In this lesson we’ll take a look at how we use the past simple tense when talking about things that we have done in the past.
What Did You Do?
The past simple tense is written by adding “ed” or “d” to a regular verb or by using the past tense form of irregular verbs.
Regular Verbs
- arrive – arrived
- play – played
- work – worked
Regular Verb List from EnglishClub
Irregular Verbs
- buy – bought
- go – went
- sit – sat
Irregular Verb List from EnglishClub
Tips for Learning Irregular Verbs in English from EspressoEnglish
Past Simple Examples
Here are some example sentences using past simple tense:
- I went to the shop.
- Steve played football.
- They jumped out of the window.
Adverbial Phrases of Time
Sentences that use past simple tense often use adverb or adverbial phrases of time.
Some examples we can use when talking about the past are:
- a few minutes ago
- a fortnight ago (two weeks ago)
- last night
- a week ago
- four hours ago
- last week
- in 1996
- this morning
- three years ago
- yesterday
Examples With Time Phrases
Here are a selection of example sentences using past simple tense and adverb or adverbial phrases of time.
- In 1992 I visited my grandfather.
- Last night I watched a movie.
- Last week I went to Spain.
- Steve worked at Microsoft last year.
- We bought our house three years ago.
More Tense Lessons
- All 9 English Tenses – The Complete Guide
- Present Simple Tense – Daily Routine
- Present Continuous Tense – What Are You Doing?
- Present Perfect Tense – Have You Ever…?
- Past Continuous Tense – What Were You Doing When…?
- Past Perfect Tense – What Had Happened?
- Future Simple Tense – What Will You Do?
- Future Continuous Tense – What Will You Be Doing…?
- Future Perfect Tense – What Will You Have Done?
Frequently Asked Questions
For regular verbs, add “-ed” or “-d” to the base verb (play → played). Irregular verbs change form completely (go → went) and need to be learned individually.
To talk about a completed action or event at a specific point in the past — often paired with a time phrase like “yesterday”, “last week”, or “three years ago”.
Regular verbs follow the predictable “-ed” pattern (walk → walked). Irregular verbs don’t follow a pattern and simply have to be memorised (buy → bought, sit → sat).
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