Understanding simple past tense

To say that the English language is complex is certainly an understatement. Even if you have a good grasp on how English works, you may not realize how many different rules are in place to keep your sentences flowing. Simple past tense is one of many language rules that we automatically use when we write and speak. Learn what simple past tense is, how it works, and how to identify it in a sentence.

What is simple past tense?

Simple past tense is a verb tense that is used to describe things that happened before the present. In other words, the event or action you are talking about is completed and is no longer happening. Knowing how to use simple past tense is important for effective communication, as it allows us to remember past experiences, talk about the past, and properly share personal anecdotes.

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What does simple past tense look like in practice?

Simple past tense can be written in several different ways, depending on the types of verbs that are involved. You can often get a sense of how to write in simple past tense by identifying the type of verb in the sentence. Below are some ways you can write simple past tense.

Using ‘was’ for the past state of being

The past tense of the verb “to be,” or “was,” can be used to indicate simple past tense. Some examples of simple past tense with “was” include:

Hanging out with Julia was the highlight of my week.
I was happy that the Bears didn’t lose yesterday.
He was playing the violin at their wedding.

“Simple past tense can be written in several different ways, depending on the types of verbs that are involved.”

The many rules of irregular verbs

Writing in simple past tense gets a little tricky with irregular verbs. Unlike regular verbs, irregular verbs don’t typically end in “ed” and often follow their own rules. Here are a few examples of irregular verbs written in simple past tense.

She meant to return the library book yesterday.
I rang the doorbell, but nobody answered.
They lost the tray that the brownies came in.
The teacher put the books away after class.
Her new pants shrank in the dryer.

Notice how all of those verbs end in different ways when they are written in simple past tense. Irregular verbs must follow their own rules in order for them to make sense. For instance, the simple present tense of “lost” is “lose,” but it wouldn’t make sense to say “losed” instead of “lost.” When writing irregular verbs in simple past tense, it helps to follow your best judgement or use a grammar editing tool to get a second look.

What is the difference between simple past tense vs. past continuous tense?

Past continuous tense is when something is happening in the past, but there is no indication of when the action was completed. An example of a verb in past continuous tense would be:

Robert was at the restaurant when he arrived.

If we were to write the same sentence in simple past tense, it would look like this:

Robert was at the restaurant with him yesterday.

In the first example, it is unclear if Robert is still at the restaurant in the context of the sentence. However, the second example tells us that Robert was at the restaurant the day before and is likely not there anymore.

Learning how to identify simple past tense and other verb tenses will help you get a good sense of crisp, clear writing. Find more writing tips, so you can write with confidence and precision.