11. 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. Without Verb :

(+) 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 :

(+) 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

¯ Yesterday afternoon

¯ Last night

¯ Last month

¯ Last week

¯ Last year

¯ An hour ago

¯ In 1994