Past simple tense
Usage
The past simple tense is a verb tense used to describe an action/event or repeated actions/events that occurred and completed in the past.
I went to the beach last weekend.
I visited Tokyo in 2009.
I played soccer every weekend when I was younger.
Form
The past simple tense is typically formed by adding -ed to the base form of regular verbs. For irregular verbs, the past tense form must be memorized since there is no consistent pattern.
I walked to the store.
I ate breakfast this morning.
Signal words
Signal words such as yesterday, last night, last week, two hours ago, in 1995, etc. are often used with the past simple tense to give context and indicate the time frame of the action or event being described.
Negative and interrogative forms
To form the negative form of the past simple, use the auxiliary verb did + not + the base form of the verb
I did not go to the shopping mall yesterday.
He did not submit his homework report last week.
To form interrogative sentences, use the auxiliary verb did before the subject, followed by the base form of the verb
Did you go to the shopping mall yesterday?
Did he submit his homework report last week?