English Grammar Guide


The Present Simple Tense vs The Past Simple Tense


Usage - Comparing Tenses

We use the present simple tense for facts, routines and permanent things.

We use the past simple tense for completed events that happened at a specific time in the past.

  • The Present Simple:
  • FACT
  • ROUTINE
  • NOW (state)
  • PERMANENT
  • The Past Simple:
  • ... in 2010
  • ... 2 years ago
  • ... last week/last year/yesterday

Grammar - The Present Simple

  • Be:
  • (Q. +) Am/Are/Is + SUBJ. ... ?
  • I + am
  • You/We/They + are
  • He/She/It + is
  • Verbs:
  • (Q. +) Do/Does + SUBJ. + INF. ... ?
  • I/You/We/They + INF.
  • He/She/It + INFINITIVE-s

Examples - Be: Present Simple

Q.BES. SUBJ.BEANSWER
Whereareyou?➤ Iamat work.
Howishe?➤ HeisOK.

Examples - Verbs: Present Simple

Q.AUX.S.INF. S.VERBANS.
Whatdoyouplay?➤ Iplayfootball.
Wheredoeshelive?➤ Helivesin Rome.

Grammar - The Past Simple

  • Be:
  • (Q. +) Was/Were + SUBJ. ... ?
  • I/He/She/It + was
  • You/We/They + were
  • Verbs:
  • (Q. +) Did + SUBJ + INF. ... ?
  • I/You/He/She/It /We/They + V2

Examples - Be: Past Simple

Q.BES.... ANSWER
Wherewereyoulast week?➤ I was at work.
Howwasheyesterday?➤ He was OK.

Examples - Verbs: Past Simple

QUESTION ANSWER
What did you play earlier?➤ I played golf.
What did he do yesterday?➤ He watched TV.
Symbols & Abbreviations
ANS.Answer
AUX.Auxiliary
INF.Infinitive
Q.Question Word
S.Subject
SUBJ.Subject
V2Past Verb

Forms - The Past Simple Tense: Irregular Verbs

Here is a list of irregular verbs (V2) in the past simple:

INFINITIVEPAST VERB (V2)
bewas/were
becomebecame
beginbegun
betbet
blowblew
breakbroke
bringbrought
buildbuilt
buybought
catchcaught
choosechose
comecame
costcost
INFINITIVEPAST VERB (V2)
cutcut
dodid
drawdrew
drinkdrank
drivedrove
eatate
fallfell
feedfed
feelfelt
findfound
flyflew
forgetforgot
INFINITIVEPAST VERB (V2)
getgot
givegave
gowent
growgrew
havehad
hearheard
hidehid
hithit
holdheld
keepkept
knowknew
learnlearnt

⚠ Be Careful!

  • learned = American English
  • learnt = British English
INFINITIVEPAST VERB (V2)
leaveleft
lendlent
letlet
loselost
makemade
meetmet
paypaid
putput
readread ("red")
riderode
ringrang
runran

⚠ Be Careful!

  • The pronunciation of read is "red" in the past simple. It is the same pronunciation as the colour red.
INFINITIVEPAST VERB (V2)
saysaid
seesaw
sellsold
sendsent
shakeshook
shootshot
singsang
sitsat
sleepslept
speakspoke
spellspelt
spendspent

⚠ Be Careful!

  • spelled = American English
  • spelt = British English
INFINITIVEPAST VERB (V2)
standstood
stealstole
swimswam
taketook
teachtaught
telltold
thinkthought
throwthrew
understandunderstood
wakewoke
wearwore
winwon
writewrote
Symbols & Abbreviations
=Same as
V2Past Verb

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See Also

01) The Present Simple Tense: Verb Forms

02) Be in the Past Simple Tense: was/were

03) The Past Simple Tense: Regular Verbs

04) The Past Simple Tense: Irregular Verbs

05) The Past Simple Tense: Negatives

06) The Past Simple Tense: Open Questions

07) The Past Simple Tense: Closed Questions & Short Answers

08) The Past Simple Tense: Verbs vs Be




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