have? Did you have? Did he have? Did she have? Did it have? Did we have? Did they have? |
To Be
The verb "be" is also irregular in the Past Simple. Unlike other irregular verbs, there are two Past Simple forms: "was" and "were." It also has different question forms and negative forms. Always remember that you DO NOT use did with the verb to be in the Past Simple .
| Positive | Negative | Question |
| I was. You were. We were. They were. He was. She was. It was. | I was not. You were not. We were not. They were not. He was not. She was not. It was not. | Was I? Were you? Were we? Were they? Was he? Was she? Was it? |
