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Formation and usage of the Past Simple tense.
The Past Simple is used to describe completed actions, events, and situations in the past.
The action or situation happened before the present and is usually connected to a finished time.
I visited my friend yesterday.
Вчера я навестил друга.
Completed action at a specific past time.
She finished her homework an hour ago.
Она закончила домашнее задание час назад.
Action completed before now.
We went to the cinema last night.
Вчера вечером мы ходили в кино.
Past event with finished time.
He lived in London when he was a child.
Он жил в Лондоне, когда был ребёнком.
Past situation no longer current.
The Past Simple uses the past form of the main verb in affirmative sentences.
Regular verbs usually end in -ed, while irregular verbs have special past forms such as went, saw, and wrote.
I worked late yesterday.
Вчера я работал допоздна.
Regular verb: work → worked.
She went home early.
Она ушла домой рано.
Irregular verb: go → went.
They saw a movie last week.
На прошлой неделе они посмотрели фильм.
Irregular verb: see → saw.
He wrote a letter yesterday.
Вчера он написал письмо.
Irregular verb: write → wrote.
Most regular verbs form the Past Simple by adding -ed to the base form.
For example, work becomes worked, play becomes played, and watch becomes watched.
She worked in a bank last year.
В прошлом году она работала в банке.
Work → worked (regular).
We played tennis yesterday.
Вчера мы играли в теннис.
Play → played.
He watched TV all evening.
Весь вечер он смотрел телевизор.
Watch → watched.
They studied for the exam.
Они готовились к экзамену.
Study → studied (y to ied).
Some regular verbs change their spelling before -ed is added.
For example, live becomes lived, study becomes studied, and stop becomes stopped.
She lived in Paris two years ago.
Два года назад она жила в Париже.
Live → lived (drop e, add -ed).
He studied English at school.
В школе он изучал английский.
Study → studied (y changes to i).
We stopped at the red light.
Мы остановились на красный свет.
Stop → stopped (double final consonant).
They planned a trip to the mountains.
Они запланировали поездку в горы.
Plan → planned (double n).
Irregular verbs do not form the Past Simple by adding -ed and must be learned individually.
For example, go becomes went, see becomes saw, have becomes had, and write becomes wrote.
She went to the market yesterday.
Вчера она ходила на рынок.
Go → went.
He saw his friend last week.
На прошлой неделе он видел друга.
See → saw.
We had a great time at the party.
Мы отлично провели время на вечеринке.
Have → had.
They wrote a letter to their parents.
Они написали письмо родителям.
Write → wrote.
The Past Simple forms of be are was and were.
Use was with I, he, she, and it, and use were with you, we, and they.
I was tired yesterday.
Вчера я был уставшим.
Was with I.
She was at home.
Она была дома.
Was with she.
They were happy to see us.
Они были рады нас видеть.
Were with they.
It was cold last night.
Прошлой ночью было холодно.
Was with it.
Affirmative Past Simple sentences use the past form of the main verb.
For example, I visited my friend yesterday and She bought a new phone.
I visited my friend yesterday.
Вчера я навестил друга.
Regular verb: visit → visited.
She bought a new phone.
Она купила новый телефон.
Irregular: buy → bought.
They arrived late.
Они прибыли поздно.
Regular: arrive → arrived.
He wrote a letter.
Он написал письмо.
Irregular: write → wrote.
Most negative Past Simple sentences use did not followed by the base form of the main verb.
For example, I did not go to work and She did not understand the question.
I did not go to work yesterday.
Вчера я не ходил на работу.
Did not + base form go.
She did not understand the question.
Она не поняла вопрос.
Did not + base form understand.
We did not watch TV last night.
Вчера вечером мы не смотрели телевизор.
Did not + watch.
He did not call me.
Он мне не позвонил.
Did not + call.
Most Past Simple questions use did before the subject and the base form of the main verb.
For example, Did you call him? Did she finish the project? and Where did they go?
Did you call him?
Ты звонил ему?
Did + subject + base form.
Did she finish the project?
Она завершила проект?
Did + base form finish.
Where did they go?
Куда они поехали?
