- 1 day ago
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:01Welcome to lesson 5 of our English grammar series. In this lesson, we are going to learn about the past
00:06simple tense.
00:07This is one of the most important tenses in English, and we use it every single day.
00:12By the end of this lesson, you will know how to make positive sentences, negative sentences, questions, and WH questions,
00:19all in the past simple tense.
00:21So let us get started.
00:22So what exactly is the past simple tense?
00:24We use this tense to talk about finished actions that happened at a specific time in the past.
00:30Sometimes, the speaker may not mention the exact time, but they do have a particular time in their mind.
00:36Now, let us look at the structure.
00:38The structure is very simple.
00:39It goes like this.
00:41Subject plus verb in the past simple form, which we also call V2, plus object.
00:48For example, I drank coffee.
00:52Here, I is the subject, drank is the past simple form of drink, and coffee is the object.
00:59Simple.
00:59Right?
01:00Now, how do you know when to use the past simple tense?
01:03There are some signal words or clue words that help you identify it.
01:07The first one is yesterday.
01:09For example, I went to the park yesterday.
01:11Next, we have last night, last week, last month, and last year.
01:16For example, she called me last night.
01:19Then, we have today.
01:20But only when the action is already finished.
01:22For example, I played cricket well today.
01:26Another important clue word is, ago.
01:28For example, I bought this car, two years ago.
01:32We also have all day.
01:33For example, I read my lessons all day.
01:36And finally, four plus a time duration.
01:39For example, I lived in Mumbai for ten years.
01:42Whenever you see these words in a sentence, it is a strong hint that you need to use the past
01:47simple tense.
01:47Now, let us start with positive sentences, also called affirmative sentences.
01:53First, we will use the subject, I.
01:55Listen carefully and repeat after me.
01:58Number one.
01:59I woke up at six o'clock this morning.
02:02Number two.
02:04I brushed my teeth before eating.
02:06Number three.
02:08I read my lessons all day yesterday.
02:11Number four.
02:12I read a children's book last year.
02:15Number five.
02:17I ate an apple before I had lunch.
02:20Number six.
02:22I drank green tea just now.
02:25Number seven.
02:27I went to the zoo last summer.
02:29Number eight.
02:31I learnt English at NEO last month.
02:34Number nine.
02:35I lived in Mumbai for over ten years.
02:39Number ten.
02:41I bought this car two years ago.
02:43Number eleven.
02:45I played cricket well today.
02:47Number twelve.
02:48I saw Titanic movie fifteen years ago.
02:51Notice that in all these sentences, the verb is in the past simple form.
02:56Woke brushed, read wrote, ate, drank, went, learnt, lived, bought, played and saw.
03:03Now let us see the same type of positive sentences, but with other subjects.
03:08With you, we say, you woke up at six o'clock this morning.
03:11You read your lessons all day yesterday.
03:14You went to the zoo last summer.
03:15You played cricket well today.
03:17You saw that movie yesterday.
03:19With he, we say, he woke up at six o'clock this morning.
03:23He brushed his teeth before eating.
03:25He wrote a children's book last year.
03:28He went to the zoo last summer.
03:30He bought this car two years ago.
03:32With she, we say, she woke up at six o'clock this morning.
03:35She brushed her teeth before eating.
03:37She wrote a children's book last year.
03:39She went to the zoo last summer.
03:41She lived in Mumbai for over ten years.
03:43Now here is a very important point.
03:45In the past simple tense, the verb form stays exactly the same for all subjects.
03:51Whether you say I, you, he, she, it, we, or they, the verb does not change.
03:57That makes this tense much easier to learn compared to the present tense.
04:01Let us continue with the remaining subjects.
04:03With it, for example, when talking about a baby or a dog, we say,
04:07it woke up at six o'clock, it brushed its teeth, it ate an apple, it drank green tea.
04:14With we, we say, we woke up at six o'clock, we brushed our teeth, we went to the zoo,
04:20we played cricket well.
04:21With they, we say, they woke up at six o'clock, they brushed their teeth,
04:26they went to the zoo, they played cricket well.
04:29Here are some more examples with they.
04:31They read their lessons all day yesterday.
04:34They wrote a children's book last year.
04:36They ate an apple before I had lunch.
04:39They drank green tea just now.
04:41They learnt English at NEO last month.
04:43They lived in Mumbai for over 10 years.
04:45They bought this car two years ago.
04:47They saw Titanic movie 15 years ago.
