Lectura

The Simple Past Tense

When we talk about the past it is necessary to use the Simple Past tense. It is a verb tense used to describe an action that took place in the past. It is used to talk about completed actions or events that happened at a specific time in the past.

Structure:

• Regular verbs: add "-ed" to the base form.
• Irregular verbs: change the verb to its past tense form.

Affirmative

Subject + Verb in the past form (base + -ed/d for regular; past tense form for irregular)

Negative

Subject + did not + infinitive without 'to'

Interrogative

Did + subject + infinitive without 'to'

Negative Interrogative

Did not + subject + infinitive without 'to'

When do we use the Simple Past tense?

• To describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past.
• To describe a series of completed actions in the past.
• To describe a past habit or state of being.
• To describe a past event that happened before another past event.

LET'S APPLY!

Each of the following questions will assess your understanding of when these civilizations emerged and what they were known for.

When did the civilization of Ancient Egypt first appear? a) 2000 BCE b) 1000 BCE c) 3100 BCE d) 500 CE

1. Según el texto de la página 20, Egipto apareció alrededor de 3100 BCE.

What is one of the inventions attributed to Ancient Mesopotamia? a) Pyramids b) Hieroglyphics c) Writing d) Philosophy

1. Mesopotamia inventó la escritura, la rueda y el arado.

When did Ancient Greece originate? a) 2000 BCE b) 800 BCE c) 1000 CE d) 4000 BCE

1. Según el texto, Grecia se originó alrededor de 800 BCE.

Ejemplo 1

Ejemplo de afirmativa en Simple Past (regular).

1. Base verb 'work'.

   \text{work}

2. Añadir -ed.

   \text{worked}

3. Estructura.

   \text{She worked yesterday}

Ejemplo 2

Ejemplo de afirmativa en Simple Past (irregular).

1. Verbo 'go' (irregular).

   \text{go} \to \text{went}

2. Estructura.

   \text{They went to school.}

Diagrama 1

Estructuras del Simple Past.

mindmap
  root((Simple Past Tense))
    Affirmative
      Subject + V-ed (regular)
      Subject + V2 (irregular)
    Negative
      Subject + did not + V-base
    Interrogative
      Did + subject + V-base?
    Negative Interrogative
      Did not + subject + V-base?
    Uses
      Specific time
      Series of actions
      Past habit
      Earlier past event

Tablas

Glosario

• Simple Past tense: Tiempo pasado simple en inglés, para acciones completadas.
• regular verb: Verbo regular: forma su pasado con -ed (work → worked).
• irregular verb: Verbo irregular: forma su pasado de manera no estándar (go → went).
• infinitive: Forma base del verbo (to + verbo en su forma sin conjugar).