The English past simple tense is used to talk about many types of past events. They are usually completed events within a completed time. Here is a list of when we use the past simple tense in English.
Completed Actions in the Past
The past simple is used to talk about actions that started and finished in the paste.
- She visited Paris last year.
- They played tennis last night.
A Series of Completed Actions
To describe a series of actions that happened one after the other.
- He arrived home, got changed, and went out again.
- He woke up, got out of bed, and made the bus in seconds flat. (lyrics from Beatles song.)
Duration in the Past
Used to talk about something that happened over a period of time, but is no longer happening.
- I grew up in Australia.
- Stevie went to the same school as me.
Facts or Generalisations
To indicate something that was true in the past but is no longer true.
- She had red hair when she was a child.
- He was very shy as a child.
Habits in the Past
Used to talk about habits or repeated actions that are no longer true.
- I played netball every night when I was younger.
- Mum cooked a roast every Sunday when we were kids.
To find out when to use the past simple tense, please go here. How to make verbs into the past tense
To download a practise worksheet, please go here.
To take a quiz on the simple past tense, please click below.