04:50Remember, the verb form is exactly the same for every subject.
04:54Now let us move on to negative sentences.
04:56To make a negative sentence in the past simple, the structure changes a little.
05:01Listen carefully.
05:02The structure is, subject, plus did not or didn't, plus the base form of the verb which
05:07is V1, plus object.
05:09This is very important.
05:11When you use didn't, the verb goes back to its base form.
05:14You do not use the past form.
05:17For example, we say, I didn't go, not, I didn't went.
05:21Let me give you the examples with the subject.
05:24I
05:24Number 1
05:26I didn't wake up at 6 o'clock this morning.
05:29Number 2
05:30I didn't even brush my teeth today.
05:33Number 3
05:33I didn't read my lessons all day yesterday.
05:37Number 4
05:38I didn't write a children's book last year.
05:42Number 5
05:43I didn't eat an apple before I had lunch.
05:47Number 6
05:48I didn't drink green tea just now.
05:51Number 7
05:52I didn't go to the zoo last summer.
05:55Number 8
05:56I didn't learn English at NEO last month.
06:00Number 9
06:01I didn't live in Mumbai for over 10 years.
06:04Number 10
06:05I didn't buy the scar 2 years ago.
06:09Number 11
06:11I didn't play cricket well today.
06:13Number 12
06:14I didn't see Titanic movie 15 years ago.
06:17Let us now see the negative sentences with other subjects.
06:21With you we say, you didn't wake up at 6 o'clock.
06:24You didn't read your lessons yesterday.
06:26You didn't go to the zoo last summer.
06:29You didn't play cricket well today.
06:31With he we say, he didn't wake up at 6 o'clock.
06:34He didn't brush his teeth today.
06:36He didn't write a book last year.
06:38He didn't buy this car 2 years ago.
06:40With she we say, she didn't go to the zoo last summer.
06:44She didn't learn English at NEO.
06:46She didn't buy this car 2 years ago.
06:48With we and they we say, we didn't drink green tea just now.
06:52They didn't learn English at NEO.
06:54They didn't live in Mumbai for 10 years.
06:56And with it we say, it didn't wake up at 6 o'clock.
06:59It didn't brush its teeth.
07:00It didn't eat an apple.
07:01It didn't play cricket.
07:03Again notice that the verb always stays in the base form after didn't.
07:06Now, let us learn how to ask positive questions in the past simple tense.
07:12The structure is, did plus subject plus the base form of the verb V1 plus object and then a question
07:21mark.
07:22Notice that did comes at the beginning of the sentence.
07:25Let us see some examples.
07:27With I, we ask, did I wake up at 6 o'clock?
07:31Did I brush my teeth this morning?
07:33Did I eat an apple before lunch?
07:35With you we ask, did you wake up at 6 o'clock?
07:38Did you read your lessons yesterday?
07:41Did you go to the zoo last summer?
07:42With he and she, we ask, did he brush his teeth before eating?
07:46Did she write a children's book?
07:48Did he buy this car 2 years ago?
07:51With we and they, we ask, did we brush our teeth?
07:54Did they read their lessons?
07:56Did they see Titanic 15 years ago?
07:59Remember, just like in negative sentences, we use the base form of the verb after did.
08:04Next, let us learn negative questions.
08:06These are questions where we expect a certain answer or we want to express surprise.
08:11The structure is, didn't, plus, subject, plus, the base form of the verb, V1, plus, object, and a question mark.
08:21With I, we ask, didn't I wake up at 6 o'clock?
08:25Didn't I brush my teeth before eating?
08:28Didn't I go to the zoo last summer?
08:30With you, didn't you read your lessons yesterday?
08:34Didn't you drink green tea just now?
08:36Didn't you see Titanic 15 years ago?
08:39With he and she, didn't he write a book last year?
08:42Didn't he learn English at NEO?
08:44Didn't he live in Mumbai for 10 years?
08:47With we and they, didn't we go to the zoo last summer?
08:50Didn't they brush their teeth?
08:51Didn't they buy this car 2 years ago?
08:54These negative questions are very useful in daily conversations when you want to confirm something or show surprise.
09:01Now, let us practice with commonly used sentences in daily life.
09:05These are the kinds of sentences you will use every day.
09:09Listen carefully.
09:10I went to bed at 11 o'clock last night.
09:13I cleaned my room this morning.
09:15I met my friends when I went to Chennai.
09:18I brought you a laptop from Hyderabad.
09:20I stayed at home all day yesterday.
