Past Simple

The Simple Past Tense

Definition

The simple past tense is a verb tense form that indicates that an action is complete. It denotes actions or states of being, in the past.

Form

To form the simple past tense, you have to use the past tense form of the verb. In the case of many verbs, you have to just add an –ed to the root form of the verb. For example, the past tense of the verb walk is walked.

However, there are irregular verbs for which the past tense form does not follow the rule mentioned above. These verbs have a different spelling in the past tense form. For example, the past tense form of the verb eat is ate. The past tense form of the verb bring is brought.

Some verbs do not change at all in the past tense form. Examples are read, beat, and hit.