Simple Past Tense

A. Definition

The simple past tense is a form of time that is used to explain events or actions performed at a certain time in the past in a simple form. the time of the occurrence of the event or action is known.

B. The Simple Past Tense has two sentence :
     
     1. Nominal Sentence
        
         Formula :
         ( + ) Subject + was/were + Complement (Adjective, Noun, Adverb)

         ( - ) Subject+ was/were + not + Complement (Adjective, Noun, Adverb)

         ( ? ) Was/were + Subject + Complement (Adjective, Noun, Adverb)

      

         Note:

         Was for subjectI, He, She, It

         Were for subject You, We, They

         

         Example :

         ( + ) They were happy last night.

         ( - ) They were not happy last night.

         ( ? ) Were they happy last night?

     2. Verb Sentence

         

         Formula :

         ( + ) Subject + Verb 2

         ( - ) Subject + did + not + Verb 1

         ( ? ) Did + subject + Verb 1 + ?

         Example :

         ( + ) She studied English last night.

         ( - ) She did not study English last night.

         ( ? ) Did she study English last night?

C. Use

1.      The simple past tense is used to express states an event that happened at a certain time in the past. Example: He helped me last week.

2.      The simple past tense is used to express a habit in the past but does not last now. Example:When he was a boy, he used to play football.

3.      The simple past tense is used to express state a situation that look place in the past. Example:We were at home last night.

D. Time Signals

-          Yesterday                          - Just now

-          Last night                          - This morning

-          Last week                          - This noon                             

-          Last Sunday                                             

-          A moment ago     

-          An hour ago

Sumber :

Rudi H. English Grammar Complete Edition. 2014: MahirSindoUtama

Masruchin,Ulin Nuha.Tenses and Grammar.2016

Basic English grammar.Simple past tense.5 Oktober 2018.https://3nglish7.blogspot.com/2010/02/tense-1-simple-past-tense.html

English First.Simple Past Tense.5 Oktober 2018. https://www.ef.edu/english-resources/english-grammar/simple-past-tense/

Sutrisnohani.PintarJari Tenses.2014: hakcipta

Wiranto tri, mencernabuku teks bahasa inggris melalui pemahaman bentuk gramatika.2002: pustaka pelajar offset

Arista, sridevi.Teknik rahasia menguasai 16 tense. 2013. Jawa barat: lembar langit indonesia

Sulastri.Learning English Grammar.Surabaya:GiriUtama