Wh-question with did.
What time did he arrive?
Во сколько он прибыл?
Question with what time.
Short answers to Past Simple questions usually use did or did not.
For example, Yes, I did. No, she did not. Yes, they did.
Did you enjoy the film? — Yes, I did.
Тебе понравился фильм? — Да.
Yes, I did.
Did she call? — No, she didn't.
Она звонила? — Нет.
No, she didn't.
Did they come? — Yes, they did.
Они пришли? — Да.
Yes, they did.
Did he finish? — No, he didn't.
Он закончил? — Нет.
No, he didn't.
Negative sentences with was and were are formed by adding not.
For example, I was not tired, She was not at home, and They were not ready.
I was not tired.
Я не был уставшим.
Was not.
She was not at home.
Её не было дома.
Was not.
They were not ready.
Они не были готовы.
Were not.
It was not expensive.
Это не было дорого.
Was not.
Form questions with was and were by placing the verb before the subject.
For example, Was she at work? Were they happy? and Where were you yesterday?
Was she at work yesterday?
Она была вчера на работе?
Was + subject.
Were they happy?
Они были счастливы?
Were + subject.
Where were you yesterday?
Где ты был вчера?
Wh-question with were.
Was it cold last night?
Прошлой ночью было холодно?
Was + it.
Use the Past Simple for actions that started and finished at a specific time in the past.
For example, I finished the report yesterday and We arrived at the airport at six.
I finished the report yesterday.
Вчера я закончил отчёт.
Completed action at a specific time.
We arrived at the airport at six.
Мы прибыли в аэропорт в шесть.
Specific past time.
She cooked dinner and then went to bed.
Она приготовила ужин и затем легла спать.
Completed action.
He bought a new car last month.
В прошлом месяце он купил новую машину.
Completed action.
Use the Past Simple to describe events that happened and were completed in the past.
The focus is on the fact that the event happened, not on a connection with the present.
She graduated from university two years ago.
Два года назад она окончила университет.
Event in the past.
We moved to a new house last year.
В прошлом году мы переехали в новый дом.
Past event.
They visited Paris in 2019.
Они посетили Париж в 2019 году.
Past event with specific time.
He lost his job last month.
В прошлом месяце он потерял работу.
Past event.
Use the Past Simple to describe states and situations that existed in the past but are no longer presented as current.
For example, I lived in London when I was a student and She was very shy as a child.
I lived in London when I was a student.
Я жил в Лондоне, когда был студентом.
Past situation.
She was very shy as a child.
В детстве она была очень застенчивой.
Past state.
We owned a small house in the countryside.
У нас был небольшой дом в деревне.
Past possession.
He worked for a bank for ten years.
Он десять лет работал в банке.
Past long-term employment (now finished).
Use the Past Simple for repeated or habitual actions that happened during a finished period in the past.
For example, We visited our grandparents every summer and He walked to school every day.
We visited our grandparents every summer.
Каждое лето мы навещали бабушку и дедушку.
Repeated action in finished past period.
He walked to school every day.
Он каждый день ходил в школу пешком.
Habitual past action.
She played tennis on Saturdays.
По субботам она играла в теннис.
Repeated on specific days.
They often went to the cinema when they lived here.
Они часто ходили в кино, когда жили здесь.
Often indicates repetition.
The Past Simple is commonly used to describe a sequence of completed events.
For example, She opened the door, walked inside, and sat down.
She opened the door, walked inside, and sat down.
Она открыла дверь, вошла внутрь и села.
Sequence of completed actions.
He woke up, had breakfast, and left for work.
Он проснулся, позавтракал и ушёл на работу.
Sequential events.
They arrived at the station, bought tickets, and boarded the train.
Они прибыли на вокзал, купили билеты и сели в поезд.
Sequence.
I finished my homework, packed my bag, and went to bed.
Я закончил домашнее задание, собрал сумку и лёг спать.
Completed sequence.
The Past Simple is often used with finished time expressions.
Common expressions include yesterday, last week, two days ago, in 2020, and when I was young.
I saw her yesterday.
Я видел её вчера.
Yesterday.