09:23I helped my mother clean the house.
09:25I saw John waiting for the bus.
09:28I visited the Taj Mahal when I went to Delhi.
09:31I taught English at an institute last year.
09:33I lived in Hyderabad from 2010 to 2015.
09:36I talked to him on the phone last night.
09:39I spoke to your class teacher about you.
09:41I got promoted to assistant manager.
09:44I opened a bank account in SPI today.
09:46I checked my email 2 hours ago.
09:48I forgot to turn off the lights.
09:50I told him to come on Monday morning.
09:53I sang some Telugu songs at the party.
09:55I accidentally cut my finger with a knife.
09:58I started working here 3 years ago.
10:00Let us continue with more daily life sentences.
10:03I started my own business at home.
10:05I changed my mobile number yesterday.
10:07I paid the electricity bill online.
10:09I sold my old laptop to a friend.
10:12I asked my father for money today.
10:14I washed the apple well before I ate.
10:16I sent my resume to you this afternoon.
10:18I spent the entire day on the beach yesterday.
10:21I cooked chicken biryani for dinner.
10:23I washed your clothes this morning.
10:25I came to a nearby scooter today.
10:27I had lunch at a restaurant with friends.
10:29I left home for the office at 7.
10:32I reached home early this morning.
10:34I set the alarm clock for 5 o'clock.
10:37I did housework before you woke up.
10:39I gave him money when he came to me.
10:42I slept only 4 hours last night.
10:44I arrived home safely just now.
10:47I polished my shoes before the interview.
10:50These are all real sentences that you can use in your daily conversations.
10:55Here are even more daily life sentences for practice.
10:58I celebrated my birthday with my friends.
11:01I helped my brother with his homework.
11:03I turned off my mobile before going to bed.
11:06I got my hair cut yesterday evening.
11:09I drew a picture of a mouse for you.
11:11I got wet in the rain at the bus stop.
11:13I got home very late last night.
11:16I wore new clothes at Diwali.
11:18I saw your brother on the way home.
11:20I wanted to eat biryani yesterday afternoon.
11:24I needed to go to Hyderabad yesterday.
11:26I advised him not to smoke cigarettes.
11:29I walked from home to the station today.
11:31I gave my sister a doll on her birthday.
11:34I bought a gift for my friend's birthday.
11:37I walked to the office in the rain.
11:39I drew a beautiful rangoli at Sankranti.
11:42I finished my class at 5 o'clock today.
11:45I went out for lunch this afternoon.
11:48I went to Chennai to attend an interview.
11:50Let us continue with more sentences.
11:52I came here to visit my grandparents.
11:55I withdrew 500 rupees from my bank.
11:57I qualified for JEE advanced exam.
12:01I called you several times yesterday.
12:03I enjoyed a lot at the party last night.
12:05I watched TV until midnight yesterday.
12:07I waited for you for two hours at home.
12:09I studied my lessons all night last night.
12:12I went to the park for a walk this morning.
12:15I ate at a restaurant with friends last night.
12:17I moved to Hyderabad from Chennai in 2010.
12:20I accidentally broke my tooth last week.
12:23I completed my graduation in 2015.
12:25I told him everything I knew about John.
12:28I asked my parents for a smartphone.
12:30I convinced him to come to the party.
12:32I hid the money under the bed in my room.
12:34I invited all friends to the birthday party.
12:37I fed my dog a lot of chicken today.
12:39I took my children to the park yesterday.
12:41Here are the remaining daily life sentences.
12:44I thought you were my science teacher.
12:46I broke my mobile in anger yesterday.
12:48I broke up with her two months ago.
12:50I accidentally killed a lizard just now.
12:53I left my dog in my hometown last month.
12:55I got hit by an auto in the road just now.
12:58I started the class 20 minutes ago.
13:00I called him as soon as I arrived in Chennai.
13:03I turned on my mobile as soon as I woke up.
13:05I grew up in a small town called Kodur.
13:08I last met him in Delhi on August 22, 2015.
13:12I found my lost debit card yesterday.
13:14I made my daughter do her home work.
13:16I had a baby boy yesterday morning.
13:19I discussed this with my parents yesterday.
13:22I gave up smoking when I got married.
13:24I never said that I would give you money.
13:26I thought you would come yesterday.
13:28I thought of not eating meat yesterday.
13:30I strained tea before pouring into glasses.
13:33Now remember to practice all these sentences with other subjects like you, he, she, it,
13:38we, and they.
