Simple Past Tense

• The simple past tense is used to express an action or situations which occurred in the past and are finished. Generally, the simple past tense is used to express the following events or situation.1)      Events in the past that are finished or happened at a specific time in the past2)      Situation in the past3)      Sries of actions in the past happening one after another

   

  Now, let’s look at some example of the above usages for the simple past tense

  1)     Events in the past that are finished or happened at a specific time in the past

   

  Examples

  • Steve came to my house last week.
  • I went to college 3 years ago.
  • He ate the dinner 1 hour ago.
  • I slept well last night.

   

   

  2)  Situation in the past

   

  Examples:

  • I lived in Bangkok for 5 years (I don’t live there anymore).

   

   

  3)  A series of actions in the past happening one after another

   

  Examples:

   

  • ·        He entered a room, lit a cigarette and smiled at the guests

  I lived in Bangkok for 5 years (I don’t live there anymore).

 3)  A series of actions in the past happening one after another

 Examples:

•  John entered the hall, lit a cigarette and smiled at the us.

To note:-

1) A past tense in the principal clause may be followed by a present tense in the subordinate clause when the subordinate clause expresses a universal truth.

example : The teacher said that the earth moves round the sun