how to use the past simple tense?

The Past Simple

We usually use the simple verb forms to talk about things that are repeated, permanent or completed.

1-Form:

Affirmative                               Negative                                Interrogative

I/you +verb                    -I/you did+not+verb(inf)            - did I/you+V(inf

He/she/it+V               -He/she/it+did+not+V(inf)               - did He/she/it+V(inf

We/they+verb           -We/they+did+not+V(inf)             -did+We/they+V(inf

Ex: I did not have breakfast earlier.

2- Use:

  The Past Simple is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now; duration is not is not important. The time of the action can be in the recent past or distant past.

Ex: we arrived yesterday./ Columbus discovered American in 1948.

*The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

    We also used simple past:

• 1-Completed Action in the Past 

        Ex: She washed her car.

• 2-    With frequency (always, and sometimes…)

       Ex: She always liked Pop music.

• 3-    To describe definite point in time (yesterday; last week; six weeks ago…). 

       Ex: I went to Roma last week.

• 4-    For an indefinite point in time (ages ago; last; longtime; first...)

      Ex: The first time I studied English in ALS.

• 5-    For the Narrative.

Ex: Yesterday; I read the newspaper.

•  6-If sentences type II (If I talked, …)

           Ex: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.

Adverb placement 

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

• You just called Mary.
• Did you just call Mary?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• John repaired the car. Active

• The car was repaired (by John). Passive

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example after a final e only add d love – loved final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled admit – admitted travel – travelled final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried