Past simple tense in English
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeSign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Our offer
This chapter will discuss the past simple tense in English. This tense is used for describing a completed action that took place in the past.
How the past simple tense is formed, depends on whether the sentence is:
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
Structure: subject + conjugated verb + rest of the sentence
Structure: subject + negative auxiliary (did not) + infinitive verb + rest of the sentence.
The table below shows how the negative auxiliary is formed for every subject.
Subject | Negative auxiliary |
---|---|
I | did not |
You (singular) | did not |
He / she / it | did not |
We | did not |
You (plural) | did not |
They | did not |
Structure: Did + subject + infinitive verb + rest of the sentence + question mark
Use | Example |
---|---|
Temporary frequency |
|
Definite point in time |
|
Indefinite point in time |
|
You can recognize the use of the past simple tense when the sentence contains words as:
The English verbs can be split up into regular and irregular verbs. These are both conjugated differently.
The simple past of the English regular verbs are formed by adding '-ed' to the infinitive of the verb.
Rule: infinitive verb + ed
Subject | to watch | to walk |
---|---|---|
I | watched | walked |
You (singular) | watched | walked |
He / she / it | watched | walked |
We | watched | walked |
You (plural) | watched | walked |
They | watched | walked |
The table below shows the conjugation of the past simple of irregular verbs 'to swim', 'to feel', 'to have' and 'to be'.
Subject | to swim | to feel | to have | to be |
---|---|---|---|---|
I | swam | felt | had | was |
You | swam | felt | had | were |
He / she / it | swam | felt | had | was |
We | swam | felt | had | were |
You | swam | felt | had | were |
They | swam | felt | had | were |
Train your skills by doing the exercises below.
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Hi! My name is Elisabetta, I’m from Italy and I can provide professional Italian, Spanish and English language lessons for all levels. I am an open and friendly person, but also very rigorous with my job and I expect my students be the same, that is positive and committed. The language course I am offering will be tailored to your specific needs and we’ll together find the best way to reach your goal: learn a new language and enjoying while doing it!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Elisabetta is a teacher who manages to convey love for her work. It follows you on your path of growth and strongly supports you. He follows different teaching methods according to the needs and priorities of the moment. Punctual, precise and super helpful. That's what I was looking for! Thanks
Elisabetta S.Thank you very much dear, I send you a hug :)
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
This is Kezia , she is a Native English Speaker who loves meeting new people and learning about countries and their cultures. She has over 8 years of teaching experience both in the classroom and online, she is able to teach from age 20 years old to age 80 years old, teaching from the beginner level to the advanced level student. She has a customized teaching skill set that is unique to all her students as each student has different learning goals and needs as well as each student has different strengths. She teaches in a fun, relaxed, easy and simple way that will have you more confident and be able to communicate much better after a few lessons. She is able to teach you grammar,writing,reading and pronunciation.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Kezia has taught to all ages and backgrounds. She has over 8 years of teaching experience. Furthermore, she adjusts her classes to the needs of every individual student. She teaches to all levels (A1-C2). She is very enthusiastic and ready to help you learn the English language!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello!
I'm Elena and I am here to support your learning journey while having interesting and funny conversations. My intention is to teach with kindness and positive energy using creative and entertaining approaches based on your needs and interests. I love teaching kids and youngsters: I will bring my puppets and my magic box full of surprises!
About me:
I am a friendly, energetic person who enjoys cooking (and eating), spending time in nature, going to places and dancing. I seek to learn new things and celebrate the small moments of every day.
Going frequently abroad on Erasmus Projects and volunteering for an NGO in Romania and Slovenia has given me the opportunity to embrace the diversity and beauty of different cultures. All these experiences have shaped my journey and took me to amazing places. If you are curious about traveling, volunteering, ways to give back to the community, healthy living, we can definitely integrate that in our lessons!
Me as a teacher
With a degree in Romanian and English Language and Literature and a Teacher Formation I will adapt my teaching methods to your learning style and celebrate your progress every step of the way! As a former kindergarten teacher, I will receive you with patience and empathy, opening a space for you to feel supported, listened to and cared for. Beyond the process of sharing information, I believe it is about the connection and the
environment we create together.
During the 1st session, we will talk about your intentions, goals and your current language level. I am happy to work with beginner learners, as well as advanced speakers. I can help you develop your conversation skills for everyday use, integrating grammar and vocabulary in a fun and effective way. I can also give you guidance for academic work, job interviews, writing skills.
Teaching materials: Flashcards, Virtual Treasure Hunts, Games, Quizzes, Puppet Show
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Elena has experience in teaching to children and adults. She is very flexible, she adjusts her classes to you and your needs. Furthermore, all her teaching methods are very inactive. She can teach English to all levels from A1 to C2. You'll surely learn a lot from her!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi!
I'm Emma, I'm originally from London but have lived in many countries around the world, and currently live in Italy. I have learnt foreign languages myself, so I can empathise with your every concern about learning a new language!
I speak english with a very clear British accent, and I have much experience with all levels of english learners, from beginners to advanced, from young children to retired adults, online and in person.
Just let me know your needs and language goals, and I will help you!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Emma is a very good teacher, she is helpful and patient. She helped me to prepare for B2 English exam. She improved my pronunciation and my vocabulary and she understood what I needed.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi! I've been teaching English in Spain for the last 3 years and have lots of experience with Cambridge official exams (Pre A1- C1), conversation classes, help with General English and CLIL.
My teaching style is student-centered and tailored to your needs and goals. There's always plenty of talking time to practice any new grammar and vocabulary to focus on fluency and accuracy, as well as building confidence to naturally practice your new skills in conversation. The courses I create always revise previous learning points and integrate them with new material so that you don't just learn something once and never see it again.
I teach with a range of realia, textbook resources and online materials that have proven effective and engaging with my students in the past, but everything I use is adapted specifically for your areas of weakness and learning styles!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I find that Beth was so easy to talk. I m always nervous when I speak English but talking to Beth I am not nervous because she has this power to let me just speak. She won’t rush to finish even the time is almost up. Is good. Hoping to take her class more and more. Her accent is easy to hear too!
Beth B.Thank you Achilles! I had a great time teaching you in your first class and it was great to see you already making so much progress and gaining confidence! I'm looking forward to seeing you in your next class!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello everyone I am SAKI. I’m from Hyogo prefecture. I have been teaching Japanese in Italy.
Everyone who loves Japan, everyone who loves anime, everyone who loves Japanese TV series and everyone who loves Japanese food, I would like to share your loves!!
Let's speak Japanese together.
I have taught Japanese for 5 years in class and online.
・Conversation
・Chinese characters, Hiragana, Katakana
・grammar and business conversation
・About culture
Feel free to ask me questions!
✳︎favourites✳︎
・watching Miyazaki movies, reading books and manga
・I am a big fan of traveling and eating local foods
・I often go to Corse island for holiday. One of my favorite places! The sun, crystal clear water and delicious food.
・I like sports (especially volley ball and base ball!!)
I am looking forward to having a conversation with you!
Thank you
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Saki san explains very well. I enjoy the lessons very much. Its very good that we always start the lesson with repeating the previous lesson - it makes it easier for me to remember.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
My name is Alexis Joseph, I am a TESOL/ TEFL Certified teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Education Major in Modern Languages, a postgraduate degree of Specialization in Teaching English as a Second Language and a Master's degree in Science of Education Major in School Management and I am very interactive and dynamic.
I have seven years of teaching experience in the classroom and online, I have worked with students of all ages from children to adults and for different institutions as an academic coordinator and language area coordinator, in addition I have taught ESL / EFL, English Language Arts, English Conversation, Spanish and Basic French to students of multiple nationalities.
I hope to see you in my class!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Alexis has over 7 years of teaching experience. He has experience in teaching to people from all around over the world. His classes are very interactive. Furthermore, he teaches English from A1 to B2 and Spanish to all levels. You will surely learn a lot!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi, welcome to my profile!
My name is Alessia and I currently live in Italy. I spent a few years in the United States where I deepened my knowledge of English and American dialects. I am currently specializing in Spanish and German. Over the years, I have given private lessons in Italian, English, Spanish, and Japanese, with Japanese being the most requested at the moment. Regarding Japanese, I had the opportunity to teach the language at an American college with a native Japanese teacher, applying the method that they use to learn their own language. I will help you in a simple way; conversation is really important for learning a language, and a good method is even more fundamental. No days spent on textbooks are needed; consistency and fun during lessons are the most important parts of learning. You will see results right away! I am patient, flexible, and will adapt in every way to your personal needs. I look forward to seeing you on my profile for a trial lesson and discovering an easy and fun method to learn a language as soon as possible.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
We only did two lessons but it seems to me that Alessia has understood what I need! She is very good and knows all the terms and idioms of everyday life, just what I need! :)
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I've been living and working as a Turkish teacher in London for 5 years. I studied Turkish language and literature. I graduated from Kocaeli University in 2009. I have pedagogical proficiency and a Teaching Turkish for Foreigners certificate from Istanbul University.
I have experience at high schools and secondary schools in İstanbul/Turkey for 5 years.
All the collateral will be provided by me. I will give you homework after every lesson and we will check it together.
I use a theory book and an excercise book for my lessons, versions vary according to your level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1). They're all published by Istanbul University and are called `Turkish For Foreigners`
I also use powerpoint presentations during my lessons. It makes it easier to understand the grammar rules.
My lessons are about grammar, listening, speaking and writing.
Lessons are interactive and fun as I believe a playful approach to learning a new language helps retaining information. Games and other devices such as cards will be be used during the lessons.
For more information please do not hesitate to ask me any questions. Thank you very much. Have a great day! :)
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Samet has a lot of teaching experience. He is patient and enthusiastic to learn you a new language. Furthermore, he has lots of different teaching materials that make his lessons fun and interactive.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello! I am a CELTA-qualified native English teacher offering lessons carefully tailored to your needs. Learn by dynamic conversation exchange, written pieces, songs lyrics, podcasts, and fun and challenging exercises.
I have a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and have been rock climbing for about 25 years. As an Italian language learner myself, I believe that talking about your passions is one of the most effective ways of mastering a new language. I look forward to hearing about your interests!
I offer a free 15-minute meeting to discuss your personal goals for learning. Let’s work together to bring you closer to those English language goals!
-Parlo italiano-
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
she is a professional mother language teacher. She is strongly problem solving oriented. She offers a wide range of tools to learn the language. She has a nice way of teaching.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
In the last few years, I have been studying and working in different European countries. So, I understand the importance of knowing the language of the country where you are living and, at the same time, the difficulties that this entails. For this reason, I would like to focus my classes on improving your conversation skills so that you feel that each day you can unfold with more confidence.
I enjoy teaching at any level from absolute beginners to more advanced students. I had complete a certification to teach Spanish and I have more than 2000 lessons done with all sorts of students. I am a patient and organized teacher. I will adapt my lessons to help you to achieve your goals. We will work together step by step to improve your Spanish in a flexible and relaxing way.
After my experience studying English, Italian, French, and Dutch, for me, the most important is to be able to communicate in the language that you are studying. For this reason, I will put the focus of my classes on improving your conversation skills. We can talk about any topic that you are interested in. Moreover, if you want to improve your writing skills, prepare for the DELE exam or improve your grammar, I will guide you step by step to achieve your goals.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Mireia is a new teacher on our platform. She teaches Spanish to all levels from A1 to C2. Her learning materials are very interactive, and she can teach you more than just the language but also the cultural background. She is kind and patient, and you'll surely learn a lot from her!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Vanessa has over 10 years of teaching experience. She teaches the levels from A1 until C1. She cannot only teach you the language but also educate you on the relevant cultural topics related to the Spanish language. Furthermore, she will also be able to help you with industry specific vocabulary if necessary. Her lessons are completely adjusted to you and your needs.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi everybody,
My name is Barbara.
I used to live in Ireland, in the UK, in Spain and I live in Italy now. I have spent much time in the USA and Scandinavia as well. I have been flying around the world as a flight attendant for approx. 13 years.
I am also a qualified tour guide, a qualified ENGLISH TEACHER (teaching at various schools, flight schools and universities) and an AVIATION ENGLISH RATER/EXAMINER.
I love teaching and I believe it is really important to learn foreign languages, to get to know different nations, cultures in order to have a better idea of the world. English can be a key to open a new world for you and eliminate the barriers you have at the moment.
Oh! and I've almost forgotten to tell you:
I'm an ITALIAN TEACHER too
IN CASE your problem is not the English language, but you have a problem when you need to order a good PIZZA, CAPPUCCINO or some delicious SPAGHETTI during your stay in ITALY or you need to get ready for an internship or you want to learn ITALIAN for any other reason, I can teach you and help you improve your ITALIAN!
Are you still hungry and you want to keep filling your stomach in HUNGARY? I can also give you some HUNGARIAN LESSONS from beginner to advanced level! (of course if you like Goulash- Gulyàs, I can give you the original recipe!)
If you think you need ENGLISH, ITALIAN and/or HUNGARIAN for your goals and dreams, get in touch and we can plan some lessons for you.
TEFL/TESOL qualified English Teacher
168 hours Tefl Org, Scotland, UK
40 hours Tefl Online Teaching, Tefl Org, Scotland, UK
30 hours Tefl Online Teaching, Tefl Institution, Ireland
TEFL/TESOL Online Teaching Practicum, Tefl Org., Scotland, UK
AVIATION ENGLISH RATER/EXAMINER, Mayflower College of English, Plymouth, UK
AVIATION ENGLISH RATER/EXAMINER, Lenguax, London, UK
I can teach you Conversational English, Business English, Prepare you for an exam or teach English to your kids. Or/and we can do all these in ITALIAN and HUNGARIAN too!
Hope to see you soon in class.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I’m very happy with my teacher! Barbara is so kind, helpful and she has a lot of knowledge to share. She is preparing me for some English exams, it is going quicker and better than I expected. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!
Barbara B.Thanks so much for the kind words Em! It takes two. You really put your heart and mind to your goal. Very well done. Keep up the good work and you will see the results. See you in class :-)
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello everyone! My name is Maryna, and I am passionate about teaching my native language (Ukrainian).
For those of you who find it boring to learn languages without context, I also explain the historical, cultural and ethnic background, which influenced the development of the Ukrainian language. I want you not only to understand and to be able to speak the language but also feel its beauty and melody.
I am a professional teacher of the Ukrainian language, and I would be glad to help you with learning.
I have 5 years of teaching experience.
If you are looking for a professional and cheerful teacher, do not hesitate to text me.
My teaching methods: the communicative approach, task-based method, engage-study-activate.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
she is a young professional teacher, she has a very high knowledge of grammar and rules and a nice way of teaching.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials