Past simple tense with examples: A fun English grammar guide

Sure, you can get by with the present perfect to talk about the past in English. People will understand you. But if you want to take your English skills to the next level, you should definitely learn the past simple tense!

It might sound like something you vaguely remember from school — or something that would give you an allergic rash — but it's actually pretty cool once you get the hang of it. It’s the tense that lets you tell all your best stories, and trust us, it’s really not that difficult!

So, bear with us, and by the end of this article, you’ll be using the past simple in English like it’s second nature.

What is the past simple tense?

The past simple is used to talk about stuff that’s already happened — whether that’s something you did yesterday, last year, or even just five minutes ago. This tense is straightforward and very simple — pun intended. Actually, it’s much easier than in other languages, for example romance languages.

In basic terms: the past simple is used when you want to say that something happened and is totally, 100% done. That’s it.

For example:

• I went to the concert last night.
• She ate pizza for dinner. (Mmm, are you sure there aren’t any leftovers?)

How to form the past simple tense in English

Okay, let’s break it down. You just need to remember this one simple — ok, I´ll stop — formula.

Past simple tense formula:

Subject + verb in the past form.

Regular verbs

For regular verbs, all you’ve got to do is add an “-ed” on the end of them:

• Walk becomes walked.
• Laugh becomes laughed.

Irregular verbs

But languages are never that easy, right? Enter irregular verbs. These verbs don’t follow the “-ed” rule — see them as the conjugation rebels! Here are some past simple tense examples:

• Go becomes went.
• Eat becomes ate.

The good news is, there aren’t so many. Once you’ve learned (or learnt, depending on where you’re reading us from) the main ones, you’re good to go. Here’s the ultimate guide to irregular verbs in English for you. Learn them, practice, and you’ll remember them forever! In fact, 30 years later, I can still hear my first English teacher recite them in my head!

Forms of the past simple tense

The past simple has a few forms we’ll explain below.

Affirmative form of the past simple

This is the form you use when you’re making a straight-up statement.The structure is: Subject + past form of the verb.

Example: I watched that new movie last night. (And what a waste of time.)

Keep reading for more examples!

Past simple examples in its affirmative form

• She called me yesterday.
• We went to the park last weekend.
• They played basketball after school.
• I cooked dinner last night.
• He finished his homework before bed.
• We watched the sunset together.
• She read that book last summer.
• They danced all night at the party.
• I met my best friend in high school.
• He drove us to the airport.

Negative form of the past simple

What if something didn’t happen? That’s where the negative form comes in. Just add “did not” (or “didn’t” if you’re feeling casual) before the verb.

The structure is: Subject + did not (didn’t) + base form of the verb.

Example: I didn’t watch the movie last night. (And I’m glad I didn’t.)

Past simple examples in its negative form

• She didn’t call me yesterday.
• We didn’t go to the park last weekend.
• They didn’t play basketball after school.
• I didn’t cook dinner last night.
• He didn’t finish his homework before bed.
• We didn’t watch the sunset together.
• She didn’t read that book last summer.
• They didn’t dance all night at the party.
• I didn’t meet my best friend in high school.
• He didn’t drive us to the airport.

Interrogative form of the past simple

Now, if you want to ask a question, the past simple is just as easy. All you have to do is add “did” at the beginning of your sentence.

The structure is: Did + subject + base form of the verb?

Example: Did you watch the movie last night? (I really hope you didn’t for your sake.)

Past simple examples in its interrogative form

• Did she call you yesterday?
• Did we go to the park last weekend?
• Did they play basketball after school?
• Did I cook dinner last night?
• Did he finish his homework before bed?
• Did we watch the sunset together?
• Did she read that book last summer?
• Did they dance all night at the party?
• Did I meet my best friend in high school?
• Did he drive us to the airport?

Negative interrogative form of the past simple

Are you feeling a bit skeptical? Enter: the negative interrogative form. This is basically asking a question while implying something probably didn’t happen.

The structure is: Did + subject + not + base form of the verb? OR Didn’t + subject + base form of the verb?

Example: Didn’t you watch the movie last night? (What a good idea!)

Past simple examples in its negative interrogative form

• Didn’t she call you yesterday?
• Didn’t we go to the park last weekend?
• Didn’t they play basketball after school?
• Didn’t I cook dinner last night?
• Didn’t he finish his homework before bed?
• Didn’t we watch the sunset together?
• Didn’t she read that book last summer?
• Didn’t they dance all night at the party?
• Didn’t I meet my best friend in high school?
• Didn’t he drive us to the airport?

When to use the past simple tense

Now that the structure and theory are clear — at least, we hope so! — let’s talk about when you should actually use this tense, with practical past simple examples.

Describing completed actions in the past with a specific time reference.

