The Past Simple

The Past Simple

1. Completed past actions

We use the past simple to talk about completed actions and events in the past which are not connected to the present.

We travelled to London by bus.

Peter finished his studies last year.

Jane bought some bread and then walked home.

2. Past habits

We use the past simple to talk about habits or repeated actions in the past.

When I was young, I always spent the holidays with my grandparents.

I went to work by bus when I worked in France.

She went to lots of concerts.

3. Past situations at a concrete past time

We use the past simple to talk about actions or events at a concrete past time or period of time.

I got up at 7am.

She worked from 9am to 5pm.

We met in 1995.

4. With for and ago

We use the past simple to refer to completed action in the past with ago.

We use for to express the duration of a past action.

The plane arrived 10 minutes ago.

Joe lived in Peru 10 years ago.

The journey lasted for two hours.

I stayed in a hotel for five days.

5. With when

We use the past simple to ask questions with when or what time.

What time did you arrive home?

When did you start working here?

When did you meet your wife?

6. With adverbials

We can use the past simple with adverbials which refer to the past.

We use:

Last week/month/year

yesterday, earlier today, this week

a year/three days/ a few months ago

at two o’clock, in 2003