We went to Rome last week.
На прошлой неделе мы ездили в Рим.
Last week.
He called me two days ago.
Он позвонил мне два дня назад.
Two days ago.
She moved here in 2020.
Она переехала сюда в 2020 году.
In 2020.
Use ago to show how long before the present something happened.
Ago follows a period of time. For example, I met her two years ago.
I met her two years ago.
Я встретил её два года назад.
Ago follows a period of time.
We moved here five months ago.
Мы переехали сюда пять месяцев назад.
Ago.
She started her new job a week ago.
Она начала новую работу неделю назад.
Ago.
He left ten minutes ago.
Он ушёл десять минут назад.
Ago.
Use used to to describe habits or repeated actions that happened in the past but no longer happen.
For example, I used to play football every weekend.
I used to play football every weekend.
Раньше я играл в футбол каждые выходные.
Past habit no longer true.
She used to smoke, but she quit.
Раньше она курила, но бросила.
Past habit that changed.
We used to go to the seaside every summer.
Раньше мы каждое лето ездили на море.
Past repeated action.
He used to walk to work, but now he drives.
Раньше он ходил на работу пешком, а теперь ездит на машине.
Contrast with present.
Use used to to describe situations or states that existed in the past but no longer exist.
For example, We used to live near the sea.
We used to live near the sea.
Раньше мы жили у моря.
Past state.
She used to be very shy.
Раньше она была очень застенчивой.
Past state of being.
They used to have a dog.
Раньше у них была собака.
Past possession.
I used to believe in ghosts.
Раньше я верил в привидений.
Past belief.
Would can sometimes describe repeated actions in the past, especially when telling stories or remembering past routines.
Unlike used to, would is generally not used to describe past states. For example, Every summer, we would go swimming in the lake.
Every summer, we would go swimming in the lake.
Каждое лето мы ходили купаться на озеро.
Would for past routine.
When I was a child, my grandmother would tell me stories.
Когда я был ребёнком, бабушка рассказывала мне сказки.
Would for repeated actions.
He would always bring flowers when he visited.
Он всегда приносил цветы, когда приходил в гости.
Would with always.
We would often sit by the fire in winter.
Зимой мы часто сидели у огня.
Would for past habit.
Use the Past Simple for actions connected to a finished or specific time in the past. Use the Present Perfect when the time is not specified or when the past action has a connection with the present.
Compare I saw that film last week with I have seen that film.
I saw that film last week.
Я видел этот фильм на прошлой неделе.
Past Simple: specific finished time.
I have seen that film.
Я видел этот фильм.
Present Perfect: no specific time, experience.
She visited Paris in 2019.
Она посетила Париж в 2019 году.
Past Simple: specific time.
She has visited Paris.
Она посетила Париж.
Present Perfect: experience.
The Past Simple usually describes a completed event, while the Past Continuous describes an activity that was in progress at a particular time in the past.
For example, I was cooking when the phone rang.
I was cooking when the phone rang.
Я готовил, когда зазвонил телефон.
Past Continuous for background action, Past Simple for interrupted event.
While she was walking to school, it started to rain.
Пока она шла в школу, начался дождь.
Continuous background, simple event.
They arrived while we were having dinner.
Они прибыли, пока мы ужинали.
Simple event during continuous activity.
He was reading a book when I entered the room.
Он читал книгу, когда я вошёл в комнату.
Past Continuous for action in progress.
Use the past form only in affirmative sentences and use the base form after did or did not.
Common mistakes include saying Did you went instead of Did you go, using did with was or were, and confusing regular and irregular verb forms.
Did you went to the party?
Ты ходил на вечеринку?
Incorrect: after did, use base form go, not went.
She did not finished her homework.
Она не закончила домашнее задание.
Incorrect: after did not, use base form finish.
He was late?
Он опоздал?
Incorrect for question: should be "Was he late?"
I didn't was at home.
Меня не было дома.
Incorrect: use "I wasn't at home" or "I didn't be" is wrong; be uses was/were negative directly.
She goed to the store.
Она пошла в магазин.
Incorrect: irregular go → went, not goed.