13:39Also practice them in the negative form and in question form.
13:43Now let us look at some miscellaneous sentences.
13:45These have different subjects, not just I.
13:49Number 1.
13:50It rained a lot in Hyderabad yesterday.
13:53Number 2.
13:55Somebody spilled coffee on my laptop.
13:57Number 3.
13:59A boy snatched my phone and ran away.
14:02Number 4.
14:03My father unexpectedly came here today.
14:07Number 5.
14:08His grandfather died a long time ago.
14:11Number 6.
14:13My car hit a tree last night near the city.
14:16Number 7.
14:18The train arrived at the station just now.
14:21Number 8.
14:22The light suddenly went out while eating.
14:25Number 9.
14:27The power went out in my house last night.
14:30Number 10.
14:32The power came back in my house at 8.30.
14:36Number 11.
14:38Mary gave birth to a baby girl last night.
14:40Number 12.
14:42Peter insisted on me to accompany him.
14:45Number 13.
14:47He suddenly disappeared last night.
14:50Number 14.
14:52Our baby cried a lot at midnight yesterday.
14:55Number 15.
14:56My English class finished at 6.30 today.
14:59These sentences show that the past simple tense is used in all kinds of everyday situations.
15:05Now let us learn WH questions.
15:07These are very important questions that start with words like what, when, where, how, who, and why.
15:17First, let us look at what time questions.
15:20What time did you wake up today?
15:22What time did he wake up today?
15:24What time did your brother wake up?
15:26What time did your friends wake up?
15:28What time did you watch TV until?
15:30Next, when questions.
15:33When did you last go to the zoo?
15:35When did he last go to the zoo?
15:37When did your brother last go?
15:39When did your friends last go?
15:41Then we have what did you do questions.
15:44What did you do yesterday evening?
15:46What did he do yesterday evening?
15:48What did you eat for breakfast today?
15:51And what or which questions?
15:53Which part did you go to on Sunday?
15:55Which hostel did you stay at?
15:57Which newspaper did you read?
15:59Let us now look at how and where questions.
16:01How much time did you do yoga?
16:03How much time did he do yoga?
16:05How much time did your brother do yoga?
16:07Then, how many days did you stay in Bengaluru?
16:10How many days did he stay in Bengaluru?
16:12How many days did your friends stay?
16:14Next, how long did you live in Hyderabad?
16:16How long did he live in Hyderabad?
16:18How long did your friends live there?
16:20Then, how did you go to your hometown?
16:23How did he go to his hometown?
16:24How did your friends go there?
16:26And finally, where questions.
16:28Where did you learn spoken English?
16:30Where did he learn spoken English?
16:32Where did your friends learn?
16:33All these WH questions follow the same pattern.
16:36The WH word comes first, then did,
16:39then the subject, then the base form of the verb.
16:42Now, let us look at who and why questions.
16:45First, who with the subject.
16:47Who did you talk to on the phone?
16:48Who did he talk to just now?
16:50Who did your brother talk to?
16:52Next, who without a subject.
16:54This is a special case.
16:56When who is the subject itself, we do not use did.
16:59We use the past form of the verb directly.
17:02Who lived in that house before?
17:04Who played cricket well today?
17:06Who gave you my number?
17:07Who went to hospital yesterday?
17:10Then, who in negative form.
17:12Who didn't come to class yesterday?
17:14Who didn't write the exam well?
17:16Who didn't eat breakfast today?
17:18And finally, why questions.
17:20Why did you go to the railway station?
17:22Why did he go there last night?
17:24Why didn't you go to school yesterday?
17:27Here is a practice tip.
17:28Try asking all these questions with other verbs too.
17:31The more you practice, the more natural it will become.
17:34That brings us to the end of lesson 5 on the past simple tense.
17:38Let us quickly go over the key takeaways.
17:41For positive sentences, the structure is subject plus v2, that is the past form of the verb,
17:47plus object.
17:49For negative sentences, the structure is subject plus didn't plus v1, that is the base form
17:56of the verb, plus object.
17:58For questions, the structure is did, plus subject, plus v1, plus object, question mark.
18:05And for negative questions, the structure is didn't, plus subject, plus v1, plus object,
18:12question mark.
18:13The most important thing to remember is to keep practicing with all subjects and different
18:18verbs.
18:19The more you speak, the more fluent you will become.
18:23Thank you for watching and I will see you in the next lesson.
18:25Keep learning and keep growing.
Comments