The past simple is the tense to use when you’re talking about something that happened at a particular time. You’re looking back at a moment that’s long gone.

Past simple tense examples

• He called me last night.
• They finished their project two days ago.
• We traveled to Chicago in 2018.
• She met her friend last week.
• I saw that movie last summer.
• We bought a new car in January.
• She cleaned the house yesterday.
• They moved into a new apartment last year.
• He started his new job last Monday.
• I read that book last month.

Discussing sequences of events that occurred in the past.

When you want to tell a story, you often need to describe a sequence of events. The past simple tense is great for explaining what happened, step by step.

Example sentences of past simple tense

• She packed her suitcase, called a taxi, and left for the airport.
• He wrote the report, printed it out, and submitted it.
• They went to the store, bought groceries, and made dinner.
• We played soccer, scored a goal, and celebrated the win.
• She cleaned the kitchen, did the laundry, and vacuumed the living room.
• He took the bus, went to class, and studied for his exam.
• We watched a movie, ate popcorn, and relaxed all night.
• She read a book, wrote in her journal, and went to bed.
• They met for coffee, talked for hours, and planned their next trip.
• He taught the lesson, answered questions, and dismissed the class.

Using time expressions like "yesterday," "last week," or "in 2010."

Time expressions are like the past simple’s best friends: they go hand in hand!

Examples

• We moved into our house last summer.
• She saw that movie last weekend.
• He finished the project last night.
• They graduated in 2015.
• I went to the beach yesterday.
• She read that book last week.
• We visited Vancouver in 2019.
• He traveled to New Zealand last year.
• They celebrated their anniversary last month.
• I started a new job last Monday.

Examples of the past simple tense in common phrases

Common mistakes to avoid

The past simple tense might seem… simple — I promise, it’s the last time — but there are a few common mistakes learners often make. Here’s a list of the main ones and how to avoid them. However, don’t worry if you make mistakes — and you will! — it’s part of any learning process, and it can be endearing!

Using the wrong verb form

A classic mistake is using the base form of the verb instead of the past form. For example, saying I go instead of I went. The past simple requires the correct past form. Watch out for irregular verbs that don’t follow the usual “-ed” pattern!

Forgetting the “-ed” on regular verbs

It’s easy to overlook adding the “-ed” ending on regular verbs, especially when you’re in the middle of a conversation. Saying I walk instead of I walked might make it confusing, as it sounds like you're talking in the present, not the past.

Confusing the past simple with the present perfect

The present perfect is the easy way to go if you don’t know any other past tense. However, if you really want to speak English properly, you need to use other past tenses. For example, the past simple (e.g., I saw) and the present perfect (e.g., I have seen) are often mixed up, but they serve different purposes. The past simple is used for actions that are completely done, while the present perfect indicates a link to the present moment.

Overusing auxiliary verbs

In affirmative sentences, you don’t need “did” to form the past tense. The main verb is enough! For example, I did went is incorrect — I went is all you need.

4 Tips for mastering the past simple tense

Even though we’re language addicts here at Berlitz, we know grammar and conjugation can be boring.

So, here are a few tips to spice things up and help you learn the past simple in English while having a bit of fun!

1. Practice makes perfect

You’ve probably heard that a thousand times, but it’s true. So, try to use the past simple into your everyday chats! Tell someone about the gorgonzola pizza you devoured last night or that hilarious meme you saw — even if it was questionable. The more you do it, the more natural it’ll feel. If you don’t have any English speakers to talk to, go online. From social media and language chats to forums, resources are endless!

2. Binge-watch with purpose

Next time you’re binge-watching your favorite series (don’t we all do?), keep an ear out for how the characters talk about past events. You’ll get concrete examples of how people use the past simple without even opening a textbook. Actually, it’s a new concept: After Netflix and chill, Netflix and learn!

3. Flashcard with incentive

Do you hate irregular verbs? Turn memorization into a game with a reward! Make some flashcards, quiz yourself, and win a prize — for example, a cookie for every 20 verbs you nail.

4. Talk to your pets or your plants

There’s nothing wrong with that! Seriously, they won’t judge. Tell your dog, cat, bunny or even your carnivorous plant about everything you did today, in the past simple. It's weirdly fun, they’re great listeners, and they’ll never get tired of your shenanigans. Do watch out for this carnivorous plant though; it looks pretty upset…

By now, you probably understand that the past simple tense is your go-to for all the epic — or not-so-epic, but that’s why pets and plants are here — moments of your life.

Whether you ate the last slice of gorgonzola pizza, survived an English exam, or finally watched that crappy movie that didn’t even make it to 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, the past simple is always here to help.

So, start using the past simple, like the storytelling legend you are. And if you want to tell stories with more layers, make sure to read our articles on past perfect and past continuous!